Petit-Montrouge in Paris in D�partement de Paris, �le-de-France, France — Western Europe

Gare de Denfert-Rochereau / Denfert-Rochereau Station

� Histoire de Paris �

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 27, 2024

1. Gare de Denfert-Rochereau / Denfert-Rochereau Station Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Le 23 juin 1846, les ducs de Nemours et de Montpensier, repr�sentant leur p�re, le roi Louis-Philippe, inauguraient � la barri�re d'Enfer la ligne de chemin de fer Paris-Sceaux. Edifi�e par l'architecte Dulong, cette station est la plus ancienne des gares subsistant � Paris. Le b�timent circulaire permettait � des trains articul�s de d�crire une courbe de tr�s faible rayon, et d'�viter ainsi les plaques tournantes destin�es � remettre les locomotives dans le bon sens. Ce syst�me original mais fragile fut supprim� en 1895, lors du prolongement de la ligne jusqu'� la gare du Luxembourg. Deux pavillons encadrent le b�timent central, � l'origine destin�s l'un � la direction et aux bureaux, l'autre � l'octroi et aux bagages et marchandises que l'on �levait jusqu'aux wagons par un treuil.

(English translation:)
On June 23, 1846, the Dukes of Nemours and Montpensier, representing their father, King Louis-Philippe, inaugurated the Paris-Sceaux railway line at the Barri�re d'Enfer (literally the �Gate of Hell� as the toll collection complex was dubbed). Built by the architect Dulong, this

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station is the oldest surviving rail station in Paris. The circular building allowed articulated trains to traverse a curve of very small radius, and thus avoid the turntables that would be needed to set the locomotives in the right direction. This original but fragile system was removed in 1895, when the line was extended to Luxembourg Station. Two pavilions frame the central building, one originally intended for management and offices, the other for the toll and the baggage and goods which were raised to the rail cars by winch.

Erected by Ville de Paris.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Histoire de Paris series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 23, 1846.

Location. 48° 49.993′ N, 2° 20.009′ E. Marker is in Paris, �le-de-France, in D�partement de Paris. It is in Petit-Montrouge. Marker is at the intersection of Avenue Ren� Coty and Place Denfert-Rochereau, on the right when traveling north on Avenue Ren� Coty. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Avenue Ren� Coty, Paris, �le-de-France 75014, France. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Square de l�Abb� Migne (1880) (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Catacombes (about 120 meters away); Le Lion de Belfort/ The Lion of Belfort

Gare de Denfert-Rochereau / Denfert-Rochereau Station and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 27, 2024

2. Gare de Denfert-Rochereau / Denfert-Rochereau Station and Marker

The marker is visible just to the left of the leftmost of the three entrances.

(about 150 meters away); Square Claude Nicolas Ledoux 1894 (about 210 meters away); Square Jacques Antoine 1896 (about 210 meters away); Georges Lamarque (about 240 meters away); Square Georges Lamarque (1904) (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Charles Couyba (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paris.

Also see . . . Denfert-Rochereau station (Paris RER) (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Denfert-Rochereau station (French: Gare de Denfert-Rochereau) is a railway station in Paris. It was one of the first stations of the French railway network, and is still in use as a station of Paris' RER line B.

The station was built from 1842 and opened on 7 June 1846 as the Gare d'Enfer (or Gare de Paris-d'Enfer), after the nearby Place d'Enfer (now called the Place Denfert-Rochereau), itself named after the Barri�re d'Enfer. The station building has a circular shape as it possessed a rail loop. Indeed, the station was the Parisian terminus of a line from Sceaux. The Ligne de Sceaux used the Arnoux system (after its inventor), as it required the construction of specific engines capable of travelling on very tight curves and broad gauge tracks of 1,750 mm
Photographed By V.P. Paris, 1904

3. Gare de Denfert-Rochereau (aka Gare de Sceaux)
(5 ft 8+7⁄8 in). The Arnoux system was abandoned in 1891 and the line was converted to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (standard) gauge. The line was extended to Luxembourg station in 1895, with the newly created Port-Royal station along the way. At the same time, the station was renamed after Pierre Philippe Denfert-Rochereau�.

(Submitted on May 15, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 44 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 15, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.