Paris Métro Line 1 Opens

On August 25, 1900, Paris inaugurated its first Métro line, a 10.6 km route designed by engineer Fulgence Bienvenüe to serve the 1900 Exposition Universelle. Using electric traction and innovative cut-and-cover construction, the line featured elegant Art Nouveau entrances by Hector Guimard. It quickly transformed urban mobility in the French capital, reducing street congestion and setting the standard for modern subway systems globally. The project overcame significant engineering challenges in a dense historic city.