A new panoramic cable car, which will connect Igalo and the summit of Žvinje in Herceg Novi, is set to open soon in Montenegro. The €11.9 million project is being implemented on a design-and-build basis by the company XEnergy (formerly Novi Volvox) together with the Italian equipment manufacturer Leitner. These same firms built the cable car from Kotor to Lovćen, which opened in the summer of 2023.
The cable car will open next summer
According to Vladislav Velaš, Secretary for Urban Planning and Construction of Herceg Novi, work is planned to start this year, and the first ride may be possible as early as next summer. The completion deadline is 12 months from the contractor’s appointment, however, given the experience of the Kotor line, the authorities are counting on a timely launch.
The route will begin at the Solila stadium in Igalo, providing convenient access for buses and tourists, and end at the church in Ilinica. The new location of the starting station was chosen instead of the originally planned Karaula in Sutorina to improve logistics and integration with the promenade — the city’s main walking route.
For two years, the concept was being coordinated: the designers presented five options until the authorities approved the optimal one. Geological surveys and preparatory works have already been carried out along the entire route to ensure access to the locations of the support towers and the upper station. The main project is in the final stage of approval.
The new line promises to become not only a transport facility, but also a tourist attraction, offering scenic views of the Bay of Kotor and strengthening the tourist appeal of Herceg Novi.