Ascenseur des thermes

Ascenseur des thermes is a funicular railway in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains that connects the thermal spa complex with the town center below. The system climbs a vertical slope of 177 meters (580 feet) through Alpine terrain and carries passengers in cabin cars that hold up to 16 people.

The original funicular was built in the early 1900s to provide guests with convenient access to the thermal springs. The system operated for over a century before receiving a major overhaul in 2024.

The name references its role connecting visitors to the thermal spa, and the funicular is woven into the daily routine of people arriving for spa treatments. The station itself becomes a meeting point where travelers pause before ascending or descending.

The funicular runs daily and allows visitors to cover the steep slope without walking on foot. It is wise to check ahead whether the service is operating, especially during bad weather or maintenance periods.

The system uses water as a counterweight: recycled water fills and empties tanks in the cabins to pull them up or down the slope. This age-old method works without heavy electricity demands and shows how a century-old mechanism still handles passenger flow today.