Sarajevo cableway

FROM THE CITY TO TREBEVIĆ

South of the Old Town in Sarajevo lies Mount Trebević, whose slopes have become an integral part of the city. The peak of Trebević is at 1,629 meters above sea level, and the mountain extends eastward into Mount Jahorina. It is about 12 km from the city center by road, and one can reach it on foot via hillside neighborhoods in about an hour and a half.

Trebević has long been the main excursion spot for Sarajevans. Its favorable geographic location, altitude, mild climate, and natural beauty have endeared it to nature lovers. With Sarajevo’s neighborhoods climbing its slopes, it represents a unique harmony of urban and natural environments, and the entire area is characterized by rich biodiversity.

The exact origin of the name “Trebević” is unknown, but it is assumed that there was once a sacrificial altar on the mountain dedicated to a Slavic god, probably Perun, hence the word “trebevište” (from “trijebiti” – to sacrifice or purify). In antiquity, the slopes were inhabited by Illyrians who established a settlement in what is today Debelo Brdo. Traces of this prehistoric Illyrian settlement have been found there. During the Ottoman period, numerous neighborhoods were developed on the slopes, and under Austro-Hungarian rule, Trebević gained strategic military importance due to its panoramic view over the entire city. Several military fortifications were built, the most famous being on Palež, Osmice, and Čolina Kapa.

As time passed, Trebević’s importance as a recreational area grew. Its slopes were reforested, and hiking trails were developed for recreational tourism. The first mountain lodge and hiking trail to it were built in 1896 at a place called Sofa, at an altitude of 1,627 meters. The second-oldest mountain lodge in Bosnia and Herzegovina was also built on Trebević, at Dobre Vode, in 1907. During the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Trebević’s recreational importance increased with the founding of mountaineering societies in Sarajevo. After World War II, new tourist and recreational facilities were constructed. In 1948, the Faculty of Forestry in Sarajevo established the “Alpinetum” botanical garden near the summit, covering 14 hectares. It served as a floristic laboratory for cultivating endemic plants. In 1975, a 60-meter-high telecommunications tower was built near the peak at 1,566 meters above sea level, dominating the skyline despite strong protests from hikers and nature enthusiasts.

For the 14th Winter Olympic Games held in 1984, a bobsled and luge track was constructed in 1982, one of the most modern in the world at the time. During the war, the area suffered extensive destruction. After the siege of Sarajevo, Trebević was left in ruins. However, thanks to the deep affection Sarajevans have for this mountain, its former glory is slowly but surely being restored with the renovation of old and the creation of new facilities.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE CABLE CAR

The Trebević cable car, colloquially known in Sarajevo as the funicular, was officially opened on May 3, 1959. It connected Bistrik (583 m a.s.l.) with Vidikovac on Trebević (1,160 m a.s.l.). The launch was attended by a large number of citizens who crowded the departure station and lined the hillside streets and courtyards over which it passed.

The lower station was located on Avdage Šahinagića Street (then Dimitrija Tucovića Street), across from Sarajevo City Hall, at 583 meters above sea level. The upper station was at Vidikovac on Trebević, at 1,160 meters. The elevation difference was over 500 meters, and the total length of the line was 2,070 meters.

The original Trebević cable car was categorized as a cabin lift with a continuous loop. It was a dual-rope system, with one traction and one support cable. The route had eight steel lattice towers ranging from 8 to 24 meters in height. The system had 50 cabins, each holding four passengers. The ride took 12 minutes, and the capacity was 800 passengers per hour in both directions.

Construction took about a year, with preparations starting as early as 1956. The lead designer was František Šup from Czechoslovakia. Major Yugoslav companies involved included “Impola” from Slovenska Bistrica, “Termoelektro” Belgrade, “Jelšingrad” Banja Luka, and “Energoinvest” Sarajevo. The drive system was ordered from the Czechoslovak firm “Transeksport”.

Waiting areas with snack bars were built at both stations, and a restaurant named after the upper station was later added at Vidikovac. At 2,100 meters long, the Trebević cable car was one of the most important in former Yugoslavia and one of the few in the world starting from the city center, bringing visitors to unspoiled nature in just 12 minutes.

During the siege, the cable car and both stations were completely destroyed. After its final closure in 1989, the Sarajevo cable car was revived only in 2018. Reconstruction took place in 2017 and 2018, and it was officially reopened on April 6, 2018. The new system features 33 modern gondolas that can transport up to 1,200 people per hour, with a one-way ride lasting around 9 minutes. Of the 33 gondolas, five are colored like the Olympic rings – blue, red, yellow, green, and black – one is painted in the colors of the Bosnian flag, and the rest are black.