The last dragonfly: Paris’ stunning Art Nouveau metro entrance at Porte Dauphine.

 Image: Barthi75

At the edge of the Bois de Boulogne, the Porte Dauphine Métro station is home to a rare and striking piece of Parisian history, a delicate, curving glass and iron structure that looks as though it fluttered out of a dream. This is the last remaining original “dragonfly” kiosk (édicule) designed by the visionary Art Nouveau architect Hector Guimard, and it’s unlike anything else in the city.

When the Paris Métro first opened in 1900, the city was at the height of the Art Nouveau movement. Determined to give the new transportation system a modern, artistic face, the authorities commissioned Guimard to design its entrances. What he created was far from utilitarian, these were graceful, organic forms inspired by nature, with curling iron stems, floral motifs, and glowing green “Métropolitain” signs in stylized lettering.

The Porte Dauphine entrance, built in 1900, is the last surviving Type B Guimard kiosk that remains in its original location. While dozens of others have tragically been lost or relocated, this one still stands guard over Line 2 like a coiled insect ready to take flight.

This structure, with its delicate canopy of curved glass and cast iron, is often compared to a dragonfly’s wings. It’s more sculpture than shelter, an invitation into the underworld of the city that feels more like stepping into a Belle Époque fairytale than boarding a subway.

Guimard's designs were initially controversial. Some Parisians called it "too avant-garde" even ugly but with time, these entrances have become iconic symbols of the city with Porte Dauphine’s version arguably the crown jewel. It’s the most complete and best-preserved example of his early work for the Métro, making it a must-see for lovers of architecture, design and Parisian history.

Located on a quiet, leafy square far from the usual tourist trails, the Porte Dauphine station offers a rare moment of architectural solitude. It's a place where you can stand beneath Guimard’s glass canopy and imagine what Paris felt like over a century ago, when electric trains were a marvel and art and engineering danced hand-in-hand through the streets of the capital.

So if you are heading up to Pigalle or Place de Clichy on line 2 stay on until the end of the line and pop up for a piece of art and history!

Some good articles here:

On lartnouveau.com   On Sortir a Paris    On I Prefer Paris