If you come to Sarajevo, don’t skip a visit to the Sarajevo cable car that leads to Trebević Mountain. The Trebević cable car is one of the symbols of the city of Sarajevo.
South of the Old Town in Sarajevo is located Mount Trebević. Trebević has been the closest and one of the favorite picnic spots in Sarajevo for a long time. In order not to have to take a longer detour to get to Trebević, a cable car was built. The starting station of the cable car is located in the city center, near Sarajevo City Hall, so it is not difficult to find it.
The history of the Sarajevo cable car
Preparatory work for the construction of the cable car began in 1956, and construction began in 1958. Cable Car was first built in 1959, and opened for the public on 3 May 1959.
The cable car was designed and built by Czechs. With a length of 2,100 meters, the Trebević cable car was the largest in the region at the time. With its festive attire, the cable car especially shone in 1984, when Sarajevo hosted the Winter Olympics.
The vertical height difference between the first and last station was over 500 meters. The cabins, which accommodated 4-5 passengers, transported passengers to Vidikovac (viewpoint)c in just 12 minutes. Sarajevo cable car had a capacity of 400 passengers per hour.
The many years of operation and repairs – a period of 33 years – took a toll on the cable car which resulted in serious problems, so much so that in one moment the relevant institutions forbade further repairs of the cable car. Such issues arose in 1977, 1982, 1986, and 1987, and in particular on 18 November 1989, when further repairs of the cable car were banned by the Institute “ZRMK” from Ljubljana.
The objections were of such a nature that significant financial resources were needed to eliminate them. After the partial removal of defects, the commission obtained a license for the funicular to operate, but with a reduced capacity and an increased regime of inspection and control of assemblies and elements.
During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992. to 1995. the cable car was completely destroyed.
Cable car today
The idea of rebuilding the Trebević cable car was unrealized for many years after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to unresolved property and legal relations between the City of Sarajevo and the owner of the cable car.
Sarajevo Cable Car was reconstructed between 2017 and 2018 and officially reopened on 6 April 2018. A total of 33 modern cable cars make up the new system, which can transport up to 1,200 passengers from the city to Trebević per hour, with a ride duration of nine minutes each way.
Some gondolas are in the colors of the Olympic rings, considering that Mount Trebević was one of the Olympic mountains. Out of 33 gondolas, five are in the colors of the Olympic circles: blue, red, yellow, green, and black, one in the color of the flag of BiH, and the other ones are black. Mufid Garibija, an architect from Sarajevo, designed the appearance of the cable car, as well as its arrival and departure stations.
Bobsleigh track Trebević
When you arrive at your destination by cable car, you will see the whole of Sarajevo below you.
When you climb Trebević you can enjoy nature and relaxation. For the needs of the 14th Winter Olympic Games, a bobsleigh track was built for the competition in two-seater, four-seater bobsleigh, and sledding in Trebević. During your walk through nature, you will also see this bobsleigh track.
Visit Trebević, and enjoy nature, the cable car ride to the destination, and the view. You will understand why this is one of Sarajevo’s favorite attractions.