Famous Zagreb funicular celebrating 128th birthday

Zagreb funicular turns 128 today (Photo: Marko Vrdoljak/Zagreb Tourist Board)

One of the Croatian capital’s most recognisable attractions celebrates its birthday today. 

Zagreb’s famous funicular, which connects Ilica with Strossmayer promenade from Tomić street, turns 128 today. 

ZET, which operates the funicular, has announced that passengers today will receive a special birthday postcard as a memory of the milestone. 

The symbol of the city which connected the lower and upper town for the first time was officially opened back on 8 October 1890. 

The 66-metre (217 ft) track makes it one of the shortest public-transport funiculars in the world and since it has been functional there has not been one accident or an injured passenger. 

(Photo: S. Kaštelan/Zagreb Tourist Board)

Initially, it had steam engines, which were substituted with electrical engines in 1934. Having in mind that it kept its original shape, constructional and most of the technical properties, it was given legal protection as a monument of culture.

As well as being one of the shortest, it is also one of the steepest funiculars in the world. It runs at a speed of 1.5 m/s, needing 55 seconds to cross the distance.

(Photo: Roberta F under CC)

Around 750,000 tourists annually use the funicular.