The stations as we know them
As in a famous board game, station churches are part of the Parisian landscape. In a capital where public transport is essential, these stations see millions of people pass through each day, whether it’s for work, school, or simply to visit the many charms of Paris. These buildings that, like any monument, have their own history. We are all aware of the Gare de Lyon and its famous clock tower or the Gare de l’Est, which was almost hit by a shell from “la Grosse Bertha” during the First World War. And among all these stations, do we really know the one that preceded them all?
But where does the name of this iconic station come from?
The 19th century is a major era in the history of humanity, often recognized as the age of great revolutions, including technical and industrial revolutions. The various Universal Exhibitions organized during that century testify to the desire to modernize our knowledge and manufacturing techniques, as evidenced by the Crystal Palace of 1851 and of course, the Eiffel Tower in 1889. But the 19th century also began with a major revolution: the birth of the railway on February 21, 1804. An activity that would revolutionize the entire world, thus revolutionizing modes of travel and transportation. It was not until 1837 that the Paris to Saint-Germain-en-Laye railway was inaugurated, being the very first railway line in the Ile-de-France region. A railway also means a station, and this is how a wooden structure, called “Embarcadère de l’ouest,” was built at the site of the current Place de l’Europe. Initially relocated further south by the architect Alfred Armand, a new station was finally built from 1842 to 1853 by the same architect and the engineer Eugène Flachat. For the location, they chose Rue Saint Lazare, a major road whose name refers to the patron saint of lepers in the Catholic religion, Lazarus of Bethany. The station hence got its name from that street.
One of the best emblems of the Industrial Revolution in France
Primarily intended for travelers, the railway line of the Embarcadère de l’ouest was the first to exclude horses and to operate wagons entirely driven by locomotives. Initially, it connected Paris to the port of Le Pecq before being extended to the Saint-Germain plateau in 1847. The Paris line opening in 1837 was attended in the absence of King Louis-Philippe I, as they feared the train would drive him mad, but it was attended by Queen Marie-Amélie. In 1867, Gare Saint-Lazare became the most important station in Paris, with twenty-five million passengers per year. Such success led to the need for extensions. A new face for the station will be unveiled on that occasion of the Universal Exhibition held in Paris, in the presence of Emperor Napoleon III, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Emperor Alexander II of Russia. As for the facade that can still be admired today, it dates back to 1889. The result of an extensive enlargement carried out from 1885, by the architect Juste Lisch on the occasion, once again, of the Universal Exhibition. The extensive work that gave Gare Saint-Lazare its current appearance. For the occasion, the artist Claude Monet painted a dozen paintings reflecting this particularly special atmosphere, thanks to its glass and metal architecture, the perfect emblem of the rapidly growing industrial society at that time.
A piece of history that is more than just a train station
One of the most beautiful parts of this historic station is the walkway called “de l’impératrice Eugénie,” a true architectural gem. This walkway once allowed passengers taking the ship-trains to America to go directly from the former Hôtel Terminus, now the dazzling Hilton Paris Opéra, to the station. Legend even has it that some travelers would sometimes cross it in their pajamas. Closed for many years, it was restored in 2013 and now houses the Dalloyau restaurant, a French gastronomy house since 1682. Located in the former waiting room, the commercial center is bathed in light thanks to the sumptuous glass roofs, ideal for strolling around the 80 shops and restaurants there. Today, Gare Saint-Lazare, a historical monument since 1984, which has long preserved its title of the busiest station in Paris before being overtaken by Gare du Nord, has 27 platforms and is connected to several urban transport lines, be it the metro, bus, and RER. A piano is available for passengers to use at any time, as if to dive back in time for a few notes right into the 19th century…
Gare Saint-Lazare
13 rue d’Amsterdam
75008 Paris
