Bir-Hakeim (Paris Métro)

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Bir-Hakeim
Ligne 6 train at the Bir-Hakeim station.
Date opened	1906
Accesses
Municipality/ Arrondissement	Paris 15e
Fare zone	1
Next stations
Paris Métro Line 6 Direction Charles de Gaulle-Étoile Direction Nation Passy Dupleix
List of stations of the Paris Métro
Location of Metro station

Bir-Hakeim is an elevated station of the Paris Métro, situated on the left bank of the Bir-Hakeim bridge over the Seine. The bridge is classified as a historic monument.

[edit] History

The station was called Quai de la Grenelle until 1949, when it was renamed to commemorate the Battle of Bir Hakeim. A commemorative panel is situated at the entrance of the platform for trains traveling towards Nation.

It is the station closest to the Eiffel Tower; the signs on the station walls say "Bir-Hakeim — Tour Eiffel".

Near the station is the site of the former Vélodrome d'hiver (Winter Velodrome or "Vel'd'Hiv"), which was famous for its cycling competitions but infamous as having been the first place of detention for thousands of Parisian Jews who were rounded up by the police on July 16, 1942 before their deportation to concentration camps. The velodrome was destroyed in 1960 in the course of work done on the bank of the Seine (Front de Seine). A commemorative monument has been raised near the south side of the station, above the tracks of the RER C.

Coordinates: 48°51′14″N, 2°17′22″E

Paris Métro

Line 6

Charles de Gaulle — Étoile 1 2A • Kléber • Boissière • Trocadéro 9 • Passy • Bir-Hakeim • Dupleix • La Motte-Picquet — Grenelle 8 10 • Cambronne • Sèvres — Lecourbe • Pasteur 12 • Montparnasse — Bienvenüe 4 12 13 • Edgar Quinet • Raspail 4 • Denfert-Rochereau 4B • Saint-Jacques • Glacière • Corvisart • Place d'Italie 5 7 • Nationale • Chevaleret • Quai de la Gare • Bercy 14 • Dugommier • Daumesnil 8 • Bel-Air • Picpus • Nation 1 2 9A