Porte Du Nord

Slipping through time’s veil, imagine 1846. The first Gare du Nord, smaller than anticipated, opened its doors. This predecessor to the Porte Du Nord we see today served the burgeoning Paris-Lille railway. Fast forward to the 1860s. The old station, overwhelmed by the rapid growth of rail travel, was deemed insufficient. The Porte Du Nord, part of the new Gare du Nord designed by Jacques Ignace Hittorff, arose in its place. This grand station, with its triumphal arch facade, became a gateway to northern France and beyond. Atop the Porte Du Nord, statues of London, Vienna, Brussels, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne, and Paris stand sentinel. These figures symbolize the reach of the railway, connecting Paris to major European cities. Originally, a magnificent avenue was planned to lead to the Porte Du Nord. However, this ambitious plan never materialized, leaving the station somewhat cramped within the existing street grid. Despite this, the Porte Du Nord and Gare du Nord complex have undergone numerous renovations and expansions. They have accommodated increasing passenger numbers and the arrival of high-speed rail like the Eurostar. Today, Gare du Nord, with its Porte Du Nord entrance, stands as the busiest railway station in Europe. It serves as a bustling hub connecting Paris to the world.