THE FRENCH DILIGENCE

La Diligence 1825, La Montée
Reproduced by kind permission of the Société d'Histoire de la Poste et de France Télécom en Alsace

The giant French diligence, in use in the beginning of the 19th century, weighed about 5 tons. Often the passengers were obliged to alight in order to diminish the load; when the ascent was too steep, they even had to push. With much luggage on top, the road-holding ability was poor, and accidents frequently occurred.
 

Seating arrangements for the French diligence


For the history of public transport in France during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, see Paul Charbon, Au temps des malles-poste et des diligences, Strasbourg, 1979.