STA, February 26, 2018 – The City of Celje has presented an ambitious plan to build what would be the longest Tibetan style footbridge in the world. The 505-metre suspension bridge would link the ruins of the medieval castle overlooking the city and St. Nicholas Hill, a historic settlement across the Savinja River.
Legend has it that the two historic hills of Celje, which dates back to the Hallstatt era, were already connected once upon a time with a leather bridge.
Although the legend seems impossible, the City of Celje believes it can make it come true with about EUR 3.3m and by swapping leather for steel cables. The bridge is estimated at EUR 2.3m, while another million would be required to build new paths.
The longest Tibetan-style footbridge at the moment is Highline 179, a 406-metre bridge connecting the ruins of Ehrenberg Castle and Fort Claudia in Tirol, Austria.
There is no financial plan for the project yet, but the municipality believes there are several options to get the funds, including a public-private partnership or vying for EU funds.
The construction could be launched in about two years - this is how long it would take to acquire all the needed permits, according to the municipality.
