In 1858, the creation of a railway line between Paris and Mulhouse gave Langres a station. However, the topography of the area meant that the station had to be built below the town, in the Marne valley. It was not until almost thirty years later that a cog railway was created, linking the station to the town. The first train of its kind in France, the Langres Crémaillère rose 132 metres along its 1,447 metres of track, with a gradient of up to 17% at the viaduct. Initially steam-powered, the locomotive took two or three carriages to their destination in 10 minutes. The line was electrified in 1935 and a railcar (preserved on the site) replaced the old carriages. With the development of the city towards the south, and the ageing and loss-making equipment, the Crémaillère was definitively condemned and ceased to operate in February 1971.
Free outdoor access all year round.
Ancien chemin de fer à crémaillère
