EuroVelo13 – 7 days on the longest cycling route in Europe

EuroVelo 13, also known as The Iron Curtain Trail, is the longest cycling route in Europe.

Basically, it crosses Europe from north to south, through the middle of the old continent.

If you’re a cycling enthusiast, you’ll definitely want to experience this extraordinary route.

We traveled a section of it over 7 days, crossing 3 countries and cycling a total of 434 km.

We will share the details of our journey here, which we hope will help you decide to experience this incredible route!

Table of contents:

• What is EuroVelo 13?
• Interreg Central Europe Project ICTr-CE
• 7 days on EuroVelo 13
• EuroVelo 13 – Day 1
• EuroVelo 13 – Day 2
• EuroVelo 13 – Day 3
• EuroVelo 13 – Day 4
• EuroVelo 13 – Day 5
• EuroVelo 13 – Day 6
• EuroVelo 13 – Day 7
• The Iron Curtain Trail 7 days package

What is the route of EuroVelo 13 – The Iron Curtain Trail

Iron Curtain Trail (EuroVelo 13) is a long-distance cycling route that follows the path of the former Iron Curtain, spanning across Europe and offering cyclists a journey through history, culture, and nature.

Along the route, cyclists encounter various attractions, including historic border crossings, museums, and remnants of the Iron Curtain, all set against the backdrop of scenic landscapes and urban areas. The trail also serves as a platform for promoting sustainable travel and raising awareness of its environmental, economic, and social impacts.

Until 1990, the Iron Curtain divided Europe from east to west ideologically, politically, and even physically, with people unable to travel freely.

Currently, what in the past represented an obstacle to mobility is today a cycling route that encourages movement, unity, and harmony between states.

Thus, EuroVelo 13 connects the Barents Sea in the north with the Black Sea in the south, over a distance of 10,400 km.

EuroVelo 13 crosses 20 countries, 14 of which are part of the EU. Along this route, nature is astonishing, offering unique landscapes. In fact, this area is also known as the Green Belt, being the longest ecological route in the world.

The Iron Curtain Trail promotes sustainability, ecology and cross-border cooperation as well as the preservation of cultural, historical and ecological values. It was certified as a Council of Europe Cultural Route in 2019, where you can visit 14 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Sounds interesting, isn’t it?

Read on to find out more about the project and the route we explored!

New Business Cooperation Supported by The Interreg Central Europe Project ICTr-CE

The ICTr-CE project, part of the Interreg Central Europe programme, is focused on developing sustainable tourism along a 3,000-kilometer section of this trail, which passes through eight countries: Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland. 

The project aims to:

• Create and promote unique cycling vacation packages.
• Unite tourism service providers (accommodations, restaurants, attractions, etc.) along ICTr under the Iron Curtain Trail brand for better marketing across Europe.
• Strengthen local and international partnerships by fostering collaboration among SMEs, tourism boards, and other business support organizations.
• Provide training to tourism SMEs to enhance their digital skills and foster co-creation, networking and new tourism offer development.

By engaging in the ICTr-CE project, SMEs along the trail can increase their visibility, extend the tourist season, and actively contribute to sustainable tourism practices such as reducing the negative environmental impact of travel while accentuating its positive societal and ecological contributions, aligning with the EU’s green transition goals.

7 days on EuroVelo 13, central area (ICTr-CE)

It was the first time we were going on a 7-day cycling tour.

We started this journey as part of the Interreg Central Europe Project ICTr-CE. The entire itinerary was created by a mixed Hungarian-Croatian team, and we tested the whole route.

But where exactly did we go?

Well, our route started in Szengotthard, Hungary, continued through Slovenia and Croatia, and ended back in Hungary, in Villany.

We covered a total of 434 km by bike, crossing 3 countries and enjoying extraordinary landscapes, captivating exhibitions, and wonderful people who are passionate about what they do.

If we hadn’t traveled this route by bike, we would have never discovered how beautiful it can be.

But how did we get to Szengotthard, and why did we start here?

The easiest way to get there was by plane, from Bucharest to Vienna. Then, we switched trains a few times, and after several hours, we arrived in Szengotthard.

We started from here because it is a town very close to the border with Slovenia. Additionally, there is an interesting museum nearby dedicated to the history of the Iron Curtain, which we wanted to visit.

So, come along with us to discover what we did each day during our 7 days on EuroVelo 13!

👉 The good news is that soon the entire package will be available for purchase. This way, you can pedal with peace of mind, knowing that everything is included, from bikes to accommodation, meals, and entry to museums or guided tours. Cool, right?

EuroVelo 13 – Day 1

We woke up very excited for the journey ahead. We were given two electric bikes and hit the road. Our first stop was in Apátistvánfalva, at the Iron Curtain Museum. There, we gained a better understanding of the psychological trauma experienced by those on the eastern side of the curtain.

We continued our journey toward Dubrovnik, Slovenia, along a beautiful route where we admired the well-maintained villages. Near Dubrovnik is the Friendship Memorial Park, a place that commemorates the current harmony between two villages that were once divided by the Iron Curtain.

After 70 km, we arrived in Lendava, a small town in Slovenia famous for its excellent wines. We had a wonderful dinner at the Bella Venezia restaurant and stayed at perhaps the most beautiful place along the route—the Cuk Winery House, where we were welcomed with a glass of rosé.

EuroVelo 13 – Day 2

Day 2 promised to be very interesting. We left Lendava and headed toward Lovaszi, Hungary. There, we visited another Iron Curtain museum as well as a bunker from World War II. It’s a must-see spot on this route. The bunker is enormous, like a labyrinth, and was built for the workers at the nearby oil mine.

The second part of the day was all about nature. We enjoyed the view of the Mura River, one of the largest tributaries of the Danube. Then we stopped by Lake Kistolmacs to admire the scenery. We spent the night in Letenye, another small Hungarian town.

EuroVelo 13 – Day 3

Day 3 was particularly interesting. The route took us into Croatia, where we entered a much wilder path, surrounded by nature. We delighted in the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling around us.

Our destination was the confluence of the Mura and Drava rivers, a true natural paradise. This area is also known as the Amazon of Europe, due to its extraordinary biodiversity.

On our way to Koprivnica, we also stopped at Lake Soderika, an artificial lake created from the waters of the Drava River for extracting construction materials. In Koprivnica, we had a guided tour planned for 3:00 PM, so we pedaled fairly quickly to arrive on time. We also enjoyed a visit to the Mijo Kovačić Art Gallery, where we were introduced to Naïve Art, a style that originated here.

We then toured the town of Koprivnica with our guide. We admired parts of the medieval city, 19th-century houses, and beautiful parks. We had dinner at Kralus Pub, a traditional spot in Koprivnica. By the end of the day, we said we would definitely return, as it was such a lovely place.

EuroVelo 13 – Day 4

On Day 4, we spent more time in Croatia, on the route from Koprivnica to Đurđevac. We stopped in Hlebine at the local naïve art gallery, where we admired works by several renowned painters in this style and gained a better understanding of the local culture. Then we enjoyed a hearty lunch at Izletište Grofova Hiža, a local gastronomic spot.

In Molve, we visited the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1853 in the Neo-Romanesque style. It’s an impressive structure with a huge tower. After our stop in Molve, we arrived in Đurđevac, where we explored Stari Grad, or the old town. The museum is housed in a medieval bastion, and we were impressed by how digitized it was, featuring AR points and an audio tour.

We ended the day on a fun note at Sahara Zoo, right next to the museum, where we took pictures with some adorable camels. Our accommodation was at Hotel Picok, where a wellness area and sauna awaited us. We could hardly wait after all those kilometers on the bike!

EuroVelo 13 – Day 5

Đurđevac is a small town, but the visitor center here was impressive. We didn’t expect it to be so digitized and engaging. Here, we learned a lot about how the sand dunes in Đurđevac formed, a unique biosphere reserve. After discovering more about the geological processes behind them, we actually went to see the sand dunes. When you see them, it feels like they come from the bottom of the sea. However, you quickly learn that they are actually crushed rocks from the last Ice Age that occurred in Europe.

Then we pedaled for another 20 km and arrived at a small Croatian village museum in Karlovčan, in Brodić. This is a charming place where the owner has gathered part of the cultural heritage of Croatian villages. We could see what rural houses looked like, the tools used for agricultural tasks, and various other crafts. From there, we set off with the same gentleman on a beautiful 13 km boat trip on the Drava River. It was one of the most beautiful moments of our journey. The boat dropped us off in Križnica, where we re-entered Hungary.

The entire route is marked with the EuroVelo 13 sign, so you don’t need to worry. The bike ride to Kastélyosdombó was magical, passing through a forest that resembled the Amazon jungles. By the end of the day, we had already covered 315 km, but it was an exceptional day!

EuroVelo 13 – Day 6

Our cycling trip was nearing its end, but we still had much to see. The route from Kastélyosdombó to Szaporca is wonderful, as it passes through the most remote areas. It leads you along the banks of the Drava River, allowing you to admire nature in its purest form. We saw bunnies, deer, and fields full of wheat and sunflowers.

At the end of the day, we arrived in Szaporca, where we had the opportunity to meet a wonderful family that values Hungarian rural heritage. Recently, they renovated several traditional houses in Szaporca and Kemes, true architectural gems. We even stayed in one of these houses, and the experience was extraordinary. Not to mention the food they prepared, made from local ingredients, some even from their own garden.

EuroVelo 13 – Day 7

On Day 7, our last day of the tour, we headed toward Villany, the Hungarian town famous for its wines. The Szaporca – Villany route was one of the most beautiful of the entire journey. This time, the path was paved, but just as isolated. We made a stop at Siklós Castle, one of the largest in Hungary. The view from the castle terrace is stunning!

But we had an even more stunning view from the panoramic promenade in Nagyharsány. We climbed a few dozen steps to reach the top, and it was definitely worth it. From this massive granite rock, you can see the entire Villany wine region, with vineyards organized neatly on the hills.

And what better way to conclude our tour than with a tasting at one of the largest wineries in Villany, Bock Winery? However, this tasting wasn’t a traditional one; we actually went into the vineyard and visited the old cellar, where collections from decades ago are kept. We ended the tour in the new cellar, where we saw the entire winemaking process, from harvesting to fermentation and storage in oak barrels.

It was hard to return the bikes at the end of the tour after 434 km spent on two wheels. Everything went wonderfully, without any unplanned adventures. We had a good night’s sleep at Blum Pince Winery House and reminisced about all the beautiful experiences we had throughout the journey.

The 7-day experience on the Iron Curtain Trail will soon be available as a complete package!

How would it be to buy a package that includes all these experiences?

The Westpannon Team is currently working on developing a complete package that will include bikes, accommodation, meals, museum entries, and guided tours.

Basically, you’ll have no other worry than to pedal. But that’s not a worry; it’s a joy.

And when you don’t have the stress of organizing the trip, everything becomes easier.

What can you do to stay updated on when the complete package is launched?

Subscribe to our newsletter, and we’ll send you a notification via email. Also, follow the Westpannon Team Facebook page, where the latest news will be announced.

What do you think? Would you like to do this route?

Do you have any questions?

Write to us in the comments, and we will reply as soon as possible!

Until then, enjoy biking wherever you are!