The tower is one of the symbols of Zagreb.
One of Zagreb’s most recognizable symbols and the tallest structure in Croatia (169 meters), the Sljeme TV tower on the Mt. Medvednica, will become a major tourist attraction next year, reports Poslovni.hr on July 23, 2018.
At the top of the tower, located 1,114 metres above sea level, the highest viewpoint in this part of Croatia will be opened. The tower itself will get a rotating restaurant and a range of catering and other venues.
The tower was built in 1976 and, after Croatia became independent, the ownership was shared between Odašiljači i Veze and Croatian Telecom. Mate Botica, the chairman of the Odašiljači i Veze public company, said they had bought the other half of the tower from Croatian Telecom, so his company now owns the whole tower. “The Sljeme facility is of the strategic importance for Odašiljači i Veze, given that it broadcasts radio and television signals which reach nearly two million people, which is half of the population of Croatia,” said Botica.
He added that the goal is to commercialize the tower through tourism projects. The first tourists on the tower are expected by the end of the third quarter of 2019. “We would like to combine the opening of the facility with the launch of the new Medvednica cable car. The viewpoint will be renovated and we will install large binoculars which will enable guests to enjoy the views of Zagreb and the Zagorje region,” said Botica. He said that the cable car is important because it will enable the continuous inflow of visitors. The new cable car will have the capacity to transport 1,500 people per hour. This means that more than 15,000 people will be brought right next to the tower every day.
Botica explained that the new viewing platform, 83 metres above the Sljeme peak, was last opened to the public in 1985, but will now be open throughout the year. Immediately below the platform, there will be a rotating restaurant with the capacity of up to 100 guests. “We want guests to enjoy 360-degree views. The restaurant will be surrounded by large windows, and it will rotate once every hour,” said Botica. They will rent the restaurant to a private partner, selected at a tender.
However, before the restaurant is opened, the tower and the infrastructure will need to be renovated. Odašiljači i Veze has already applied for grants from EU funds. The company plans to thoroughly refurbish the whole tower. At the foot of the tower there are several floors which used to be occupied with telecommunication equipment, but since the technology has been miniaturized, they are now free for rental.
Translated from Poslovni.hr.
