This 1952 original travel poster by Hubert Mathieu promotes the scenic Téléférique du Béout in Lourdes, highlighting one of the region’s most memorable viewpoints above the famous pilgrimage town in the Pyrenees. Created during the flourishing post-war tourism era, the poster blends religious destination appeal with the growing fascination for mountain leisure and modern transport.
Mathieu’s composition centres on the cable car suspended dramatically above the valley, symbolising both technological progress and the promise of panoramic discovery. Below, the stylised town of Lourdes appears with its distinctive religious architecture, while winding roads and layered mountain peaks draw the eye toward the horizon. The simplified shapes and bold colour contrasts reflect mid-century graphic design trends, combining clarity with visual dynamism.
The palette — cool alpine blues and greens offset by warm earth tones — evokes fresh mountain air and tranquillity, reinforcing Lourdes not only as a spiritual destination but also as a place of natural beauty and relaxation.
Today, this poster stands as a striking example of 1950s French tourism advertising, capturing a moment when cable cars, railways, and modern travel infrastructure were transforming access to historic and scenic sites, inviting visitors to experience Lourdes from both cultural and breathtaking natural perspectives.
Original Poster
Hautes-Pyrénées - Tourism - Religion - France
Printed by Bedos & Cie in Paris
Good condition
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