Voltaire: origin of the name and station history
Served by: metro line 9.
Why this name?
The station takes its name from boulevard Voltaire and the former place Voltaire, in tribute to François-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire (1694-1778). The subtitle « Léon Blum » comes from the renaming of the square in 1957 in honour of Léon Blum (1872-1950), a figure of French socialism; it does not appear on maps. It lies in the heart of the Roquette district, under place Léon-Blum, near the town hall of the 11th arrondissement.
Anecdote
Voltaire is one of the three prototypes of the Andreu-Motte style, with Pont-Neuf (line 7) and Ledru-Rollin (line 8), whose components were tested from 1974. A bust of Voltaire is displayed in a niche in the ticket hall.
Around Voltaire
- Église Sainte-Marguerite, 550 m away — A 17th-century church whose graveyard is said to have received the remains of the mysterious 'Temple child'.
- Marché Bastille, 800 m away — One of the largest food markets in Paris, held on Boulevard Richard-Lenoir.
- Place Léon-Blum, 90 m away — A lively square in the 11th arrondissement, surrounded by cafés and local shops.