The news concerns the Erzgebirge district. - Centenary celebration for Fichtelberg suspension railway
In 2024, the Fichtelberg Cable Car, a popular tourist attraction in Oberwiesenthal's Ore Mountains, will turn 100 years old. This cable car was established by hotel owners and has been carrying up to 200,000 travelers yearly to Saxony's highest peak - and back. "A ride on this historical cable car is a special experience for both kids and adults at any point in the year," shared Ines Hanisch-Lupaschko, the head of the Erzgebirge Tourism Association. This celebration will run for three days. This weekend, there will be DJ performances, haystack jumping for kids, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks.
Built in 1924 in a short span of 3 months, the Fichtelberg Cable Car's initial cost was approximately 354,000 Reichsmark. The official inauguration happened at the end of 1924. However, during its early years, the cable car faced many technical challenges, as current managing director René Lötzsch can attest. The operators encountered financial troubles, forcing them to file for bankruptcy in 1934. Later, the cable car was auctioned off and was given as a wedding present to the daughter of the new owner. Following the Second World War, the cable car became state-owned, and today it is under municipal management.
The fact that the cable car has retained its original structure can be attributed partly to its limited budget. There were plans to construct a new cable car to the 1,215-meter high peak about 15 years ago. However, the renovation proved to be more cost-effective, so that project was canceled, and the existing cable car was instead given a thorough overhaul. "We have to be thankful!", says Lötzsch. "The cable car belongs here."
The Fichtelberg Cable Car plays a crucial role in attracting not just winter tourists but also tourists year-round. Many skiers, winter hikers, and tobogganers make use of the cable car during winters. In the summer, it lures hikers, cyclists, and day-trippers who wish to discover the region. Bicycles, wheelchairs, and baby carriages can also be taken up to the summit.
Oberwiesenthal and the Fichtelberg region contribute significantly to Saxony as a vacation spot, reiterated Hanisch-Lupaschko. Here, there's the largest alpine ski area in the state, and various opportunities for hiking, cycling, riding, summer toboggan runs, monster rollers, or a historical post carriage. And for thrill-seekers, there's the chance to zip-line down the mountain. In the Oberwiesenthal hotels and pensions with at least 10 beds, an estimated 138,000 guests stayed last year - with almost 469,000 overnight stays.
This cable car journey is short, lasting roughly four minutes. In this time period, up to 40 people are transported over 303 meters from the valley station to the summit. The gondolas are younger than the actual cable car; they were created in the '60s in Dresden. While Lötzsch doesn't worry about the cable car's age, he guarantees its stamina: "She's still fit after 100 years!" How long tourists can enjoy the panoramic views from the top depends on the rules governing its operation. "She will definitely continue to run for at least 15 to 20 years."
