After fourteen months of labor, eight months of being partially closed and a substantial funding of 32 million euros, the Paris RER practice station Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame is wanting virtually model new. In the event you’ve already spent an evening at certainly one of our inns, there’s a excessive likelihood that you just’ve been by means of the station prior to now – it’s fairly an essential transport hub, with two RER practice traces and underground walkways to 2 close by metro. It additionally occurs to be simply the place 4 of Paris’ arrondissements meet, and is unfold over three of them!
So right here’s a fast take a look at what’s new on the station, and the way your journeys to the Paris airports and Château de Versailles will now be that rather more agreeable.
You already know that Notre-Dame is benefitting from lots of work this yr, however you might not know that the practice station bearing its title is just too! (After all, for those who’re staying on certainly one of our inns, the cathedral is only a brief stroll away).
The Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame practice station was constructed in 1900, initially as an precise steam practice station. The road turned the RER C line in 1979, and the cumbersome double-barreled title got here into impact when the RER B line operating roughly north-south was added in 1988. Oddly, every line is run by a special entity, with the nationwide practice firm SNCF taking care of the RER C, and the RATP dealing with the RER B. It’s additionally one of many uncommon stations to have exits located in three completely different arrondissements.
Stranger nonetheless is the labyrinth of tunnels linking the 2 city railways traces to the Paris metro system, notably Cluny-La Sorbonne on line 10 and Saint-Michel on line 4.
An estimated 32 million individuals move by means of the station yearly, however till now it wasn’t essentially a nice expertise – it was darkish, with no home windows and restricted entry for anybody with mobility points.
Through the renovation:
— {the electrical} techniques had been all up to date to trendy norms,
— two escalators escaliers and a elevate have been added,
— the platforms have been resurfaced,
— the bridges to cross over the traces now have glass panels on the perimeters, however the main change is…
— twenty-eight giant home windows have been opened up alongside the facet of the Seine, permitting pure gentle in (in addition to being waterproof ought to the river ever severely floods).
These new openings additionally assist your sense of orientation, and the pure gentle fully transforms the texture of the place.
All through the station, there’s much less a sense of being constricted, there’s extra space, the gates to the platforms are model new, so are the escalators… The whole lot is shiny and new!
There’s one vestige of the station’s 70s historical past that we’re glad has been saved. It’s a ceramic paintings on a wall of one of many RER C platforms.
In the event you stroll alongside it in a single route you see a white and brown sample that adjustments whenever you stroll alongside from the opposite finish. We’re nonetheless looking for out who originated this groovy piece of artwork!
And on the finish of the video under, you’ll additionally see the nice view of the Seine for those who exit on that facet, with the river virtually at eye degree and Notre-Dame only a minute away…
So, you wish to go to Charles de Gaulle airport? Or Orly? The Château de Versailles? Invalides? The Eiffel Tower? Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame will get you there with out altering trains.
And only a few minutes from the station you’ll discover Notre-Dame, the Conciergerie, Sainte-Chapelle and… our inns! Listed below are the primary exits and a map exhibiting what’s simply 5 minutes away on foot.
In the event you appreciated this text, you’ll in all probability additionally respect our go to of Invalides station, fairly a mysterious place that was once an Air France terminal and nonetheless has a hidden restaurant utilized by members of the federal government!
And for more information on Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame, the related Wikipedia web page may be discovered right here !
Bonus! The station has a curious hidden entrance incrusted in a constructing, masquerading as a store on rue Xavier Privas. In the event you’re attempting to entry the RER C line in a wheelchair or wish to keep away from steps, this would possibly the doorway for you! 🙂
