Grands Boulevards (Paris Métro)

Grands Boulevards (), formerly named Rue Montmartre (1931–1998), is a station on Lines 8 and 9 of the Paris Métro. In 2019, it was the 44th busiest station of the Métro network, with 6,807,424 yearly users."Trafic annuel entrant par station du réseau ferré 2019"
, RATP (in French).

The section of both lines from just east of Richelieu–Drouot to west of République was built under the Grand Boulevards, partly on the border between the 2nd and 9th arrondissements, that replaced the Louis XIII wall and is in soft ground, which was once the course of the Seine. The lines are built on two levels, with Line 8 on the higher level and Line 9 in the lower level. The platforms are at the sides and the box containing the lines and supporting the road above is strengthened by a central wall between the tracks. There is no interconnection between the lines at ''Grands Boulevards'', with each level having different accesses to the street.

History

Opening

The station was opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of Line 8 from Richelieu–Drouot to Porte de Charenton. The Line 9 platforms were opened on 10 December 1933 with the extension of the line from Richelieu–Drouot to Porte de Montreuil.

Name change

The station was originally called "Rue Montmartre," but the tiled nameplates read simply "Montmartre." This caused confusion for non-Parisians and tourists, as the Montmartre neighbhorhood lies significantly north of the station. In 1966, an attempt was made to improve clarity by covering the original nameplates with signs reading "Rue Montmartre," but confusion continued. The station was renamed to "Grands Boulevards" in 1998 to reflect the programme of the former Mayor of Paris, Jean Tiberi, to upgrade the main Boulevards of Paris and because the old name continued to be misleading.

Luigi Loir - Les Grands Boulevards.jpg, ''Les Grands Boulevards'' by Luigi Loir (1845–1916)
Accès Station Grands Boulevards Métro Paris Boulevard Poissonnière - Paris II (FR75) - 2021-06-12 - 1.jpg, Station entrance on Boulevard Poissonière, just west of Boulevard Montmartre

Passenger services

Access

The station has six entrances:
* Entrance 1 - ''Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre''
* Entrance 2 - ''Boulevard Montmartre, Musée Grévin''
* Entrance 3 - ''Rue Montmartre''
* Entrance 4 - ''Boulevard Poissonnière''
* Entrance 5 - ''Rue Saint-Fiacre''
* Entrance 6 - ''Rue Rougemont''

Station layout

Platforms

The platforms of the two lines, 105 meters long, have a particular configuration. Two in number per stopping point, they are isolated in two half-stations separated by a central wall due to their construction in unstable land. Those of line 8 have an elliptical vault while those of line 9, arranged below, have vertical side walls and a horizontal reinforced concrete ceiling.

Their decoration is in the ''Andreu-Motte'' style in both cases. Those of line 8 have two red light strips (one per half-station), a bench in flat red tiles and orange ''Motte'' seats. Those of line 9 have two green light canopies (one per half-station, offset on the side opposite the track), benches in flat green tiles and green ''Motte'' seats. These fittings are combined with the flat white ceramic tiles, which are placed horizontally and in staggered rows on the side walls and the vaults of line 8, while they are placed vertically and aligned on the side walls of line 9, the ceiling of the latter being simply painted white. The advertising frames are metallic, and the name of the station is written in Parisine typeface on enamelled plates.

Bus connections

The station is served by lines 20, 32, 39, 74 and 85 of the RATP Bus Network.

Nearby

* Musée Grévin
* Théâtre des Nouveautés
* Théâtre des Variétés
* Passage Jouffroy
* Passage des Panoramas
* Galerie Saint-Marc
* Galerie Montmartre

References

Sources

*Roland, Gérard (2003). ''Stations de métro. D’Abbesses à Wagram.'' Éditions Bonneton.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grands Boulevards (Paris Metro)
Paris Métro stations in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris
Paris Métro stations in the 9th arrondissement of Paris
Railway stations in France opened in 1931