French Railway Stations - Monumental Construction

Gares de France : Constructions monumentales

Overview

The train stations of Bordeaux, Strasbourg, and Lyon are among the most spectacular in France, designed by the most daring architects and engineers. Three colossal monuments, three multimodal hubs, built in France's largest cities to handle millions of passengers. These stations were equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technological innovations unique for their time. In Lyon, the Saint-Exupéry station takes the form of a bird spreading its wings, its distinctive feature being the 300 tunnel for TGVs passing at full speed. In Strasbourg, a monumental glass roof completely covers the historic façade of the station, built in 1883 by the Germans. In Bordeaux, a giant 17,400 m² hall defies the laws of gravity with spans of 57 meters, five times the width of the nave of Notre-Dame Cathedral.