Téléphérique du pic du Midi de Bigorre, Aerial tramway in Bagnères-de-Bigorre, France.

The Téléphérique du Pic du Midi de Bigorre is a two-section aerial tramway in the Hautes-Pyrénées that links the ski resort of La Mongie, at 1,745 m, to the summit of Pic du Midi de Bigorre at 2,877 m, via the Taoulet. Its cabins have a blue lower body and white upper section, with "Pic du Midi" written in white on the blue panel. The first section is 1,781 m long with two pylons; the second is 2,629 m long with a single pylon about 100 m before arrival.

The observatory at the summit opened in 1882, when the only way up was on foot. A first cable car by Applevage, reserved for observatory staff, opened in 1952 and ran in two sections via Taoulet. The site was largely renovated for tourism from 1996; the old cable car was dismantled and replaced on the same line by the current Garaventa lift, inaugurated in full on 26 May 2000 in the presence of Lionel Jospin.

At the top, a working astronomical observatory lets visitors look through telescopes and see the same instruments that scientists use for real research. The place draws people curious about astronomy, and on clear nights special sessions open the observatory to the public.

Warm clothing and wind-resistant layers are worth packing, as temperatures at the top drop well below what you feel at the base. The intermediate stop at Taoulet is a good place to pause if you need time to adjust before going higher.

The cable car's two carrying cables, held apart by spacers, let it run in winds up to 70 km/h, against 50 km/h for other French tramways, adding about 35 operating days a year. The second section from Taoulet to the summit, 2,629 m long with a single pylon, climbs 551 m.