Lens railway station, Railway station in Lens, France
Lens railway station is a single-storey building 86 metres long, designed by Urbain Cassan and opened in 1927. Its pale grey facade has three curved gables, vertical pilasters, a decorative frieze and tall narrow windows with red frames and grilles. A 23-metre square white clock tower with four dials rises behind the platform canopy, echoing a locomotive chimney.
The building was constructed between 1926 and 1927 after World War I left the region in ruins and reconstruction efforts began. It became an important symbol of economic recovery for the mining area in northern France.
The station's name and role tie it to Lens, a town built on coal mining. The 1927 building by Urbain Cassan was commissioned by the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Nord, and its locomotive-like tower and porches refer to the steam trains that served the mines. The station is inscribed as a monument historique since 28 December 1984.
The station connects Lens to Paris via high-speed trains and offers regional services to nearby cities. Keep in mind that this is an active railway hub, so plan your visit to explore the building architecture alongside regular train operations.
The building rests on hydraulic jacks beneath its reinforced concrete foundation that protect it from damage caused by ground subsidence from nearby mine shafts. This hidden engineering solution allows the historical structure to stand safely on unstable ground.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,393 contributors worldwide.
