Corentin Cariou opened on 5 November 1910 with the commissioning of the first section of line 7 between Opéra and Porte de la Villette with service provided by all trains on the line until 18 January 1911, when a branch opened from Louis Blanc to Pré-Saint-Gervais, resulting in 1 of every 2 trains serving this branch.

On 10 February 1946, the station was renamed after Corentin Cariou (1898–1942) who was a member of the municipal council of the 19th arrondissement and was shot by the Nazis during the occupation as a hostage.

In 1982, the station was decorated with an artwork by the French artist Hervé Mathieu-Bachelot, De la verticale à l'oblique, consisting of a fresco that line the sides of the corridors.

[3] The station has 2 entrances: Corentin Cariou has a standard configuration with two tracks surrounded by two side platforms, although the lower part of the walls are vertical instead of a typical elliptical shape.

The bevelled white ceramic tiles cover the walls, vault and tunnel exits, and lighting canopy is provided by two tube bands.