Vercors Travel Poster: P.L.M. Le Vercors (Dauphiné) by Frederic Hugo d’Alési

P.L.M. Le Vercors (Dauphiné) by Frederic Hugo d’Alési is a luminous celebration of the French Prealps, created as a 19th‑century lithographic travel poster to entice rail passengers into the wild beauty of the Vercors. Set in the historic Dauphiné of southeastern France, the scene leads the eye along a clear mountain river, past timbered structures and sun‑warmed boulders, toward green slopes and pale limestone cliffs. Designed for the Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (P.L.M.), the work blends romance and utility—complete with a tidy cartographic inset—capturing both the mood of an alpine retreat and the practical promise of an easy journey by rail.

This listing offers a high‑quality fine art reproduction of d’Alési’s poster, available on acid‑free archival paper or on artist’s cotton canvas. Each print is produced with museum‑grade inks for rich, lasting color. Choose from a range of sizes with optional framing and matting. The Unique Maps Co. can personalize your piece with custom captions, dates, or coordinates, and we’re happy to discuss bespoke sizing, borders, and framing to complement your space.

Frederic Hugo d’Alési (Frédéric Alexianu) was an Austrian‑born French painter, illustrator, and master poster artist active in Paris at the end of the 19th century. Celebrated for his luminous lithographs, he produced iconic publicity for major rail lines—including P.L.M.—as well as for steamship companies and early automobile manufacturers. His work is admired for marrying painterly atmospheres with clear, communicative design, helping define the golden age of the travel poster.

The Vercors itself is a storied limestone massif of high plateaus, deep gorges, and forested slopes—long beloved by hikers, naturalists, and travelers seeking fresh air and dramatic scenery. In the railway era, posters like this brought the Dauphiné’s rugged charm within reach of city dwellers, promising restorative days among rivers, cliffs, and sunlit valley hamlets. The inset map nods to the period’s spirit of exploration: art as itinerary, guiding the curious from station to summit.

Color and design are the heart of this composition. A palette of soft greens, earthy browns, and warm beige—touched with muted blues—sets a tranquil alpine mood. Fluid strokes animate the water; textured rendering lends weight to rocks and timber; sweeping curves of hills meet the crisp geometry of buildings and the poster’s bold typography. The lithographic grain adds a velvety depth that reads beautifully in print. Hung over natural wood, linen, or stone finishes, this piece brings quiet mountain light and timeless Belle‑Époque elegance to your home.

This print makes a thoughtful gift for lovers of France, vintage railway art, and alpine landscapes—perfect for Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, a housewarming, retirement, or as a keepsake for anyone who has recently traveled to the Vercors or the wider Dauphiné region.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.