GARD DU NORD / ONE PICTURE & 1000 WORDS

Gard du Nord railway station, 10th arrondissement, April, 2013.  Pillar to Post photo.
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TRAVEL TUESDAY—Gard du Nord, the famed Paris railway station in the 10th arrondissement (112 Rue de Maubeuge) first opened in 1846 but within a few years it was judged to be too small.  A major rebuilding under the direction of Architect Jacques Hittorff occurred between 1861and 1865.  Hittorff’s version is pretty much what we see today.  In 1889 and from 1930 to the present the station has been constantly expanded as fast rail travel in Europe has become increasingly popular.

Gard du Nord main facade, Paris

Gare du Nord is the station for trains to Northern France and to international destinations in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

The statues outside the main entrance represented the cities outside Paris that the station served in the 19th century.  The statue at the apex of the station's front exterior represents Paris.

Photo: Gard du Nord, Paris, France, April 2013 by Pillar to Post photographer Phyllis Shess

Minor note: Founder of Pillar to Post blog, published daily as an online magazine since November, 2011 appears in this photo.