Its history THE CABLE CAR, HISTORY AND HERITAGE 1893 : WELL BEFORE THE CABLE CAR The first form of transport up Salève was designed by Maurice Delessert, administrator of the Salève rack railway. That’s right, you could get up to the Salève ridge by train as early as 1893. The railway line was later improved, with a direct connection to Geneva that allowed passengers to get from the city centre to the summit within the space of 2 hours. 1932 : THE INAUGURATION The cable car project was eventually inaugurated on August 5th 1932. So began the heyday of the cable car up until 1940. The 2 hour rack railway journey had to contend with the 8 minute cable car ride. World War II and new roads (on top of cars becoming the norm) meant the cable car struggled for customers and gradually ran out of money. It was shut down in 1975. 1975-1984 : THE CABLE CAR’S REVIVAL Eventually, the French and Swiss governments decided to bring the abandoned cable car back to life. It was restored and put back into operation in 1984. Its political management and funding is managed by the GLCT (local trans-border cooperation group) comprised of the Geneva canton, Annemasse Agglomeration and Monnetier-Mornex commune. This political and financial union has had eye-popping results: 90,000 journeys in 2005 and almost 290,000 in 2018. 2013 : THE SALÈVE CABLE CAR TODAY The group formed by RATP Dev, TGP and COMAG have operated the cable car since 2013. They have given the cable car a brand new image and lease of life, both in terms of marketing and technology. 2024: A 92-year-old dream comes true… In 1932, architect Maurice Braillard envisioned a panoramic restaurant perched at the summit of Salève, an exceptional location offering breathtaking views of Lake Geneva and the surrounding mountains. This ambitious project, long an unfinished dream, finally came to life 92 years later. On October 12, 2024, the Vertiges restaurant opened its doors, bringing this historic vision to life. From now on, visitors and gourmets can enjoy a unique setting, between heaven and earth, to savor refined cuisine while admiring breathtaking views. This opening marks a turning point for the Salève cable car, which continues to write its history by combining heritage and modernity, offering a new experience for nature and gastronomy lovers.
