Gare d'Austerlitz, Paris luggage storage

About Gare d'Austerlitz

The Gare d'Austerlitz in Paris has been an operational transport hub since 1838. Once the French capital's main station, it is now one of a group of six and bested in the rankings of Paris's busiest station by the Gare du Nord.

The original structure was demolished to make way for the current and very elaborate station building that now exists on the west bank of the River Seine and which was designated a historical monument in its own right in the late 1990s. Recent renovations have expanded the station's capacity for train and passenger traffic, but left the historic station untouched.

Now with twenty-five platforms serving twenty-five different lines, the station caters to approximately thirty million passengers a year. Train services call at the station from a diversity of outer lying cities and towns including Toulouse, Limoges, and Tours, as well as from various districts of Paris.

Things to do around the Gare d'Austerlitz

Step off a train at the Gare d'Austerlitz and you'll be right in the very heart of Paris. All of the top city sights will be within an easy walking distance or at most a short bus or metro ride away. From the catacombs of Paris to the Pantheon, the Eiffel Tower or the more modern Montparnasse Tower, nothing, including the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe, is outside of easy reach.

• Take a selfie or video on the roadside by the Arc de Triomphe that shows all the non-stop Paris traffic streaming past.
• Wander down the Champs-Elysees singing in your best French accent while window shopping in the over-priced designer boutiques.
• Get spooked by viewing the thousands of skeletons housed in the Paris catacombs.
• Take a tranquil river cruise along the Seine to see Paris from the water. Even better, do it at night to see the city illuminated with a million lights while sipping a glass of French champagne.
• Overdose on art by visiting the Musee National Picasso-Paris where there are over five thousand of the famous artist's paintings.
• Spend half a day queuing to go up the Eiffel Tower, but still be bowled over by the views of Paris once you get on the observation deck.

Transit options for the Gare d'Austerlitz

• Paris has three airports. The closest to the Gare d'Austerlitz station is the Charles de Gaulle Airport forty kilometers outside of the city. There is a frequent train service between the two.
• Part of the Gare d'Austerlitz is a metro station for the city's Line 5 and can be accessed directly from the regular train station as well as from the street.
• Gare d'Austerlitz has stops for the city's RATP Bus Network, the Noctilien network and the OpenTour tourist services right outside the station entrance.

Luggage storage at Gare d'Austerlitz

Doing anything or going anywhere in Paris with bulky bags is looking for a problem. No major attraction, museum or gallery will permit you entrance with a suitcase for security reasons. Make your visit to the French capital easier by leaving your baggage at a conveniently located Bounce luggage locker near the Gare d'Austerlitz or in Paris. You'll find Bounce suitcase storage in Paris provides you with a secure and economical facility to keep your belongings safe.

Attractions and activities near the Gare d'Austerlitz

Saint-Denis: Paris is a city that spreads its reach wide which can prove to be difficult to escape from. Head north for around twenty kilometers and you'll be in Saint-Denis where you'll find quieter paths to wander along the side of the Seine than you could ever hope to find in Paris. The medieval basilica in the city is the burial place of several French kings and queens that dates back to the 12th century. For something just a little more up to date try visiting the Air and Space Museum where there are exhibits related to aviation history.  

Maisons-Lafitte: Maisons-Lafitte is a quiet suburb of western Paris which is a popular place to visit for two reasons. The first is the grandiose Château de Maisons-Lafitte, a baroque mansion surrounded by manicured gardens and an even more manicured interior. The overly luxurious home with domed ceilings comparable with the Sistine Chapel has inspired copies worldwide. After touring the chateau, come back to the real world by watching the horses race around the track at the Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse.

Versailles: After Paris, Versailles is probably one of the best-known cities in France and one that is known for its exceptional UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Chateau de Versailles. After playing its part in ending the American Revolution and WW1, the city has continued its work of keeping the peace between different nations with meetings held in the opulent surroundings of the chateau. After seeing the chateau, come back to the real world with a stroll through the city's historic district, then have a coffee in a street cafeteria accompanied by a pastry while pondering the different levels of French society.