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Cologne cable car

Our Cologne cable car is very popular with young and old. Incidentally, it is also called the Rheinseilbahn by some people in Cologne. This cable car crosses the Rhine roughly at Rheinpark and Cologne Zoo. In this way, the two districts of Rhiel and Deutz are connected at a windy height. It is clearly a Cologne sight!

 

 

Construction and history of the cable car

When the BUGA (Bundesgartenschau) came to Cologne in 1957, the idea of building such a cable car was conceived in this context. Then the Cologne council had to make a decision so that this building could be built at all. The company Julius Pohlig from the Cologne district of Zollstock took over the construction of the cable car. The company has been on the market since 1894 and is very specialized in qualified conveyor technology of all kinds.

So the beautiful Rheinpark in Deutz should be connected with the flora and the zoological garden (Cologne Zoo) in the opposite district of Cologne Niehl. This should be done with the help of a cable car. The district president at the time also had to be persuaded, and then the way was finally clear for the start of construction. All components came from Cologne! In addition to Pohlig AG, the Felten & Guileaume from Cologne Muelheim.

Rheinpark
Der schöne Rheinpark in Köln Deutz

 

The total cost of the Cologne cable car was 1.1 million Deutsche Mark! The Mayor of Cologne, Theo Burauen, finally put it into operation in March 1957, just in time for the Federal Horticultural Show (start was April 26, 1957). At that time it was still the first cable car to cross a river in Europe, of course the media interest was great and so celebrities like the Federal President Theodor Heuss or the Mayor of Cologne Konrad Adenauer did the honor and tried the first ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of guests

During the Federal Horticultural Show, 2,400 people were being transported per hour and that was of course a world record! A total of over 1.3 million people were transported during the BUGA. At that time for cheap 1.70 German marks (return trip!)

Break for the cable car

Unfortunately, the operation of the cable car was discontinued on September 3rd, 1963. The reason was the construction of the zoo bridge. It was a support of the zoo bridge right in the route of the cable car. Now there were even discussions as to whether operations should be resumed at all, as some citizens claimed that drivers on the Zoobrücke could be distracted by the cable car. Thank God there was a positive council decision on July 23, 1964, which provided for a relocation of the cable car. After a forced two-year break, the Cologne cable car has finally been put back into operation. It now also drives over the "Claudius Therme" (a thermal bath). The official reopening was on June 22, 1966.

Owner

In 1988, the cable car was transferred to the KVB group (Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe AG).

Other highlights

In addition to the one-way trip, the cable car can also be booked for marriage! A golden wedding gondola allows for a civil wedding high above the Rhine! There is nothing that cannot be found in Cologne.

Wegweise Deutz
Natürlich alles gar nicht weit weg on unseren Fewos!

Figures, dates, facts

The Cologne cable car is a so-called two-cable cable car with exactly 41 cabins that can accommodate exactly four people. Today about 1600 passengers per hour are allowed.

  • Height of support on the left bank of the Rhine = 36.4 meters
  • Height of support on the right bank of the Rhine = 50.3 meters
  • Distance = 935 meters
  • Travel time = approx. 6 minutes

Opening hours and prices

The cable car is usually open from March to early November. Certainly also dependent on the weather. Always from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m..

Address:
Cologne Cable Car Company mbH
Riehler Strasse 180
50735 Cologne
Telephone: 0221 547-4183 or 0221 547-4274

Accommodations in downtown Cologne!

You want to walk to the cathedral? You want to walk to the fair? Then book one of our Fewos Köln and you can easily walk to Cologne Cathedral! Simply cross the Rhine over the Deutzer Bridge and stroll through the old town. In about 14 minutes you have reached the cathedral! We look forward to your inquiry! Your Ferienwohnung Köln!

Ferienwohnung Köln
Fewo in cologne
Unterkunft Köln

 

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