Metro-expo-resto #9
“mÉtro, Expo, Resto”
Break out of the mould of “métro, boulot, dodo” (a French expression that, translated literally, means “Métro, work, sleep”) and get ready for “Métro, expo, resto”, as Babylangues introduces you to a new way of exploring the Paris Métro system. Join us in our quest to discover the various stations dotted across the city. How did they get their names? What are the surrounding neighbourhoods like? What can be found nearby? So many questions and Babylangues has all the answers!
Pere Lachaise
Père Lachaise metro station is located on the border of the 11th and 20th arrondissements in Paris. Opened officially on the 31st January 1903 as an extension of the line 2, this station now serves the line 2 and 3.
This particular station takes its namesake from the infamous Parisian Cemetery located close by, Père Lachaise Cemetery. This Parisian landmark is named after Père François d’Aix de La Chaise, confessor to Louis XIV of France. The platforms are decorated in an ‘Andreu-Motte’ style, implemented in various metro stations in Paris between the years of 1974 and 1984 by architect Paul Andreu and decorator Joseph-André Motte. This largely consists of the mixture of the traditional white tiles with the introduction of a little bit of colour, usually two coloured lines.
- Fun fact: in 1909 this station was the first metro station to have an escalator!
- Fun fact: In 2013 4, 682, 893 passengers entered the metro at this station making it the 94th most popular metro station.
What To Do Nearby?
The station is evidently located very close to the Père Lachaise Cemetery. This is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris and is notable for being the first garden cemetery. Each year Père Lachaise Cemetery has more than 3.5 million visitors, making it the most visited cemetery in the world. It is a beautiful space and within it are the graves of some very famous people including Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and James Morrison.
The neighbourhood that surrounds this station has been recognised for its village-like feel. Following recent gentrification this arrondissement has become the regular stomping ground of young Parisians and it has seen the opening up of a flux of bars and restaurants that often have a lively and youthful buzz.
