the téléphérique de Grenoble - 1

This colored postcard shows the sides painted in red, however, they were painted blue.

Two views of the lower terminal as it was originally.  The Isere is the name of the river.

This feature of the city of Grenoble, nestled at the base of the alps, is much used by tourists to ascend to the fort known as La Bastille, and enhancing civic tourist appeal was the reason the télépherique or aerial cableway was built in the early 1930s, opening on 29 September 1934.

At its inception in 1934 the system used two dodecahedron or 12-sided cabins, painted white with blue panels, each with a capacity of 15 persons including operator. These cabins were made by the German firm Bleichert, and operated on the principle of back and forth; one rose while the other descended.  In March 1951 the two cabins were replaced with boxes with rounded corners accommodating 21 people, manufactured by the coach company of Henri Crouzier in Moulins, Allier. These were painted green but soon after repainted in yellow and red, the colours of the city. The system became high-profile with the city being the venue for the 1968 Winter Olympics.