Funiculaire de Thonon-les-Bains

The Funicular of Thonon-les-Bains is a cable railway that runs 220 meters from the Belvedere station in the city center down to Rives port near Lake Geneva. The system carries passengers along this short, steep route connecting the upper town with the waterfront.

Engineer Auguste Alesmonières designed the funicular in 1888, making it France's second of its kind at that time. The system operated using a water counterweight mechanism until 1990, when it switched to electric power.

The funicular serves as a daily connection between the upper town and the lakeshore district, linking two distinct parts of Thonon's community. It remains woven into how people move between the marketplace and waterfront areas in their everyday routines.

The funicular is easy for visitors to use, with regular departures throughout the day and clearly marked stations at both ends. Traveling early in the morning or late in the afternoon tends to be less crowded.

The funicular originally used a sophisticated water counterweight system weighing 11 tons that allowed it to operate without external power sources. This technology was typical of French mountain railways in the late 1800s and made the system remarkably efficient.

Location: Thonon-les-Bains

Official opening: April 2, 1888

Length: 220 m

Part of: Transports en commun de Thonon-les-Bains

GPS coordinates: 46.37500,6.47972

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:43