Cologne Cable Car

The Cologne Cable Car, a charming and iconic mode of transport, gracefully glides over the Rhine River. It is the only cable car in all of Germany that crosses a river. In fact, the Cologne Cable Car was the first in Europe to ever cross a river, a truly remarkable feat of engineering. It makes its way across the Rhine River quite high in the air, reaching a height of about 50 meters! The Cologne Cable Car was built in 1957 for the Bundesgartenschau – a national horticultural show. It links two places that were important for the visitors of the show – the Rheinpark on the east side of the river and the zoo on the west side of the river. The Cologne Cable Car was a huge success. It transported over 1.35 million passengers during this show! The Cologne Cable Car has a special story as well. The Zoo Bridge was constructed in 1962. The Cologne Cable Car had to be taken down temporarily because it was in the way of the construction. After the bridge was built, the city council of Cologne decided that the Cologne Cable Car would be rebuilt and re-opened. It was not an easy decision because many people worried that the cable car would distract drivers on the bridge. However, the Cologne Cable Car was rebuilt and re-opened and has delighted passengers ever since. The Cologne Cable Car is a popular tourist attraction. It is considered one of the safest means of transportation in Cologne in all of Germany. The ride is about 6 minutes long and allows you to enjoy the beauty of Cologne from a unique perspective.