IronCurtainCycling

The geographically, ethnically organic SI-HU CBC region was divided for long by the Iron Curtain enforcing the borderlines set after World War II. Relations faded, municipalities came to a social, economic decline. The CBC region offers great opportunities for bicycle tourism, which might be the breakout point in the rural area. Several projects have already aimed this goal, however a connected and signposted bicycle road network covering the whole region and a complex biker-friendly offer built on this network has not yet been achieved. Realising this, a CBC partnership of 4 Hungarian and 3 Slovenian partners (lead: Zala County Government) will launch the project (in the area of Lenti, Letenye, Őriszentpéter, Szentgotthárd, Murska Sobota, Ptuj, Ormož, Ljutomer, Lendava). Our goal is to develop a complex CBC cycling destination through intertwining local, regional cycling routes connecting to EV13, being the main north-south axis of the region, and through developing cycling-friendly services and supplementary tourism supply with the aim to integrate the area into the international system of EuroVelo. Main activities: Signposting the SI-HU section of EV13, the connecting regional bicycle routes and Iron Curtain sites; Establishing a cycling connection providing a new border crossing point; Improving cycling-friendly services: cycling centres, e-bike chargers, biker-friendly accommodation, joint map and mobile app, thematic routes and tourism packages; Establishing an Iron Curtain historical site; Organizing knowledge transfer events; awareness raising (e.g. workshops, »biker-friendly services« and visitor management booklet); Events (e.g. ICC Day cycling festival, Green Belt family day, EV13 conference); Other promotion (e.g. ICC stamping system, online campaign, branded souvenirs). Through these activities the project will contribute to the diversification of cross-border tourism supplies and to the development of sustainable, common tourism services.

 

 

  • Priority axis 1

    Investment priority 6c

    SO 1: To increase attractiveness through the diversification and cross-border integration of the sustainable touristic offer in the programme area, based on the protection of the elements of cultural and natural heritage

  • Project duration

    15.08.2017 – 14.02.2021

  • Comitted ERDF co-financing

    1.947.709,55 EUR

  • Project partners
    • Zala Megyei Önkormányzat (Lead Partner)
    • Znanstveno raziskovalni središče Bistra Ptuj
    • Zavod za kulturo, turizem in šport Murska Sobota
    • Vas Megyei Önkormányzati Hivatal
    • Nyugat-Pannon Terület- és Gazdaságfejlesztési Szolgáltató Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft.
    • Občina Lendava
    • NIF Nemzeti Infrastruktúra Fejlesztő Zártkörűen működő Részvénytársaság