Abbesses (Paris Métro)

Abbesses Paris Métro station
Station statistics
Lines
Depth	36 m (118 ft)
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Other information
Opened	31 October 1912
Code	3105
Owned by	RATP
Fare zone	1
Navigo	Accepted
Services
Preceding station   Paris Métro   Following station Pigalle toward Mairie d'Issy   Lamarck – Caulaincourt toward Porte de la Chapelle

Abbesses (French pronunciation: [abɛs], literally Abbesses) is a station on Paris Métro Line 12, in the Montmartre district and the 18th arrondissement. Abbesses is one of the few deep stations of Paris métro, at 36 metres (118 feet) below ground, as it is located on western side of the butte (hill) of Montmartre. Access to the platforms is usually by elevators, but they can be accessed by decorated stairs.

Location

Nearby are the Montmartre district, the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre (church), the Place du Tertre and the Église Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre (Art Nouveau church). The station is named after the Place des Abbesses, referring to the abbesses of the nearby abbey of the Dames-de-Montmartre.

History

The station opened on 31 October 1912 as part of the extension of the Nord-Sud company's line A from Pigalle to Jules Joffrin. On 27 March 1931, line A became line 12 of the Métro. The RATP has recently completed a major renovation of this station, which has returned it to its splendid original Nord-Sud condition.

Station layout

The station's entrance, designed by Hector Guimard (1867–1942), is one of only three original Guimard entrances left in Paris. (The others are located at Porte Dauphine, and at the intersection of Rue des Halles and Place Sainte-Opportune in the 1st arrondissment.) The entrance was originally used for the Hôtel de Ville metro station, but transferred to its current location in 1970.

Abbesses in popular culture

• Abbesses is featured in Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain; a working title for the film was Amélie des Abbesses (Amélie of the Abbesses).
• Louis Vuitton has a messenger style bag in the Monogram Canvas line named after the station.
• A cartoon version of the station appears in the official music video for "Flowers", the ninth track on Émilie Simon).
• "Abbesses" is also the name of a track by the French turntablism group, Birdy Nam Nam.
• "Abbesses" is also where Minette's fashion studio is located in a Nancy Drew Pc game Danger By Design.

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  Abbesses ticket hall

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  Line 12 platforms at Abbesses

External links

• Renovation works schedule from RATP web-site (French)