Paris is one of the most romantic cities in Europe. It inspires, captivates and makes millions of tourists from all over the world fall in love with it. World classics of literature drew their inspiration here, local restaurants intoxicate with speci alties, and museums and monuments delight even the most experienced travelers.
As in any major city, transport links are well developed in Paris. Residents of megacities can no longer imagine their lives without the metro, but in Paris it does most of the work.
History
The French have always loved to experiment, and the Paris metro is no exception. Its history begins in the middle of the 19th century, but the opening of the first metro station took place only on July 19, 1900.
An interesting fact is that initially the locals were categorically against the construction of underground communications, but the city authorities insisted on their own. In the course of all subsequent years, the Paris metro grew and developed rapidly. In the 1920s there wasthe first project was developed to expand the underground routes, after 17 years the first interactive metro map of Paris appeared, and in 1998 the automation of the metro and the improvement of trains began.
Paris metro map
Paris' metro map may seem very confusing and chaotic at first, but if you look closely, everything soon falls into place. The Paris metro is 16 different lines, the name of each of which corresponds to the main street or square on which the stop is located. Why, then, do all the tourists who first arrived in Paris puzzle over the analysis of these incomprehensible lines crossing each other, resembling cobwebs from the side? The fact is that a network of regional electric trains is superimposed on top of the Paris metro scheme.
What is RER?
Réseau Express Régional d'Ile-de-France is a separate train service connecting all surrounding areas with the city itself. Since it is marked along with all the lines and stations on the Paris metro map, it is sometimes quite difficult to figure it out. The RER system has its own designation: A, B, C, D, E.
Metro cost
Metro tickets in Paris are a separate full-fledged story. Passengers can choose from a wide range of different fares: Single Tickets, Mobilis (one-day), Paris Visite, NaviGO card.
Each of the fares has its own cost, when choosing a ticket, you need to proceed from the desires of the tourist. If youif you plan to stay in the city for up to 5 days, then Paris Visite is the best option, the cost of which ranges between 11 and 63 euros.
Not all visitors know that the NaviGO map is great not only for locals, but also for tourists. You need to purchase a card separately for 5 euros, and then connect one of the proposed tariffs for the appropriate fee.
Pen alties
Frugal tourists in this city will be especially disappointed, because traveling without a ticket in Paris entails a lot of serious consequences. Controllers that regularly check the availability of tickets from passengers, especially tourists, will quickly be able to spot the “hare”. Believe me, they will easily be able to distinguish a tourist from a local resident. The fine charged by the controller will be around 80 euros. In addition, most stations in Paris are equipped with turnstiles both at the entrance and at the exit, so a stowaway often runs the risk of being blocked.
Conclusion
Some Russian-speaking guides can provide the tourist with a map of the Paris metro in Russian, if you really get confused in this underground communication system. Initially, the city may scare off a novice tourist with its confusing system, division into districts and the high cost of the subway, but all this is quickly forgotten when you realize that you are standing on the streets of one of the most romantic cities on the planet.
