4. The 1925 Exhibition

Inaugurated with great fanfare in 1925, the International Exhibition of Hydropower and Tourism attracted leading French political figures to Grenoble, where they were welcomed by the mayor, Paul Mistral, and the general commissioner, Marius Blanchet. The official ceremonies celebrated both the local authority's initiative and the wave of modernity sweeping through post-war France, against a backdrop marked by the almost simultaneous opening of the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris.

Following the speeches at the open-air theatre, the official procession visited the various palaces and pavilions that made up the exhibition.

Following the speeches at the open-air theatre, the official procession visited the various palaces and pavilions that made up the exhibition.

The event was intended to be both a showcase for technical progress and a forum for scientific exchange. A variety of conferences on hydraulic power, electrochemistry and electrometallurgy brought together engineers from France and abroad.

Nearly 10,000 exhibitors showcased their inventions in the exhibition halls and pavilions, with prizes awarded in official competitions celebrating the spirit of industry and technical progress.

Nearly 10,000 exhibitors showcased their inventions in the exhibition halls and pavilions, with prizes awarded in official competitions celebrating the spirit of industry and technical progress.

Alongside this scientific and industrial drive, the exhibition became a major public event, featuring parades, concerts and attractions.

Every evening, the exhibition's spectacular lighting, created by thousands of lamps powered by hydroelectricity, transformed the park into a scene of glowing splendour: a real symbol of hydropower.

Closing in October 1925 after welcoming over a million visitors, the Grenoble International Exhibition of Hydropower and Tourism was a major success.