Koblenz cable car: World Heritage danger averted – conversion approved!

Koblenz cable car: World Heritage danger averted – conversion approved!

The Koblenz cable car may continue to operate and is not a threat to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This good news comes from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which recently approved the plans to redesign the valley and mountain stations of the cable car, as SWR Aktuell reports. The conversion is necessary to ensure the cable car's continued operation in the future without endangering its World Heritage status.

However, the cable car, which already attracts many tourists, has been criticized for its modern architecture, which contrasts with the historic Castor Basilica. ICOMOS, an advisory organization to UNESCO, expressed concerns about the design of the valley station and its impact on the surrounding cultural heritage site. In order to meet these challenges, an exhibition will present the planned redesign measures.

Important steps for the future

Koblenz's mayor David Langner (SPD) sees the decision as a great success. The city is now planning to begin land-use planning to advance the upcoming changes. State Secretary Simone Schneider, representative for the world heritage of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, also described the redesign as a significant milestone, especially with a view to the upcoming State Horticultural Show in 2029.

The operation of the cable car is secured until 2026, which was previously emphasized by Rhein-Zeitung. A final decision on the permanent preservation of the cable car was scheduled for the summer of 2023, in which a report from May 2022 also played an important role. Experts from the International Council for the Preservation of Monuments (ICOMOS) and UNESCO personally took a look at the situation on site and the statements on site were promising.

The value of world heritage

The World Heritage List, to which the Upper Middle Rhine Valley belongs, protects a large number of important cultural and natural sites. In Germany, numerous outstanding places have hit the mark and are in the spotlight of World Heritage protection. This UNESCO list includes, among other things, the historic center of Berlin and the old town of Regensburg. With the cable car, Koblenz will now live up to its reputation as an enriching attraction and benefit from the attractiveness of this status.

With the approval for the redesign work, the cable car has another chance to blend harmoniously into the landscape. The mix of functional infrastructure and aesthetic standards remains a challenge, but with good will on all sides, something extraordinary could emerge here.