Only London, Glasgow and Budapest developed a Metro system earlier than Paris, in 1900.

The Parisian metro was created by engineer Fulgence Bienvenue (Fulgence Bienvenue) in whose honour one of the metro stations is named – Montparnasse-Bienvenüe. Most of the stations were built before World War II, although in the1990s a new line, #14, was opened with modern stations and trains without operators. The transparent doors to the platforms open automatically when the train stops. On other lines you need to pull the handle to open the train doors to get on and off.

Arts et Métiers metro station in Paris

Some of the metro stations are noticeable for their lack of advertising boards while others are decorated to a theme connected with that specific certain quarter such as Arts et Métiers, Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre, Cluny-La Sorbonne and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.