Paris’ Metro may be well-known for its art nouveau-influenced stations, with their arching cast-iron entrances decorated with leaves, and their white-tiled platforms. But there’s one station that looks more like it’s stepped out of a Jules Verne science fiction story – Arts et Métiers. Given its name by the arts and craft museum above it, the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, the platform for Metro line 11 here was given its unique look as part of the museum’s 200-year anniversary. Belgian comic artist François Schuiten turned the tunnels into a steampunk-style submarine, taking inspiration from Jules Verne’s Nautilus. The polished copper walls with portholes onto miniature civilisations, huge cogs on the ceiling, carved wooden seats and brass detailing make it a world away from your usual commute.
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15 Comments
Ship's Cook
November 7, 2011 at 11:54 amI have got to see that.
Lucy Dodsworth
November 7, 2011 at 12:07 pmWe saw a photo of it a while back and thought the same! Didn’t get time to check out the museum this time but it’s going on the list for the next Paris visit.
chicquero
November 7, 2011 at 12:40 pmLOVEEEE IT
marinachetner
November 7, 2011 at 3:32 pmfantastic photos of a metro I have never known about!
restlessjo
November 7, 2011 at 3:57 pmWierd and rather wonderful.
AnaLuciaSilva
November 7, 2011 at 11:20 pmIts actually pretty cool and definitely worth seeing 😉
Rebecca
November 8, 2011 at 10:00 amOoh – thanks for featuring this. I would never have known about it and now I need to see it.
crampmystyle
November 8, 2011 at 1:32 pmThese are the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen. Can I reblog them? With links and credit to you and your blog of course- I want to do a post about the metros. My personal favorite is Abbesses. You are my eyes to Paris!
Lucy Dodsworth
November 8, 2011 at 2:03 pmHey, yes no problem to reblog them. Glad you like them, it’s quite a place and definitely worth a visit someday. Good idea to do a post about the metro here, there are so many interesting details and it looks like you have a good eye for them – the photos of faces you’ve got are really great, I love that sort of hidden art.
Bernadette
November 8, 2011 at 3:45 pmThat metro station looks great, thanks for showing it.
Jacqueline
November 9, 2011 at 1:06 amAmazing!
Peter
November 13, 2011 at 3:11 pmwonderful! thanks for sharing this!
dojo
November 21, 2011 at 11:59 amWow, it looks amazing. That’s really a station to visit and photograph.
Kim
June 14, 2017 at 5:43 pmThis looks amazing! I’m going to Paris at the beginning of September and will definitely add this to my intinery. I’ve also been reading your other posts of Paris, great tips and ideas.
Lucy
June 16, 2017 at 11:11 pmThanks – hope you enjoy it and have a fantastic time in Paris!