Станция метро "Виктор Гюго" в Париже: история и особенности

Metro station in Paris, France

Victor Hugo (viktɔʁ yɡo) is a station on Paris Métro Line 2. It is named after the author Victor Hugo, and located directly underneath Place Victor Hugo in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.

When first opened in 1900 as part of line 2 Nord, the platforms were built on the tight bend between Avenue Victor Hugo and Avenue Bugeaud. However, when new rolling stocks were introduced in 1931, the curve of the track was too tight for people to board and alight safely on these new trains. So, the station was rebuilt closer to Charles de Gaulle – Étoile (at the time named Étoile) on the straight stretch of track immediately after the curve. The original station is clearly visible from the end of the platforms, and remains accessible to staff. It still features some of the original flat tiles that were first in use on the network, and have now almost entirely disappeared. As part of the RATP Renouveau du métro revival program, the station corridors and platform lighting were renovated on 17 September 2002. In July 2018, after the France national football team won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the station was temporarily renamed Victor Hugo Lloris after captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. In 2019, 3,841,033 travelers entered this station which placed it at the 128th position of metro stations for its usage. It owes its name to its location under Place Victor Hugo and Avenue Victor Hugo, which pay homage to Victor Hugo (1802 1885), French poet, playwright, prose writer, novelist and draftsman, considered to be one of the most important French language writers.

Victor Hugo is a standard configuration station. It has two platforms separated by the metro tracks and the vault is elliptical. The decoration is of the style used for most metro stations. The lighting canopies are white and rounded in the Gaudin style of the renouveau du métro des années 2000 revival and, the bevelled white ceramic tiles cover the walls, the vault and the tympans. The advertising frames are in a faience honey color and the name of the station is also in faience, in the style of the original CMP, a unique case on line 2. The seats are in a Motte style red. The station is distinguished however by the lower part of its platforms which are vertical and not elliptical, except at the end on the Porte Dauphine side (where the accesses take place), which is located within the very end of the old platforms; it is therefore recognizable by its lower vault and the curvature of the platforms at the level of the tympan. The wall on the platform towards Nation has a niche fitted out as a small display window dedicated to Victor Hugo. It houses a particular bust in his likeness. The abandoned old station, also of standard configuration but set in a steep curve, remains clearly visible to the passengers of the trains passing it. It is also possible to see it from the end of the platforms of the current station on the Porte Dauphine side.

The station is served by lines 52 and 82 of the RATP Bus Network.