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Metro: the ugliest station in Paris finally transformed

undefined undefined 7 mars 2026 undefined 07h30

undefined undefined 9 mars 2026 undefined 11h40

The Editor

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It's one of the busiest stations on line 13. However, since 1964, La Fourche had quite an off-putting exterior, mainly due to the presence of gigantic concrete guardrails. Luckily, after 11 months of work, it has just regained its original style, and we couldn't be happier!

We know that certain elements make Paris an instantly recognizable city. We could talk about its most famous buildings, of course, but also its cobblestone streets, its Wallace fountains, and especially its Art Nouveau metro entrances that give it worldwide fame. However, over time, some stations have lost their former glory, like La Fourche, the famous stop on line 13, which has finally been transformed after more than 60 years of dullness.


An unfortunate accident

When it opened in 1911, La Fourche station, which marks the split between the two branches of line 13, had nothing to stand out. However, everything changed for it on June 6, 1964, when a bus driver crashes into the station, and the bus only avoids tumbling down the stairs thanks to the presence of a famous green gate, which, unfortunately, won't survive the accident.

And if the station and the bus come out more or less unscathed, that’s not the case for a poor passerby, who will get hit on the head by some loose stones around the metro entrance due to the bus. Luckily, she only ended up with a mild skull injury. In any case, following this incident, the original barrier has to be removed, and it will be replaced by a kind of concrete monstrosity that has attracted all the local kids, who saw it as the perfect spot to hang out.


A Major Construction Project

But here’s the thing, after 61 years of looking like nothing, the neighborhood associations have started to protest in every possible way, and rightfully so! They finally managed to win their case, since nearly a year ago now, on March 31, 2025, the work began...

A grand renovation project to restore the station to its original appearance, pre-accident, is underway! To make this happen, the City of Paris has called on skilled artisans to recreate the barriers and the vintage totem, using some period materials from stock. Gone is the unappealing bunker look; since the end of January, the station has proudly revealed a stunning honey-colored tile, traditional green barriers, and even a genuine Gobert plan door from the Saint-Jacques station. And let me tell you, it looks fantastic…