Arsenal station (Paris Métro)

Arsenal station (French pronunciation: [aʁsnal]) is a ghost station of the Paris Métro, situated on Line 5 between the stations of Bastille and Quai de la Rapée, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.

Entrance of the station; in the background, the July Column can be seen, situated in the middle of the Place de la Bastille.

The station

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Location

Arsenal station opened to the public in 1906.[1] It was closed on 2 September 1939, as a result of the mobilization of employees of the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris (CMP) in World War II.[2][1] The station was reopened after the Liberation, but it closed again because of its close proximity to the neighbouring station of Quai de la Rapée. Today, the station serves as a training centre for RATP agents.[citation needed] Access to the station is situated on Boulevard Bourdon.

Culture

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Because of the station's location (just before Quai de la Rapée in the direction towards Voie des Finances), the station played a key element in the film La Grosse Caisse, starring Bourvil in 1965.[1]

It has been proposed to convert Arsenal into a swimming pool, theatre, restaurant or sculpture gallery.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lescurieux, Romain. "Les stations fantômes du métro parisien: Arsenal (Ligne 5)". 20Minutes.fr. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b Willsher, Kim (7 February 2014). "Paris mayor candidate promises lush makeovers for ghost metro stations". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  3. ^ "From grotty to glorious: Ghost stations of Paris could get a stunning second life". CNN. February 10, 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.

48°50′57″N 2°22′00″E / 48.8491°N 2.3666°E / 48.8491; 2.3666