About Gare de l'Est
One of six large railway stations in Paris, Gare d l'Est has been an important part of the country's rail network since it was opened. Designed to serve trains from the eastern part of the country, Gare de l'Est is close to Gare du Nord and the Eurostar terminal, making it an extremely busy station. In fact, nearly 40 million passengers a year travel through the station.
Gare de l'Est was first opened in 1849, making it one of France's oldest stations. Officially opened by Napoleon the Third, the station quickly grew from its original single platform. It was renovated in 1885 and in 1900 as part of architect Georges-Eugene Hausmann's large-scale redesigning of the city. It was also the location of the first journey of the legendary Orient Express.
The First World War saw many soldiers pass through the station on the way to the front, and millions of them never returned. A large mural inside the station commemorates this sacrifice. In 1931, the station doubled in size, with a new part being built right next to the old part. During the Second World War, an air raid bunker was built into the station, and the bunker still survives to this day and can be visited on Heritage Days.
Things to do in Gare de l'Est
With excellent transport links throughout the city, Gare de l’Est is a great place to begin your exploration of Paris. And you don’t have to go far from the station to begin exploring the city. Many of France’s most iconic attractions are easily reached from Gare de l’Est.
- Celebrate the Bohemian side of Paris in Montmartre. This neighborhood, built on a hill dominated by the church of Sacre Couer, is one of Paris's most iconic. The former home of many world-renowned artists, Montmartre is still a popular place with artists and is often described as being like a village within the city.
- Treat your tastebuds at Paris' Chocolate Museum. This quirky location explains over 4,000 years of history of the world's favorite treat. Don't worry; there will be samples.
- Admire modern architecture at the Pompidou center. This world-famous building appears to be built inside out, with its stairs and escalators on the outside of the building instead of inside. It functions as an exhibition center, art gallery, and cultural venue, and there’s always something interesting going on at this icon of Paris.
- Don’t lose your head at the Place de la Concorde. Paris’s largest public square was the site of guillotine executions during the French Revolution. Now, it’s home to some of the city’s most impressive buildings and is a great place to explore French history.
- Dive into the greatest art in the world at the Louvre. One of Paris's top tourist attractions is also one of the world's greatest museums. The Louvre's sprawling collection covers just about every period in human history, from ancient prehistory to cutting-edge modern art. Home to the Mona Lisa, the Louvre is one of the cultural jewels of the world.
Transit options in Gare de l'Est
- High-speed TGV trains connect Gare de l'Est to Reims, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, and Munich, among other towns.
- Gare de l'Est has its own Metro station, and is served by lines 4 and 7.
- Buses 38, 46, 54, and others stop right outside Gare de l'Est, making it easy to reach just about anywhere in the city from the station.
Luggage storage in Gare de l'Est
For attractions on the north side of Paris, Gare de l'Est could hardly be more convenient. It's only a short walk from the station and some of the city’s most popular sites, and the excellent transit connections make it even easier to explore. But nothing kills a trip quicker than unnecessary heavy bags. Let Bounce help you track down a luggage storage near Gare de l'Est so you can store your belongings safely and not have to carry them around with you. No matter where you are, there's bound to be a Bounce location close to you.
Activities and attractions near Gare de l'Est
- Musee d'Orsay: Paris is home to some of the world's best museums, and there's more to the city's cultural treasures than just the Louvre. The Musee d'Orsay is an institution dedicated to art from 1848 to 1914. While this may sound like a narrow focus, the museum houses work from some of the world's best-known artists, such as Cézanne, van Gogh, Monet, and Toulouse-Lautrec. If you have an interest in Impressionism, painting, or just art in general, this is a fantastic place to spend a few hours. Note that large bags are not permitted, so make sure you use a luggage storage near Gare de l'Est to store your unneeded possessions.
- Eiffel Tower: You can't come to Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower. In fact, given the way the tower dominates the city skyline, you'll see it whether you want to or not. But as one of the most iconic buildings in the world, the tower is worth making a special trip to visit. Let the elevator carry you up to the viewing platform for an unsurpassed view over Paris. Sometimes, an attraction is an icon for a reason.
- Notre Dame: See the spiritual heart of France at Notre Dame cathedral. Much of Paris' medieval buildings were destroyed in the late 19th century as the city was redesigned, but this stunning church and the neighborhood around it survived. One of the best-known cathedrals in the world, Notre Dame is renowned for its magnificent stained glass, its twin bell towers, and its ornate sculptures and gargoyles. Heavily damaged by a fire in 2019, the Cathedral is still an impressive monument to see and is the heart of one of Paris's many fascinating neighborhoods.