We don't give them the attention they deserve, but railway stations are often wonderful, both architecturally and for the stories they hold. Here are some of the most beautiful in the world.
When you're at a station, you're sometimes in a hurry, afraid of missing your train, eager to embrace a loved one again. So you don't pay attention to the buildings themselves, which are often magnificent for many different reasons — architecturally and beyond. Railway stations, whether modern and enormous or small and characterful, all have a certain charm. They are crossroads of cultures, journeys and dreams. Let's travel the world, stopping at some of the most beautiful stations on earth.
According to Mashable, it is the most beautiful in the world. We are in Belgium, in Antwerp, and the railway station was built between 1895 and 1905, at the request of King Leopold II. Its architect, Louis de la Censerie, created it in stone, glass and metal. Thanks to a dome 75 metres high, it looks more like a cathedral than a station. A must-see for anyone departing or arriving here, it is an excellent example of how a station can also be a work of art. Even after the 2009 restorations, it has retained its fine appearance, with modernised facilities.
In a completely different style, still in Belgium, is the station in Liège — a masterpiece of modern architecture by the renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava Valls. It is perhaps the most recognisable building in the city, with its steel arches, all the more beautiful when seen illuminated at night. The full name is Liege-Guillemins station and it was inaugurated in 2009 after 10 years of construction work.
It is not as famous as Victoria Station, but in London it is undoubtedly the most beautiful station, distinguished by its red bricks — an example of Gothic architecture from the Victorian era. After visiting the nearby British Library, where among other treasures the First Folio of the genius Shakespeare is preserved, it is well worth taking a stroll around the station too, without necessarily having to catch a train. Wandering and immersing yourself in its beauty will be an unforgettable experience.
We have seen it countless times in American films and television series. New York's Grand Central station lives in the collective imagination of everyone. Stepping inside is a magnificent leap into the past: the great clock, the Greek and Roman sculptures, the theatrical balconies and the constellations painted on the green ceiling. Amid sumptuous furnishings and a retro atmosphere, the main concourse leads to a labyrinth of restaurants and kiosks, including the famous Oyster Bar and the Grand Central Market.
This is the station of the Malaysian capital, and it blends Eastern and Western styles. Construction of this immaculate white building, with its sumptuous and elaborate decoration, began in the early twentieth century and was completed in 1910. The exterior is said to be the best vantage point for taking photographs. More reminiscent of an imperial palace than a railway station, it stands out against the bustle of Malaysian streets.
Anyone who has already visited it will certainly remember it, because inside there is a genuine tropical garden — a small forest containing 7,000 plants of every species. A magnificent green lung that no other railway station can claim to match. The structure itself is somewhat overshadowed, yet it is a splendid "container" of glass and steel. Sadly notorious too for the terrorist attacks of 2004, it is visited by many tourists every day.
In this survey of beautiful and famous stations there is also room for the small and charming one in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. Designed by Alexandre Gustav Eiffel, even though he had never set foot in Mozambique, it makes an architectural impression with its wrought iron and pistachio colour, which make it unique. It is not just a station: inside there is a museum of works by local artists as well as one dedicated to the railways.
It is Japan's first ecological station. The roof is covered with solar panels. It is located in Kanazawa, in the north-central region of Honshu, facing the Sea of Japan, and combines modernity with history. At the entrance, an enormous torii (a traditional gate that welcomes visitors to Japanese shrines) rises to a height of 14 metres. Inside, this futuristic station features a majestic glass dome with a shopping centre below.
In Victoria, in the city of Melbourne, all roads lead to Flinders Street Station, which is the focal point of the city — culturally as well as geographically.
Inaugurated in 1854, it was the first railway station in Australia and the departure point for the country's first steam train. Its Victorian architecture and yellow colour stand in stark contrast to the surrounding landscape, even in the rain — a characteristic that makes it all the more eye-catching. This symbol of Melbourne stands opposite Federation Square.
For those arriving in Milan by train, Milano Centrale appears immense, austere, with vast halls and a labyrinth of exits that disorients. For those who live in Milan, it is simply "la stazione" – a place of transit, a metro stop and home to shops. But look up, and its richness, its sculptures, even its colours reveal an entirely different world, populated by eagles and lions, gods and emperors, magnificent ceramics and bold architecture. An elaborate decorative scheme, steeped in symbolism, animates the station designed by Ulisse Stacchini: winged horses on the façade, a metaphor for progress and for Mercury, god of commerce, who appears almost everywhere wearing his characteristic winged helmet. In this way, in 1931, homage was paid to human ingenuity – the foundation of industry, trade, labour and the sciences – these new modern gods appearing in the round medallions of the Galleria delle Carrozze. This was the covered road through which the flows of people passing through the station were channelled, leading through the Salone delle Biglietterie, lit by elegant Art Deco lamps, the departures gallery and the magnificent iron arches over the platforms.
As a fitting conclusion to this unexpectedly evocative overview, one final curiosity is worth noting. In Stuttgart, a radical renovation of the central station is under way, and to conceal the building works, large panels have been installed showcasing images of the most striking stations from around the world. A tribute to the skill of architects across the globe who have taken on, over the decades, the challenge of designing places where, by their very nature, one is never meant to stand still.