EuroVelo

EuroVelo bicycle routes are a network of (currently 14) long-distance cycling routes criss-crossing Europe in various stages of completion. As of May 2013 more than 45,000 km (27,962 mi) were in place. It is envisaged that the network will be substantially complete by 2020 and when finished, the EuroVelo network's total length will exceed 70,000 km (43,496 mi). EuroVelo is a project of the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF).

EuroVelo routes can be used for bicycle touring across the continent, as well as by local people making short journeys. The routes are made of both existing national bike routes — such as the Dutch LF-Routes, the German D-Routes, and the British National Cycle Network — and existing general purpose roads, together with new stretches of cycle routes to connect them.

History

The idea of creating a network of international cycle routes spanning Europe started in 1995. It was initially coordinated by the ECF, De Frie Fugle (Denmark) and Sustrans (UK) and the original plan was to create 12 long-distance cycling routes.

EV7 The Sun Route

EuroVelo 7 (EV7), named the Sun Route, is a 7,409 km (4,604 mi) long EuroVelo long-distance cycling route running north-south through the whole of Europe from the North Cape in Norway to the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. The route passes through nine countries, and from north to south these are: Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Malta.

Route

In Scandinavia

The EV7 starts in North Cape and passes briefly into Finland before going down the length of Sweden to Malmo from where a ferry will take the traveller to Denmark.

In Denmark, the EV7 follows Danish National Cycle Routes numbers 5, 8 and 9 crossing the country via small islands, ferries and panorama landscapes. The route will take you from Padborg to Copenhagen, where you will see lots of small fishing villages, while from Copenhagen the EV7 follows the Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle Route to Gedser from where a ferry takes the traveller to the German port of Rostock.

In Germany

EV13 The Iron Curtain Trail

The Iron Curtain Trail (ICT), also known as EuroVelo 13 (EV13), is a partially complete long-distance cycling route which will run along the entire length of the former Iron Curtain. During the period of the Cold War (c. 1947-1991), the Iron Curtain delineated the border between the Communist East and the capitalist West, with the East being the Warsaw Pact countries of the Soviet bloc and the West being the countries of NATO.

The ICT can also, of course, be walked as a long-distance trail.

Overview

As of December 2013, many parts of the ICT are already complete, particularly in the central section, such as most of the German part and along the Czech border. When complete, the Iron Curtain Trail will run for 7,650 km (4,750 mi) from the Barents Sea down to the Black Sea.

The Iron Curtain Trail, which is closely related to the European Green Belt project, is being managed as three projects: