Gare St Lazare, the oldest train station in Paris, was first built in 1837 (north of the current position), then rebuilt between 1841 and 1843, and then later extended by the architect Eugene Flachat in 1853. It was to serve the first train line built in Paris, the Saint-Germain line, which was only about 12 miles long. At that time, the trains could go only 25 miles an hour.Trains were very controversial at that time. A French politician claimed that traveling by train could trigger nervous diseases and that the human eye could not adapt to the quick change of scenery when watching out the window. Another historian said that riders would become ill and possibly die because of the sudden climate change when traveling at such a high speed.
Today the present station, built in 1889 for the Universal Expo, surrounds the older structures. It has grown to house 27 platforms and has a Beaux Arts-style façade. (I love the sculpture of the various clocks.) It is the 2nd biggest train station in Paris and serves mainly the Normandy destinations (north of Paris). 80 million travelers go through Gare St Lazare each year.
Claude Monet immortalized the station in 1877 with eleven paintings by the same name. (This picture of one Monet painting was taken by my 
sister; it is displayed in the Orsay Museum.) The station was also used for a scene in “The DaVinci Code” when Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu ditched les flics (the police).
sister; it is displayed in the Orsay Museum.) The station was also used for a scene in “The DaVinci Code” when Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu ditched les flics (the police). PS - The twisted clock sculpture that stands in front of the station is called "Time for Everyone" (note the different times on each clock) and was done by famous French sculptor Arman. Another one of his sculptures at the station, a stack of luggage, is called Consignes a vie (life's luggage).
