Here you find day by day inspiration for the Sultans Trail biketour starting in Vienna in 38 days to Istanbul. Like to know what you can expect and read more about the Sultans Trail bike tour on the cycle information page. This information is in Dutch. If you are planning your Sultans Trail cycling trip you can find more information in English on this page here you can also sign up for the cycling tour 2021.
The Türkenhügel in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg was an old watchtower from the Osmans during the second siege of Vienna. It offers great views of Devin in Slovakia. It is also said that in bright weather you can see the lights of Vienna. Another important border city was Hainburgan der Donau. The city was an important conquest for the Osmans on their way to Vienna. You can still see the remains of the Osman attacks in the Blutgassean der Donau(Blood alley at the Danube).
Legend says the Danube colored red for days in a row. The original city walls are well preserved and have survived the many sieges and attacks. The last village in Austria is Wolfsthal. It has a pilgrim church ‘Maria in Birnbaum’ dating from 1710 and a Mary sanctuary since 1737.
After Austria we enter Slovakia in the bustling city of Bratislava. From afar you already see the Bratislava castle and the old communist UFO-building ‘the flying saucer’ near the new bridge. Due to the decades of communism Bratislava is well preserved an every visitor may enjoy the ancient times and historic glitter and shine. After Bratislava we enter the next country: Hungary. No lack of variety. If you want to cover some distance you may follow the levee along the Danube and you arrive straight at the next campsite at Dunakiliti. Dunakiliti may be translated as the key to the Danube. Luckily enough the nature is untouched which allows you to admire rare plants and birds. An ideal area to find peace and make a camp-fire.[/su_spoiler]
By origin, Lipótused to be an old fishing village but the sulphur-rich sources have turned it into a thermal- and wellness resort with a luxury campsite. On the other hand, Ásványráróhas a relaxed little campsite right at the banks of the old Danube. The slowly flowing Danube accompanies us with right in the middle the two large delta islands: Szigetköz and Csallóköz. The big amazement starts behind the Mosoni-Danube. After the bridge Győr appears, a monumental city dotted with beautiful alleys and lovely details of old casting and art. In 1989 the city won the award for the best-renovated centre. In the Osman days, it was called Yanıkkaleand the German name was Rahab. In 1606 Győrwas handed over to the Habsburgs after the Žitava Treaty. There are no visible remnants of the shortlived Osman periods. Győr has a rich history of conquests and destructions. The most well-known was by Napoleon and his large army: the battle for Győr/Raab). The result is a place to stay like a modern Sultan.[/su_spoiler]
After the wonderful Győr you will cycle past fields to Győrszentiván. This is where the Eurovelo 6 runs and there is a range of fun cycle ammenities. The village of Bana offers a brand new church. The village is named after the main branch of one of the richest Hungarian families: the Bána-clan.
The next village, Ács, offers lots of cycle comfort like a pick-up service to help stranded cyclists and a cycle bar.All of the villages you will pass are quite stretched out which is characteristic for Hungary. Ácsis the last village before border city Komárom. Just before entering Komárom you will see fortification Monostor i Erőd which used to play an important role in Osman history.
The fortification is the largest modern defence works in Central-Europe and was built between 1850 and 1871. The neo-classical monument has a military history and is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage. It has an elaborate network of underground corridors called: casamata.
The original name of Komáromwas Új-Szőny. In 1896 it merged with Komárom. After the Trianon Treaty (1920) is became independent again bearing the name: Komárom-South. Komárom/Komárno has always been a major harbour along the Danube on both sides of the border.The erratic Danube deposes a lot of sediment and regular dredging is required to keep the necessary depths to navigate.
Komárom/Komárnois situated on the route between the capitals Vienna, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest. Before the bridge to Slovakia there is a tourist agency offering good regional cycling maps. After the bridge you will enter a brand new country: Slovakia.[/su_spoiler]
During World War I Komárnowas split in two and the northern part, which contains the old city centre, was part of the former state of Czechoslovakia. The Southern part of the DanuberemainedHungarian. A long wall stands as a reminder of times where much desired harbours had to be defended.
After the fortifications along bicycle lane stretches out all the way to the two old Danube harbour cities: Štúrovo and Esztergom. On our way to Štúrovowe pass by the Roman settlement Kelemantia, which was, in fact, an advanced military post to guard the northern Roman border. It is a complex of warm water spas, subtropical swimming paradise and wellness resorts.
The Žitava monument commemorates the peace treaty that was closed after a fifteen-year war between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy that ended 11-11-1606. After the Trianon treaty of 1920, this area became part of Czechoslovakia but there is still a considerable minority that honours Hungarian customs.
Štúrovocomes across as an old industrial city, its Hungarian name is Párkányi and the Osman name is Çiğerdelen. The bridge crossing to Hungary offers one of the most beautiful views of the magnificent Dome situated on the rock. In the foreground is the old mosque with a half minaret. After the bridge, you are back in the Hungarian beauty and the city of Esztergom (German: Gran). It seems like a true fairy-tale. Since 1001 Esztergomis a city of Archbishops. The old mosque is currently under reconstruction. Many civilizations have left a rich history. Underneath the mosque, Esztergom’s Öziçeli Hacı İbrahim Cami, there is a complete corridor system. A good place for a bite we start the climb to Dobogókő. [/su_spoiler]
The far stretching views show a lot of the cycle trip so far. A spiritual highlight. Afterwards we ‘tumble down’ from the Pilis mountains on our way to Budapest. The villages we ‘speed through’ have all been named after the Pilis mountains: Pilisszentkereszt, Pilisszántó, Pilisvörösvár andPilisszentiván.
The mountain chain has got many caves and is famous because the first people appeared after the most recent Ice Age. Budapest was formed as a city in 1873 after merging Boeda and Óbuda (on the western banks of the Danube) and Pest that is situated on the eastern banks. Before 1873 the cities were named: Pest-Boeda.
The entry is near the tomb of “Gül Baba” (Türbeés Rózsakert) with rose garden. Gül Baba is the Sufi patron of the roses, the Rose Hill. All around the area you will notice rose gardens. The tomb is a pilgrimage destination for Muslims and a popular destination for modern Turkish tourists. A beautiful vantage point to get anticipatory pleasure of the city’s splendour. [/su_spoiler]
The facade is decorated with images, in the middle Saint Anna with the Virgin Mary made by Károly Bebo.
Boeda’s castle, the former Royal Palace, is a historic complex at Castle Hill (Várhegy), the old city centre of Boeda. If you take the gondola up to the castle you will find yourself 70 metres above the Danube. The Turkish rulers called Boeda the “Golden Apple of their eye” of their Empire. The mythic bird Turul prides on top of the castle and symbolizes the origin of the Hungarians.
Sultans Trail follows the Donauradweg and EV6 which makes the cycling pleasant. You will pass an industrial zone but also playful catering: a playground for artistic ideas. After this ‘playground’ we pass the Kastély Park housing a museum.
The next village is Érd (Turkish: Hamzabég), a special village for the Minaret of the former Hamza bey mosque. Százhalombatta is a special city containing a wide array of different sights among them a large Rubik’s Cube (the Rubik’s Cube was developed by Hungarian Erno Rubik). The art object runs on solar energy and lights the square colourfully in the evenings.
City hall square houses a very special building: Szent István templom. It has the association of a Viking helmet but it is an effort to join all building styles of churches into one design and has been designed by Imre Makovecz.
We continue through lovely villages and towards Velence. The atmosphere becomes more holiday-like. A lake offers a relaxing resting place. A week has flown by and tomorrow we will choose a bicycle path through a nature area.
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