The biggest donor to the Trebević Cable Car project!

Twenty years later, Maja and Eddy were wondering how they could help Sarajevo, which survived the brutal attacks and destruction of the 1990s, and they decided to start an initiative to renovate the cable car, which was destroyed during the war.

Through contacts made while working at CERN in Geneva, and given his time as the main shareholder in a vertical transport system at Saas Fee resort, Eddy acquired some used cable cars from Grächen. He also donated about 7 million KM, which went toward extra parts and installation equipment.

Honorary Citizen of Sarajevo

While only new equipment was used to reinstate the Trebević cable car, thanks to the resolve of city authorities an entirely new cable car system has been installed. Eddy is still considered the project’s biggest donor and he is “responsible” for the fact that, after 25-plus years, Sarajevo and Trebević are re-connected via a cable car.

Dr. Offermann was given the 2017 Honorary Citizen of Sarajevo Award for his generosity.

- However, for me, the friends that I’ve made here and the memories I make with my family in Sarajevo are the greatest award, he shares.

Eddy adds that, by visiting the city more often, he has his own little Sarajevo rituals.

- After I get up, I buy some rolls at Maison Coco, then we have coffee with breakfast. We really enjoy summer on the balcony, when I try, in vain, to figure out what they’re talking about in Oslobođenje columns.

After breakfast, he and his wife like to walk through the mahalas and have a look at works by Baščaršija’s artisans.

The city’s character

Eddy says Sarajevo should preserve its own character and not lean toward megalomaniac architecture. He adds that the number of cars on the streets of BiH’s capital should be reduced.

He finds the view from Alifakovac and Žuta Tabija relaxing, and he enjoys fresh somun during Ramadan.