We all know that the Paris metro loves to break records. From the Line 13, crowned as one of the worst lines in the world, to the Gare du Nord, which boasts the highest traffic every day in Europe, and let's not forget the smell of certain stations, unanimously voted by our editorial team as the worst scent in the universe. These are just a few of the achievements that showcase the greatness (or not) of the Paris metro. And to top it all off, did you know that the capital also has the largest station in the world? So, is it Gare du Nord, Auber, Châtelet-les-Halles, or Montparnasse that holds this title of the fortunate winner?
Kilometers of hallways
Any self-respecting Parisian knows that in the capital, there are transfers we prefer to avoid at all costs. Walking from Gare de Lyon to Gare d’Austerlitz outside, or getting to Saint-Augustin when coming from Opéra (by the way,... the longest transfer in the City of Light) or, even worse, having to switch at Châtelet. This station is a bit of the black sheep of Paris, and let's be honest, it’s for good reason, as it is simply the largest underground station in the world!
Châtelet c'est vraiment la pire station de Paris, tu tournes au mauvais endroit, tu te retrouves face à trois couloirs en mode "choisis au hasard et peut-être que tu arriveras à ta destination"
— Wizarding Law (@Barmanjuridique) June 10, 2021
A taste of hell, which often translates into endless minutes spent staring at signs trying to find the right direction. Same goes for never, I mean never meeting up with friends there, unless you have your little habits already established; otherwise, you're in for hours of « Which exit did you take? », or « I'm near the forum, I can't find the way to 7 », in short, an escape game that's way less fun. We typically, in such cases, sit on the ground, cry and wait for our mom to come pick us up.
A bouquet of numbers
It must be said that this tricky station actually consists of 3 distinct stations: Châtelet to the north, Les Halles to the south, and Châtelet-les-Halles, which extends over a kilometers below. It has 5 metro stations (including 2 stops for line 4) and 3 RER stations, for a total of 1,500 trains—about 120 per hour, or 1 every two seconds—spread over 7 platforms. The space, which stretches 315 meters long and 60 wide, features no less than 19 exits divided into 3 zones: Forum, Seine, and Rivoli.
La station Châtelet Les Halles, pire Escape game de France, ça bouge pas.
— Cnd (@CMCnd) October 13, 2022
And we'll skip over the endless escalators, which seem like they’ll never end, especially if you’re embarking on the daring trek from the RER B to metro line 11. If that’s you, we hope you have 2 or 3 podcasts or a copy of Belle du Seigneur under your arm to pass the time. A tip: if you have the option, take another route for your transfers, it’ll save you some time…