RS kalterer hoehenweg april mittelstation mendelbahn
RS kalterer hoehenweg april mittelstation mendelbahn

Mendola Funicular

One of the steepest funicular railways throughout Europe, located in Sant’Antonio in Caldaro, was already inaugurated in 1903

The Passo della Mendola mountain pass, in the 19th century a well-known summer retreat for guests such as Empress Sissi and Mahatma Gandhi, was made easier accessible in 1903 with the inauguration of the Mendola Funicular. At that time, it was a real masterpiece of engineering, planned by the Swiss engineer Emil Strub. The Mendola Funicular - "Mendelbahn" in German, "Funicolare della Mendola" in Italian - represented the longest funicular in the world and the steepest one in continental Europe, as well as Austria's first electrically operated cable car (at that time South Tyrol was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire).

In the 1980s, however, the bright red funicular was modernised and is nowadays a perfect alternative for those who want to avoid the winding mountain road. This undisputed highlight of the Oltradige area is still one of the longest and steepest funicular railways throughout Europe. On the 12-minutes long journey the Mendola Funicular overcomes a length of 2,374 metres, an altitude difference of more than 800 metres and 64% incline.

The funicular starts in Sant'Antonio, a district belonging to Caldaro - the mountain station is located at the 1,363 m high Passo della Mendola mountain pass. Arrived there, the stunning view opens from the sun terrace on the serpentines of the pass road and the Oltradige area with Lake Caldaro, including also the towns of Laives and Bolzano in the Valle dell'Adige valley. By the way: the Mendola Funicular is in operation daily all year round, approx. three times per hour.

Contact info

Opening times

  • Wed 04 Dec closed
  • Thu 05 Dec closed
  • Fri 06 Dec closed
  • Sat 07 Dec closed
  • Sun 08 Dec closed
  • Mon 09 Dec closed
  • Tue 10 Dec closed

Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.

Full timetables
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.

Maintenance works 2024 (11/11/2024 - 14/12/2024)

  • Mon closed
  • Tue closed
  • Wed closed
  • Thu closed
  • Fri closed
  • Sat closed
  • Sun closed

Winter timetable 2024/25 (15/12/2024 - 05/03/2025)

  • Mon 08:30 - 18:00
  • Tue 08:30 - 18:00
  • Wed 08:30 - 18:00
  • Thu 08:30 - 18:00
  • Fri 08:30 - 18:00
  • Sat 08:30 - 18:00
  • Sun 08:30 - 18:00

Christmas Eve 2024 (24/12/2024) 08:30 - 18:00

Christmas 2024 (25/12/2024) 08:30 - 18:00

Boxing Day 2024 (26/12/2024) 08:30 - 18:00

New Year's Eve 2024 (31/12/2024) 08:30 - 18:00

New Year 2025 (01/01/2025) 08:30 - 18:00

Epiphany 2025 (06/01/2025) 08:30 - 18:00

Maintenance works 2025 (06/03/2025 - 23/03/2025)

  • Mon closed
  • Tue closed
  • Wed closed
  • Thu closed
  • Fri closed
  • Sat closed
  • Sun closed

Admission

€ 10.00 return
€ 6.00 one-way

free for children under 6 years
free with the mobilcard, museumobil Card and bikemobil Card

More information

Summer timetable (end of March to early November): 1st ascent from Caldaro to the Mendola Pass at 8.13 am - last descent from the Mendola Pass to Caldaro at 8.13 pm. Winter timetable (mid-December to early March): 1st ascent from Caldaro to the Mendola Pass at 8.33 am - last descent from the Mendola Pass to Caldaro at 5.53 pm. Value card and AltoAdige Pass are valid.

Maintenance works every year in spring (early March to the end of March) and in autumn (mid-November to mid-December): In those weeks there is a cable car replacement bus service.

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