The city of Paris has six major train stations which serve domestic as well as international destinations. Traveling to or from Paris via train is a wonderful alternative to air travel, as it allows you to see more of the French countryside and avoid the crowds and extreme security measures at the airports. The SNCF national rail company provides ticketing and reservations for all stations.
Gare d'Austerlitz (Place Valhubert, 13th Arrondissement) provides service to destinations in the southwest of France, including Bordeaux and Toulouse, as well as the Loire Valley, Spain, and Portugal. The station was rebuilt from 1865 to 1868 by noted architect Pierre-Louis Renaud .
Gare de l'Est's (lace du 8 Mai 1945, 10th Arrondissement) trains serve Eastern France, including Alsace and Strasbourg, and also Germany, Luxembourg, and Eastern Europe. The station's former name, Gare de Strasbourg, was changed in 1854.
Gare de Lyon (20 Boulevard Diderot, 12th Arrondissement) serves trains, many of which are bullet trains, from Aix en Provence, Lyon, Marseille, the French Riviera, and on to Geneva, and Italy.
Gare Montparnasse (Place R. Dautry, 15th Arrondissement) provides service to Bordeaux and Nantes primarily via bullet trains. One of oldest stations in Paris, this station was completely rebuilt after WWII.
Gare du Nord's (Place Napoléon III, 10th Arrondissement) trains serve destinations in Northern France, the United Kingdom (via Eurostar trains), and Northern Europe, including Belgium, Holland, and Scandinavia.
Gare Saint Lazare (108 Rue Saint-Lazare, 8th Arrondissement) was the first train station in Paris and serves trains from central Northern France, including Normandy, as well as England (non-Eurostar trains). |
