125 Years Underground: The Paris Metro Opens Its Backstage

RATP is celebrating this year the 125th anniversary of the Paris metro during the European Heritage Days.

In 1900, as Paris prepared to host the World Exposition, the capital inaugurated a means of transport set to transform its face permanently: the metro. Line 1, connecting Porte Maillot and Vincennes, was opened on July 19 of that same year, offering Parisians a new underground mobility that would gradually become the backbone of the city. One hundred twenty-five years later, RATP celebrates this history during the 42nd edition of the European Heritage Days, on September 20 and 21.

The theme chosen at the national level, dedicated to architectural heritage, resonates perfectly with the legacy left by the Paris network. For beyond its utilitarian purpose, the metro is also an open book on the city’s history: from Hector Guimard’s Art Nouveau kiosks to the modern murals that adorn certain stations, to the technical works that have become symbols of collective memory.

The metro, Parisian heritage

To mark this anniversary, RATP is offering a vast program of activities and guided tours. Visitors will be able to participate in a unique treasure hunt on Line 1, retracing its original role and filled with puzzles and anecdotes. A collector’s booklet will accompany this immersive journey through the history of the metro.

Beyond the iconic stations, the event also opens up the backstage of the network. The training center for metro driving and the one dedicated to catenary workers will reveal essential but often unknown professions. The Lagny bus center will also welcome the public for an immersion in its maintenance workshop and technical installations. The Championnet Workshops, a true hive where nearly 250 trades contribute to the maintenance of the trains, will open their doors to illustrate the complexity of the know-how deployed daily.

Finally, innovation will not be left out: at the RATP House, the curious can test a simulator for driving the legendary RER MS61 or participate in interactive activities aimed at families.

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Through this celebration, RATP reminds us that the Paris metro, inaugurated at the turn of the 20th century, is not just a mobility tool: it is a living heritage, shaped by history and always looking towards the future.

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