Gare d’Austerlitz

Gare d’Austerlitz is one of Paris’s oldest railway stations, connecting the capital to central and southwestern France. It sits along the Left Bank near the Jardin des Plantes and the Seine.

Geography

The station is located at the eastern end of the Left Bank, adjacent to the Pont d’Austerlitz and across from the Gare de Lyon, forming part of the city’s southeastern transport corridor.

History

Opened in 1840 for the Paris-Orléans line, the station was named after Napoleon’s victory at Austerlitz. Its grand hall and iron roof exemplify early railway architecture. Once one of Paris’s busiest terminals, it was later overshadowed by the expansion of the TGV network.

Present Day

The station now primarily handles regional Intercités and suburban services, with modernization underway to accommodate future high-speed traffic and expanded RER links.