Exploring the Beauty and Culture of the Danube
The Danube River, flowing nearly 3,000 km through ten countries, is celebrated for its cultural and historical significance. Iconic cities like Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest, along with diverse landscapes and rich traditions, line its banks. The Danube Cycleway offers a scenic and adventurous way to explore the river, showcasing Europe's finest scenery, cities, and cultural heritage.
Almost everyone has heard of “The Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss, one of his best-known works and perhaps the most popular waltz ever written. The lesser-known lyrics describe a “bright and blue river, flowing calmly through valleys and meadows, ancient castles looking down from on high, past craggy hilltops with mountain views, all the way from the Black Forest through Vienna to the sea”.
From its source in Germany's Black Forest, the Danube, Europe's second-longest river, crosses half the continent, flowing nearly 3,000 km through (or past) ten countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine. It passes dramatic gorges, hilltop castles, vineyards, and medieval towns. The imperial cities of Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest, with their palaces, cathedrals, museums, and galleries, give way to medieval fortresses, memorials from the recent Yugoslav civil war, vineyard-clad hillsides, and rural areas where crops are still planted and harvested by hand, and the main means of transport is horse and cart.
Historically, the Danube has connected diverse cultures, serving as Europe's most important and oldest trade route. Today, there are many reasons to visit the Danube. The Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Europe's most biodiverse regions, home to over 300 bird species and numerous unique plants. Cities like Vienna and Budapest host vibrant cultural festivals that showcase music, film, and food. The Danube River Valley is renowned for its wine regions, such as Austria's Wachau Valley, where visitors can enjoy wine tasting tours. The region also boasts a rich culinary tradition, from Austrian pastries and Hungarian goulash to Serbian grilled meats and Bulgarian yogurt dishes. Stunning architectural marvels line the river, including the Gothic spires of Bratislava Castle, the Baroque beauty of Melk Abbey, and the striking Parliament Building in Budapest. A wealth of sights and sounds are just waiting to be explored.
One of the best ways to do this is by cycling The Danube Cycleway. Running parallel to the mighty river, it is one of the most scenic long-distance cycling routes in Europe. Cyclable from April to October, the route offers mostly flat, level cycling and a range of accommodation options, plus good waymarking throughout (EuroVelo 6 (EV6) except in Croatia and Romania where markings are ambiguous or non-existent). The journey takes roughly 40 to 50 days to complete, or about a month if you’re fit enough to cover 100 km per day. Up until Budapest, the Danube Cycleway provides everything needed for a European cycling holiday. Beyond Budapest, the journey becomes more adventurous due to weaker tourist infrastructure, offering a superb off-the-beaten-track experience through central and eastern Europe.
The entire cycleway makes for an epic journey, featuring wonderful scenery, immense history and culture, and some of Europe’s finest cities. In the words of Strauss, you can “see it all by the Danube, the beautiful blue Danube”.
The Danube Cycleway Volume 1
From the source in the Black Forest to Budapest
£14.95
The first in a two-volume set, this guidebook describes cycling the first 1269km of the Danube river from its source in the Black Forest to Budapest, passing through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Suitable for all levels of cyclist, the route visits the great cities of Vienna and Bratislava before arriving in the Hungarian capital.
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The Danube Cycleway Volume 2
From Budapest to the Black Sea
£17.95
Cycling guidebook to the Danube Cycleway exploring the route from Budapest to the Black Sea, the more adventurous second part of the Danube, suitable for most abilities and bike types. The river route starts in Hungary and continues into Croatia and Serbia before ending at Tulcea in Romania. The Danube Cycleway is also part of EuroVelo 6 (EV6).
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