Bel-Air (Paris Métro)

Infobox Paris metro
Name=Bel-Air
Day=March 1st
Year=1909
Access=
Municipality=the 12th arrondissement of Paris
Zone=1
Next=
X=215
Y=112

Bel-Air is a station of the Paris Métro, named after the Rue Dugommier. The station is located in the Boulevard de Picpus, between the districts of Picpus and Bel-Air.

History

The station is in the open air at ground level, but the lines are underground to the north and to the south: the trains ascend to the surface before the station to descend when leaving it. This layout was required to clear the railway that connected the former station of Paris Bastille (near Bastille station) to the valley of the Marne, via the former station of Reuilly, and took Parisian workmen to the "guinguettes" on their days off. This line was diverted to become part of RER line A in 1969. The station was closed during World War 2 and remained closed for a prolonged period, not reopening until January 1963.

Places of interest

The old railway has been converted since the years 1990 into the Promenade Plantée — a 4.5km long elevated garden connecting to the Bastille to the Porte de Saint-Mandé, and is much appreciated by Sunday strollers. Cycling and rollerskating is allowed on this section.

The Rothschild Hospital is in the immediate vicinity and the Trousseau Hospital for children is further off.

The single entrance to the station leads to the tail of trains from Nation, and to the head of trains from Charles de Gaulle - Étoile.