Funiculaire de Saint-Hilaire du Touvet

The Funiculaire de Saint-Hilaire du Touvet is a cable railway stretching 1,480 meters up a steep mountainside, with two cabins that climb from Montfort toward the plateau above. The route gains elevation gradually through the valley landscape, transporting passengers over terrain too steep for conventional tracks.

This funicular opened in 1924 to serve hospitals located uphill that treated patients seeking the benefits of high altitude. For many decades, it provided the main link between the valley communities and the mountain facilities above.

The funicular forms an essential part of the regional heritage, connecting the Grésivaudan valley to the Plateau des Petites Roches through steep mountain terrain.

The funicular is currently out of service and not available for rides. Visitors interested in the site should check conditions beforehand, as restoration work is ongoing at the lower station.

A major landslide in December 2023 severely damaged the lower station and forced the funicular to close. This event revealed how vulnerable mountain infrastructure can be in steep alpine terrain.

Location: Crolles

Location: Lumbin

Location: Plateau-des-Petites-Roches

Official opening: 1924

Elevation above the sea: 960 m

Length: 1,480 m

Operator: Régie municipale des Remontées Mécaniques de Saint-Hilaire du Touvet

Website: https://funiculaire.fr

GPS coordinates: 45.30327,5.89554

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41