Nationale station

Nationale is an elevated station of the Paris Métro serving line 6 at the intersection of the Rue Nationale and the Boulevard Vincent Auriol in the 13th arrondissement.

Location
Elevated above ground, the station overlooks the central median of Boulevard Vincent-Auriol, between Rue Jeanne-d'Arc and Rue Nationale. Oriented on a northeast/southwest axis, it is positioned between the stations Place d'Italie and Chevaleret (the former being underground).

History
The station opened on 1 March 1909 with the opening of the original section of line 6 from Place d'Italie to Nation (although part of line 5—some dating back to 2 October 1900—was incorporated into line 6 on 12 October 1942). It is named after the Rue Nationale, which commemorates the National Guard. This was a middle-class militia created on 13 July 1789 for the maintenance of law and order in Paris. Next day, it took part in the storming of the Bastille.

As part of the RATP Renouveau du metroprogram, the station was completely renovated by 5 May 2004. In 2021, attendance is gradually rising, with 1,320,290 passengers entering this station, placing it in the 251st position of metro stations for its usage out of 304 stations.

Access
The station has a single access called "Boulevard Vincent-Auriol", leading to the central median of this boulevard to the right of Nos. 124 and 143. It opens onto a communal area under the viaduct from where access to the platforms is by means of stairs or escalators.

Platforms
Nationale is an elevated station of a standard configuration. It has two platforms separated by the metro tracks, all covered with a glass roof in the style of the canopies of the stations of the time. The vertical walls are covered with bevelled white ceramic tiles on the inside, and bricks drawing geometric patterns on the outside. The advertising frames are made of white ceramic and the name of the station is inscribed in Parisine font on enamelled plates attached to the metal frame. The platforms are equipped with wooden slatted benches. The lighting is semi-direct, projected on the ground by blue ceiling lights, on the wall by partially concealed tubes and on the frame by blue light projectors. Access is via the western end.

Bus connections
The station is served by lines 27 and 61 of the RATP Bus Network, and, at night, by line N31 of the Noctilien network.