Transdanube Travel Stories Sustainable mobility linking Danube Travel Stories

Travel the Route of emperors and king - Regensburg to Mohács

Since Roman antiquity, the Danube has been the most important transport route in Central Europe and a link between a region closely intertwined in history and culture. Merchants, settlers and missionaries exploited this link between East and West in the early Middle Ages when new principalities and kingdoms were established along the Danube. Crusaders and pilgrims on their way to Byzantium and the 'Holy Land', as well as Hungarian, Habsburg and Ottoman armies, also followed the Danube. For more than 500 years, the Habsburg Danube Monarchy served as a connecting link - the "road of emperors and kings", along which the cultural and historical relics of the turbulent common history of transnational "Danube Europe" can be discovered.

More information here

Travel - THE LAST DANUBE'S HEARTLAND

Visit to Nature park Kopački rit Croatia, Gornje Podunavlje Special Natural Reserve

Guided tour (in German, English or Croatian language).

This travel experience is conceived as a round trip through three protected areas of the Danube central region and will take three days to finish. During that time the goal is for travellers to experience the three protected areas of the central Danube region, every day a different one.

The central Danube region is separated into three parts:

1. Croatian part - Kopački rit Nature Park
2. Hungarian part - Duna-Dráva National Park
3. Serbian part – Gornje Podunavlje Nature Reserve 

The product will give people the opportunity to see all of the breathtaking wetland wilderness that
spans three countries. Guests will be able to try authentic food made from all local ingredients, taste
local wine made from the authentic grape sorts that grow in these parts, see the local culture and
how people used to live, visit some villages and cities along the route, monuments, castles, and have
a little time for themselves to relax and enjoy the overall experience.

More information about 5 days: here

For 400 years the Danube region was the northern border of the Roman Empire and closely connected with this huge economic and cultural area from Scotland to Egypt. Our adventure tour leads along Rome's former "Danube Limes" (UNESCO World Heritage) from Germany to Slovakia. We convey impressions of this fascinating time that can be directly experienced beyond mere sightseeing and let you immerse yourself in the world of the Romans on the Danube!

 More information found here

CULTURE, NATURE AND ENCOUNTERS IN VOJVODINA AND SLAVONIA ( NOVI SAD)

In our "On the edges of the Danube Monarchy" travel series, we will be in Serbia in 2022 and Slavonia in eastern Croatia.

We will start in Subotica, which boasts some of the most beautiful buildings of the Hungarian Art Nouveau and (fortunately for us) has not yet been discovered by tourists. There, we meet parish priest Csaba Paskó, Caritas president, cathedral director and TV chef, and are immediately introduced to the region's culinary delights. This historic region, Batschka, is today divided between Hungary and Serbia. In 1699, the Batschka came under the Habsburgs, who carried out intensive colonisation of this border region by German-speaking settlers, mainly Danube Swabians. But also Hungarians, Serbs and Croats inhabited this lowland. Then we travel to nearby Novi Sad, the capital of Vojvodina, where we can see the mighty fortress of Peterwardein. Novi Sad will be the European Capital of Culture in 2022 and also has much to offer. There will be plenty of time for sightseeing and meetings. From here, we'll take two excursions: one to the hilly landscape of Fruska Gora with its Serbian Orthodox monasteries, and the other to the capital Belgrade, stunningly situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers.

Finally, we make a detour to the other side of the Danube, Croatia, to visit Vukovar, which gained notoriety during the 1991 Croatian-Serbian war, and Ilok, Croatia's easternmost town, with its fortress and Franciscan monastery perched high above the Danube. The Kopački rit Nature Park near Osijek, at the mouth of the Danube, is explored by boat.

On this trip, we pay the utmost attention to social and ecological sustainability. Transport is by a climate-friendly, modern bus. We work with local, mostly small, businesses so that people in the area can benefit from our trips. As always, the programme includes meetings with interesting people, giving a deep and authentic insight into the country's history and current situation.

More information here.

Come Cycle the new Slovenia Green Pannonian Route 

The country's best secret combines three green destinations in the northeastern four-border area

● 3-day cycling route through Slovenia’s Pannonian Region and the Heart of Europe.

 ● A free interactive map with some 200 attractions is available.

● Total length: approximately 120 km (depending on the version).

 ● Lowest and highest altitude: 158/334 m.

The Slovenia Green Pannonian Route (SGPR) launches on June 30, 2022, to coincide with the beginning of the world’s first real travel season in two years. In honor of those travellers — who are ready to journey away from crowds and again embrace new cultures, nature, food and wine, and adventure — this 3-stage cycling itinerary, which stops in green-certified destinations, explores the northeastern corner of Slovenia tucked in the Heart of Europe.

Sitting on the four-border point with Austria, Hungary, and Croatia, Slovenia’s Pannonian Region is a magnetic hub loaded with multiple traditions, thermal spas, diverse landscapes, vineyards, an endless supply of photo opportunities, and a lifetime of stories. Oh, and by the way, this is also a fantastic cycling country.

The SGPR was developed as a collaboration between Novi Turizem, an innovative tourism research institute, the Institute for Culture, Tourism and Sports Murska Sobota, and GoodPlace Sustainable Tourism Factory.

The SGPR, a loop route, begins in Murska Sobota, the largest town in the Pomurje Region, which surrounds the Mura River. It then heads south and east, paralleling the river, to the beautiful town of Lendava. The next stage travels across the Mura — from the Prekmurje Region, on the left bank, to the Prlekija Region, on the right bank, and to the wine-growing hills connecting the town of Ljutomer and Jeruzalem. The trail completes its loop with a final stage back to Murska Sobota.

"The Slovenia Green Pannonian Route is important because it provides travellers with a new way to investigate one of Slovenia's most fascinating regions,” says Daniel Ulčar, an expert for tourism and promotion at the Institute for Culture, Tourism and Sports Murska Sobota. “When someone comes here to cycle and discover the history, food, people, and landscape, they have truly discovered paradise."

The itinerary pedals around 40 kilometres per day across a combination of flat and rolling landscapes, and on quiet roads and packed-gravel trails. During each stage, cyclists are welcomed by destinations and service providers that have earned Slovenia Green certification, a national program that brings together the country’s sustainable tourism efforts under one brand.

“The SGPR is another Slovenia Green route that enhances sustainability certification by adding content and story,” says Tina H. Zakonjšek, the director of Zavod Novi turizem and the Slovenia Green Association. “This one focuses on active holidays, combined with cultural experiences, nature, gastronomy and hospitality. It explores the Pannonian plain which makes it appropriate even for the less experienced cyclists.”

More information is here. and  Slovenia Green's website.  

VELO MARTINI - Cycling pilgrimage

From bratislava - Szombathely

During the 7-day cycling, pilgrimage starting from Bratislava, many religious sites, and historical and cultural heritage cross our path in beautiful landscapes that are easy to cycle on. It is not easy for us to leave our daily routine to embark on a journey with a different rhythm. On each of the seven days, spiritual guides will help our cycling pilgrimage at the designated locations. In addition, we will also learn a lot of interesting things about the cultural and natural values visible along the way.

Our tour starts in Bratislava, in front of St. Martin's Cathedral, then leads through the rich landscapes of Szigetköz, Moson plain, Pannonhalma Hills, Rábaköz and Fertő-Hanság, and then take the Sopron - Kőszeg route through the Alpokalja to Savaria, i.e. to Szombathely, to the birthplace of St. Martin, the end of the Via Sancti Martini international pilgrimage route.

More information here. 

WELCOME TO HRVATSKO PODUNAVLJE - THE DANUBE KINGDOM OF WINES AND NATURAL PEARLS

Welcome to eastern Slavonia and Baranja, a picturesque region located in the east of the Republic of Croatia along the border with Serbia and Hungary, on the last fifty kilometres of the Drava River and exactly in the middle of the Danube, from the German Schwartzwald to the Black Sea, which is 2,850 km long.

Due to its location along this mighty river, the easternmost part of the historical regions of Slavonia and Baranja is also known under the internationally recognized name "Croatian Danube".
By visiting our region at the transition from Central to Southeastern Europe, you will have the opportunity to experience an interesting area where Croatian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman heritage meets.
We are best known to our neighbours for our wide and fertile fields, large rivers and marshes, gentle green hills, colourful villages, old towns, cheerful people with interesting traditions (tambourine, folk music and costumes), gastronomic delicacies (venison roast, Čobanac - one from variations of goulash, Fiš-paprikaš - spicy fish soup made from red ground pepper, Kulen - traditional sausage, cheese strudel...) and - wine.

Wine has been produced in this region since the time of ancient Rome. The oldest winery in Croatia is located in the western part of Slavonia and dates back to 1232, and here in the Croatian Danube, there are the second (Iločki podrumi in Ilok) and the third oldest winery (Vina Belje in Kneževi Vinogradi), both from the Middle Ages. Pinot, Chardonnay, Merlot and Frankovka are some of the most common wine varieties, and the most famous white variety Graševina is the pride of every local winemaker.

The Traminac wine variety is world-famous, with a sweet taste and the smell of freshly picked roses. The one from Đakovo and Ilok is especially appreciated, and it is not only enjoyed by Croats, but since the mid-20th century and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and guests at the British Court.

More information here.