Victor LENOIR
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Railway architect.
Victor Lenoir designed the Gare Montparnasse whose front a locomotive burst through in 1895, and which the following century would pull down, as well as the stations of Rennes, in Brittany, and Cherbourg, in Normandy. He worked for two of the private companies then building the French network. What is engraved names his employers and not his works: the companies are there, never the stations. Age, in the old manner, stands in for a date of birth.
The story
Victor Lenoir designed the Gare Montparnasse — the station whose façade a locomotive burst through in 1895 before falling into the street, in the most famous photograph in railway history. He also signed the stations of Rennes, in Brittany, and Cherbourg, in Normandy.
Born in Lyon on 12 April 1805, Victor Lenoir was architect to the Chemins de fer de l'Ouest and the Grand Central, two of the private companies then building the French network. A chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, he died in Paris on 6 May 1863, at fifty-eight.
His epitaph in Division 59 names the employers and not the works: “architecte des chemins de fer de l'ouest, de grand centre.” The companies are there, the stations are not. The age is given the old way — “à l'âge de 58 ans” — rather than by a date of birth.
The grave
An inscription that names the employers rather than the works: “Sépulture de la famille Victor LENOIR, chevalier de la légion d'honneur, architecte des chemins de fer de l'ouest, de grand centre, décédé à Paris le 6 mai 1863, à l'âge de 58 ans.” — grave of the family of Victor Lenoir, Knight of the Legion of Honour, architect of the western and grand central railways, died in Paris on 6 May 1863, aged 58. The companies are there, the stations are not — neither Montparnasse, nor Cherbourg, nor Rennes. The age is given in the old manner, “à l'âge de 58 ans”, rather than by a date of birth.
On site, do not miss
The epitaph engraves the companies — “chemins de fer de l'ouest, de grand centre”, the western and grand central railways — and not a single station. Yet Montparnasse was his.
Visitors' questions
Where is Victor Lenoir's grave?
In Division 59 of Père-Lachaise, in the family plot — the Division of the Brasseurs, father and son. The inscription gives his title, his companies, his decoration, his date and his age. He died in Paris on 6 May 1863, at fifty-eight.
Pierre BrasseurDid he build the Gare Montparnasse?
He did — the one whose front a locomotive burst through in 1895 and the twentieth century would pull down. He designed the stations at Cherbourg (with Benoist), in Normandy, and at Rennes, in Brittany, as well.
Jean-Baptiste Apollinaire Le BasWho did he work for?
For the Ouest and Grand Central railways — two of the private companies then building the French network, long before nationalisation. His epitaph cuts both names.
Jean-François CailWhat does his epitaph say?
“Sépulture de la famille Victor LENOIR, chevalier de la légion d'honneur, architecte des chemins de fer de l'ouest, de grand centre, décédé à Paris le 6 mai 1863, à l'âge de 58 ans.” — knight of the Legion of Honour, architect to the Ouest and Grand Central railways, died in Paris on 6 May 1863, aged 58. The companies, not the stations.
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