Paris metro station wins ‘France's ugliest’ award

Although Paris consistently ranks as the top city in any list of the most beautiful cities in France (despite what Lyon residents might think), not every corner is UNESCO-worthy. Some places stray far from the idyllic scenes of narrow streets where artists in berets paint to the tune of Edith Piaf’s La Vie en Rose on accordion. The Saint Lazare metro station is a perfect example. Each year, the association Paysages de France holds the "Ugly France Award," highlighting unattractive places and sights across France. For the 2024 edition, Paris, though known for its beauty and poetry (perhaps more so to tourists than locals), made the list. Despite its "City of Light" nickname and its 51,000 annual visitors, the association seems to see Paris as "a bit of the ugly side of France." Last year, it was the massive tarp covering construction at Place Vendôme that dethroned Paris as a beauty queen. This time, the honor goes to the advertising panels that line the floors of the Saint Lazare metro station, earning Paris first place in the "cultural heritage enhancement" category.

Though Saint Lazare's corridors see thousands of passengers daily, both Parisians and tourists, the association finds these strategically placed panels disruptive in its active fight against visual pollution. And Saint Lazare isn’t the only place affected. In its 2024 awards, the association also calls out Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines) in the "Ad Nursery" category for a notable alignment of advertising panels set in gardens along a road. Maromme (Seine-Maritime) is highlighted in the "Danger Sign" category for a large billboard by the riverside, while the town of Le Port in Réunion Island won in the "Olympic Triple" category for SFR ads placed at the top of a telecom tower. It’s a less than flattering outcome for the Île-de-France region, which claims two of the four "Ugly France" awardees.

Far from mocking or simply criticizing, the association sees its awards as a way to "question the role of advertising in spaces designed for travelers" and to "prevent becoming accustomed to ugliness." Its goal is not to disparage France and its less appealing areas, but rather to "open the eyes of those who look past sprawling commercial zones, ad-covered streets, or relentless concrete expansion in the name of progress and modernity." Perhaps, if we think about it, it’s not such a bad thing to have associations out there on a hunt for ugliness, working to keep France beautiful and authentic at all times.