Anyone wishing to visit the Citadel and the rock above the Walloon city of Dinant will no longer be able to do so by cable car.
A technical report has identified wear and tear and aging, which means the cable car will have to be temporarily shut down, possibly for 1.5 to 2 years, to carry out renovation or replacement work.
Problem with the car brake
According to the newspaper L’Avenir, during an inspection of the cable car, engineers discovered a problem with the car brake in one of the cabins, a component that is no longer manufactured.
As a result, the cable car to the Citadel of Dinant, located 100 meters above the Meuse River, was shut down on Sunday evening. Further investigations will be needed to assess the work that needs to be done. It is expected that the cable car will likely remain closed for a year and a half to two years.
Completely renovated in 1997
For Dinant and Citadelle de Dinant S.A., the private operator that runs the cable car, the cancellation of the service is a blow to tourism. Around 300,000 people use the cable car every year. The cable car is not only popular with families and day trippers, but also with local commuters who use it to bridge the altitude difference between the city center and the higher parts of the city.
Built by a Cologne-based company, the cable car opened in 1956, an unprecedented feat in Belgium at the time, but was completely renovated in 1997. The old infrastructure was demolished and replaced with a new, more modern shuttle cable car featuring cabins from the Swiss supplier Gangloff and improved safety features, in line with stricter European standards. Cost of the renovation: just under 500,000 euros.
408 steps
Currently, the possibility of introducing a shuttle service between the city center and the citadel plateau, which is also accessible by car, is being explored.
For those looking for an alternative or who want to show off their athletic side, there is the option of climbing the 408 steps of the historic staircase that has connected the two parts of the city since 1577.
