République: origin of the name and station history
Served by: metro lines 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11.
Why this name?
The station is named after place de la République, so called as part of the project to erect a statue of the Republic at its centre, under discussion since 1878 at the Paris city council. It opened with the first section of line 3, before also welcoming lines 5, 8, 9 and 11. Before the RER arrived, it held the record for connections, five, since equalled by Châtelet with line 14. The crossing of these lines required a complex system of corridors, and the platforms are stacked under the square.
Anecdote
It was the first station on the network to be equipped with lifts, in 1910. Each line has kept its own decor: blue « Ouï-dire » style on line 3, yellow Andreu-Motte on lines 8 and 9 and red on line 11, Gaudin on line 5. Water seepage, suspected to be caused by surface works by the City of Paris, cancelled a refurbishment completed three years earlier; the repairs are estimated at eight million euros.
Around République
- Monument de la République, 20 m away — A vast bronze statue unveiled in 1883, depicting the Republic surrounded by figures of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
- Canal Saint-Martin, 350 m away — A 19th-century canal lined with shaded quays and cast-iron footbridges, popular for strolls and picnics.
- Cirque d'Hiver, 550 m away — A circular performance hall built in 1852, still active today for circus shows and concerts.