Gare de l'Est (Paris Metro)

The Gare de l'Est is identifiable by its long, symmetrical stone facade, which is crowned at either end by large allegorical statues representing the cities of Strasbourg and Verdun. Originally opened in eighteen forty-nine as the Embarcadère de Strasbourg, the station serves as a primary hub for travel toward eastern France, Germany, and beyond. Its design, commissioned by architect François-Alexandre Duquesney, was intended to anchor the northern end of the axis created by the Boulevard de Strasbourg.