Bad Dürkheim lift, Aerial tramway in Bad Dürkheim, Germany.
The Bad Dürkheim lift was a small-cabin gondola lift running from the Brühlwiesen meadows at the Wurstmarkt grounds, about 116 m above sea level, northwest toward the 317 m Teufelsstein in the Haardt. It spanned 1,270 metres with a 165-metre height difference, carried 43 small cabins on eight pillars, and had a valley station and a summit station.
The system was built in 1973 and first provided quick mountain access from the valley to the peak. Operations ended in 1981 when residents refused permission for the cabins to cross their properties.
The lift's valley station stood on the Brühlwiesen, the grounds of the Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt, a wine festival held annually in Bad Dürkheim. The route ran northwest toward the Teufelsstein, passing the Heidenmauer, a Celtic ring wall, and the Kriemhildenstuhl, a Roman-era quarry, on the left.
The site is best explored by first visiting the city center before walking to the former mountain station. The spot offers good viewpoints and is reachable on foot from downtown, though it takes roughly half an hour.
A fire in 2000 completely destroyed the mountain station and several cabins. The remaining support pillars were subsequently removed, with pieces serving as reminders of this unusual mountain tramway's history.
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