The Schauinsland cable car is Germany's longest circulating cable car system, carrying passengers 3.6km up the mountain in 20 minutes. It launched on 17 July 1930 and was the first gondola lift system in the world with cabins for passengers. Originally there were 10 cabins, each with 6 seats and standing room for 19 passengers, along with a conductor. The cabins had to be stopped to be manually unhitched at the upper and lower stations before the passengers could climb out.
In 1987 it no longer met safety requirements and its operating permit was not renewed. After costly rennovations the old cabins were replaced with 37 new, smaller ones. Since 2009 the cable car has also run entirely on green power and generates 60 times less CO2 than a car on each journey.
 |
| At the top there is a 31m high Eugan Keidel Observation Tower which provides clear 360-degree views |
 |
| Somewhere over there was Switzerland! |
And then it was on to Freidburg proper.
 |
| The only Gothic tower within the current boarders of Germany |
Heavy Allied boming raids in November 1944 destroyed almost all the surrounding historic city centre, but Frieburg Muenster miraculously surivived, suffering only blast damage to its roof and broken windows.
To get a kick start on our journey home, we drove on from Freiburg and stopped overnight just south of Bingen. Fortuitously that allowed us the next morning to drive up through the Rhine Rift Valley and admire the scenery, enjoy the story of the Lorelei, be shocked at home low the Rhine flowed, and pick up some Germany wines to take home. Nice.
 |
| Only a short run home from Newcastle... |
No comments:
Post a Comment