This building was built in 1911 by the architect Paul Friesé for the Metropolitan Railroad Company of Paris. It is a part of the former electrical substations. Inside, there was, until the middle of the twentieth century, a huge machine room. For half a century, these substations have provided the electricity needed to operate the Paris metro since the opening of the first line on July 19, 1900.
It was a brightful day. We walked through the squares and parks of old mansions, visited the Picasso Museum, the art galleries, had lunch at the Place des Vosges, visited the Place de la Bastille and completed the walk by the princely and quiet boardwalk of the River Seine, where live swans and peace reigns.