New era for Ještěd Mountain: Modernized cable car and ownership changes
More than four years have passed since the tragic accident in Liberec when the cable car to Ještěd Mountain collapsed. Since then, the line has been out of operation. The town of Liberec has now introduced its new design.
Ještěd is the highest mountain of the Ještěd–Kozákov Ridge in the north of the Czech Republic. At 1,012 metres, it is the symbol of the city of Liberec. On the summit stands the Ještěd Tower, which houses a restaurant, hotel and television transmitter. It was designed by Czech architect Karel Hubáček and completed in 1973. Since then, neither the tower nor the cable car leading to it has undergone any major renovation. Poor technical conditions led to a tragic incident in 2021, and the cable car has not been operating since. That, however, is set to change soon. The new design of the cable car as well as the lower and upper stations were introduced on Tuesday by architects from Studio Sial.
“The intention was for both stations to have a minimalist design. In addition to exposed technology, there are two structures resembling glass fingers, one for boarding and one for exiting,” explained Studio Sial architect Jiří Buček. The station should remain minimalist and should not interfere with the view of the transmitter. “The Ještěd structure itself is brilliant in that it follows the shape of the hill, and everything that is added is extra,” said another Studio Sial architect, Michal Hušek.
The new cable car will be about one kilometer longer than the original line and will also include an intermediate station. The lower station will be near the final tram stop in Horní Hanychov and will serve as facilities for tourists.
Landing UFO
The author of the new cabin design, designer Anna Marešová, added a playful element. “When the cable car arrives at the upper station and approaches Ještěd, a cone of light will illuminate in the lower part, which may remind some people of a landing UFO,” Marešová said.
The cable car will have a capacity of 100 people. However, concerns were raised during the debate that the top of Ještěd could become overcrowded. “I think the cable car is oversized. When a person goes up to Ještěd, they should explore the area. Not just go up, have a coffee, and then take the cable car down again,” said one of the visitors. According to Deputy Mayor Jiří Janďourek, the first passengers could ride the cable car at the turn of 2029 and 2030.
Ovnership changes
The Ještěd mountain hotel and transmitter have until now belonged to television, radio and internet infrastructure provider České radiokomunikace. The company will, however, sell them to the Liberec Region. The purchase contract was approved on Tuesday by regional councillors. The region will pay 181 million crowns for the building and 2.8 million crowns for its movable equipment, totalling 185 million crowns including interior equipment.
The Liberec Region will thus become the new owner of the mountain hotel and transmitter. “This step is part of the region’s long-term strategy to preserve important cultural and technical monuments in the region. Ještěd is not just a building; it is a symbol of the Liberec Region. The transfer into regional ownership will allow us to plan development and maintenance in accordance with the public interest and ensure that the hotel and transmitter continue to serve tourists,” added the governor Martin Půta. The Liberec Region has long sought the purchase in order to carry out a comprehensive reconstruction. Only in this way can Ještěd be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which the region is seeking.
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