Justin Postlethwaite appears to be like on the historical past of France’s railway stations and picks out among the nation’s must-see terminal buildings…
Offering restful journeys, elegant views, nice worth and spectacular timeliness – plus clear ecological advantages in comparison with air and internal-combustion transport – the French rail community is admired around the globe.
But for a lot of commuters and visiting Francophiles alike, the purpose of arrival or departure in a city or village – la gare (rooted within the Old French phrase garir or garer, which means to protect or shelter) – can be a spot to be explored and cooed at. The nation is blessed with dozens of eye-pleasing terminals, from main TGV hubs to tiny village outposts with just some passing trains a day.
Private initiatives noticed the creation of France’s early prepare traces the primary was the 21km one inaugurated in 1827 to move coal from the mines of Saint-Étienne to the Loire, all pulled by horses. Ten years later got here the primary prepare line devoted to passengers, and the State intervened to arrange and regulate the community, main in 1938 to the creation of the nationalized SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français). At the time, it employed an astonishing 515,000 railway staff.
Other notable waypoints within the rail journey timeline embrace electrification in 1955, with a brand new single-phase industrial frequency energy system that was subsequently adopted for high-speed rail; the TGV’s first world velocity report (380 km/h) in 1981; and in 1987, the launch of TER (Transport categorical régional) trains, which signaled nearer collaboration between SNCF and the areas.
As for the stations, lots of the grandest that also function buzzing hubs right this moment originated in the midst of the nineteenth century, in step with the increase of
industrialization and urbanization. Imposing but inviting, they have been monumental emblems of progress and modernity, key places in France’s collective and social historical past.
So too have been these in-built subsequent eras, proper as much as present-day France, with award-winning stations similar to Saint-Denis-Pleyel metro station north of Paris – the longer term gateway to the Grand Paris Express due for completion in 2031 -inaugurated by President Macron in June 2024. It factors to the continued collective want and need for rail journey, with attractiveness allied to operate.
As ever, our choose of handsome stations is subjective and intends to showcase the unmissables. If you may have a favourite and want to ship us images, e mail us at [email protected]. All aboard!
1. LIMOGES, HAUTE-VIENNE, NEW AQUITAINE
Widely acknowledged as essentially the most spectacular trying railway station in France, the unique wood Gare de Limoges-Bénédictins opened in 1856. The model we see now, with parts of Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Neoclassicism, was designed by the architect Roger Gonthier and erected between 1924 and 1929. Instead of sitting alongside the station’s 10 traces, it was constructed over them, whereas the massive dome (coupole) and clock tower (campanile) finish it a putting silhouette. Spot too the ornamental limestone sculpture work by Henri Frédéric Varennes, and huge stained glass home windows by grasp glassmaker Francis Chigot. It was listed as a historic monument in 1975. Tours of the station can be found with Limoges’ City of Art and History tour guides.
www.destination-limoges.com/en
2. METZ, MOSELLE, GRAND EAST
France has the Germans to thank for this neo-Romanesque magnificence, commissioned by Wilhelm II, the final German Emperor, and accomplished in 1908 in the course of the first annexation of Metz into the German Empire, the earlier station having been destroyed by hearth in 1872. Measuring greater than 300m in size, it was designed to maneuver essentially the most troopers within the shortest doable time from France to Russia, with a direct line to Berlin and platforms sufficiently big to accommodate not simply troops on foot however these on horseback too!
Its epic scale apart, there may be additionally loads of wealthy ornamentation and design element in medieval and Germanic fashion to take pleasure in: bas-reliefs depicting first-class passengers, stained glass home windows, historiated capitals, basalt lions, friezes with Celtic motifs, and oriental palmettes (fan-shaped leaves of a palm tree). It’s a really magnificent web site to go to.
www.tourisme-metz.com/en
3. LYON STATION, PARIS
For Parisians, this beloved Belle Époque prepare station signifies vacation escapes and journeys to and from the sunny south. The Gare de Lyon is the northern terminus of the Paris-Marseille line (with stops in Lyon, therefore its identify), and one of many capital’s six mainline hubs.
Replacing the earlier station in-built 1855, it was designed by Toulon architect Marius Toudoire and was unveiled for the 1900 World’s Fair. Among the visible treats are a 67m tower with a clock measuring 6.4m in diameter and, inside, the big fresco painted by Jean-Baptiste Olive, depicting the locations one may go to by hopping aboard and heading south.
For foodies, the Gare de Lyon additionally homes a must-visit eatery, Le Train Bleu. With its gilded moldings, ceiling frescoes, glittering chandeliers and membership chairs, it makes for a spectacular eating expertise, whether or not you might be catching a prepare or not.
parisjetaime.com/eng
4. TROUVILLE-DEAUVILLE, CALVADOS, NORMANDY
This small however completely fashioned Côte Fleurie seaside station whose evolution -is largely as a result of vacationer pull of Normandy’s burgeoning coastal spare time activities from the 1860s owes its existence to the financier and politician, Charles, Duke of Morny. He acquired permission to increase the Paris-Saint-Lazare-Lisieux railway line as much as the Calvados shoreline and it was inaugurated on July 1, 1863.
However, right this moment’s model, a really cute gare within the Neo-Norman architectural fashion (utilizing native supplies similar to brick, pottery tiles from Bavent and pretend timber modeling), arrived in 1931 when the unique passenger constructing was demolished and changed by architect Jean Philippot’s creation. On the primary north-west elevation, you can’t miss the three gables embellished with the coats of arms of the cities of Deauville and Trouville – the 2 adjoining cities the station serves and a clock. The station was declared a historic monument in July 2010.
www.indeauville.fr/en
en.trouvillesurmer.org
5. LA ROCHELLE, CHARENTE-MARITIME, NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE
First conceived in 1906 to enhance entry for guests to the burgeoning seaside resort, development of architect Pierre Esquié’s majestic, monumental station started in 1909, however was interrupted by the First World War and work didn’t resume till 1919. Finally inaugurated in November 1922, it’s dominated by a 45m-high bell tower (Grosse Horloge), taller than the well-known towers on the port city’s harbor entrance.
The façade is embellished with engravings impressed by marine fauna whereas the passenger corridor is adorned with a big mosaic of crusing ships by A. Biret.
www.nous-larochelle.fr/en
From France Today Magazine
Lead picture credit score: Photo: Shutterstock
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