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Along the Danube from Budapest to Vienna
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Description
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During this tour
you will visit three capitals along the Danube: Budapest (Hungary), Bratislava (Slovakia) and Vienna (Austria), with many attractions and splendid cultural heritage of
disappeared empires.
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The Hungarian part of tour begins at Budapest, first you will cycle along the Danube in Danube bend until Esztergom, then ride through Gerecse hills to Lake Tata and back to Danube
at Komárom. From there you proceed accross the Pannon lowland Kisalföld, then
return to the river at Szigetköz island. Arriving at Slovakia you will ride to Bratislava on the dike of Moson Danube. Finally in the Austrian section you
will ride all along the Danube bank to Vienna.
On the road you will cycle through historical towns and nice villages
with unique architectural and cultural treasures. The tour introduce you two
UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Hungary, the Buda Castle District and the view
of the Danube banks in Budapest, the Millenary Benedictine Abbey
of Pannonhalma. (The unique fortification system of Komárom from the
Austro-Hungarian monarchy is on the candidate list of future Hungarian World
heritage sites.) You will visit the ruins of medieval royal towns in the Danube
Bend at Visegrad and Esztergom, the water castle on rock core of Tata once was
the residence of kings, the Bábolna National Stud a peculiar site of the
world's horsing culture, which was established in 1789, the spectacular
architecture of baroque centre of Györ, known as the city of meetings at the
confluence of three rivers Rába, Rábca, historic castles at the Danube :
Bratislava and Hainburg, the rich architectural and musical heritage and modern cultural treasures of Baroque capital, Vienna. During the tour you
can explore the remains of fortification system and other finding from Roman
period along the Danube at Acquinqum,
Brigetio, Arabona, Petronell-Carnuntum. On the road you can admire the natural
treasures of the environment, the Danube Bend, the Gerecse Landscape Protection
Area and Lake Tata. You can discover the flora and fauna
along the peaceful bicycle roads in the forests of Pannonhalma Hills, in the
Green Belt of the Szigetköz water-land, and the national park March-Donauauen.
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Map
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Itinerary
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1st day: Arrival
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Individual arrival. Accommodation in Budapest.
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2nd day:
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Getting acquainted with the city, individual visit the Castle District, Matthias Church, Fishermen’s Bastion, Parliament , St. Stephen`s Cathedral, Andrássy Street , Opera House, Heroes Square with the Millenary Monument, City Park, Váci Street,.Central Market Hall, Gellért Hill with Liberty Statue and the bridges of Danube.
Accommodation in Budapest.
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3rd day: Danube Bend (Budapest - Szentendre - Visegrád)
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(45 km)
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The cycle path along the Danube starts at Batthyány Square (Batthyány tér) in the heart of the beautiful capital city, opposite the Parliament building. First station of trip is Szentendre, the attractive town of arts and artists. Leaving the town you will cycle on the Danube bank until Leányfalu, then on the Szentendre Island. At Kisoroszi you cross the Danube to Visegrád. The Danune Bend is one of the most beautiful parts of the Danube, squeezing its way between the Börzsöny Hills in the East and the Visegrád section of the Pilis Hills in the West. Arriving in Visegrád you take a trip up to the “Castle in the Clouds”and enjoy the amazing panorama which unfolds before your eyes. Accommodation in Visegrád.
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4th day: Danube Bend (Visegrád-Esztergom )
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(30 km)
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Cross the Danube to Nagymaros. On the other side you will cycle along the Danube bank through Zebegény to Szob. Stop at Zebegény. Visit the Memorial museum of István Szönyi, where the famous painter of the Danube lived and worked. Take a short walk on Kálvária hill. At Szob cross again the Danube and proceed towards Esztergom. Get acquainted with the royal seat town, admire the Basilica, visit the treasures of Christian Museum. You can cross the border on bridge Mária Valeria to Párkány in Slovákia . Accommodation in Esztergom
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5th day: Across the ridge (Esztergom-Tata)
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(53 km)
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You will need to gather your strength for this section. There are places, where some
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hard pedaling is required, but the cycling is pleasant and the air on the hilly stretches refreshing, as you pass through forests and open woodland along minor roads with little traffic .At the end of the section you reach Tata, the town of waters, with lovely atmosphere. The main sights of the small garden city is the Zsigmond castle, built in the 14th century at the banks of the Old Lake.
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Accommodation in Tata.
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6th day: Tata - Pannonhalma
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(59 km)
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Leaving Tata you will ride towards Komárom. After the Trianon peace treaty the Danube became a border river and divided the old, integrated town into Slovakian (Komarno) and Hungarian Komarom. Here at the two sides of the Danube you can find the remaining of greatest fortification system of old Austro - Hungarian monarchy, which was able to accommodate 20 000 solders.
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From there you bypass the busy main road along the Danube to Gyõr and follow the smaller roads across pleasant, flat countryside towards Pannonhalma.
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The next stop is Bábolna, where you will visit the world famous Arabian and Shagya horse breed were founded in 1789.
The last station today is the millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, was settled here in 996, is a valuable World Heritage site. You will visit the church and the library and you can taste the famous wines of historical wine district.
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Accommodation in Pannonhalma.
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7 th day: Pannonhalma - Gyõr - Hédervár
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(44 km)
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After breakfast you will cycle to Gyõr, the historic royal town and Episcopal see, situated at the confluence of three rivers: Rába, Rábca and Danube.
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Visit the interesting sights of town, the cathedral, Episcopal palace, and several impressive monuments and baroque houses from the 17th and 18th century. Leaving Gyro you will cycle through the spectacular Szigetköz, with little towns, plenty of green fields, forests, grasslands, marshland with reeds, where you can meandering on the dirt roads of the Danube dams.
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Accommodation in Hédervár.
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8th day: Hédervár - Rajka - Bratislava (Pozsony)
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(57 km)
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Before leaving visit the sights of Hedervár, the castle with English park, gothic Our Lady Chapel and Árpád's tree, designated 700 years old. Leave Hédervár towards Lipót, where you can stop and relax for a while in the famous thermal bath, and study the birds of wetland from the watchtower of protected landscape area. You will cycle through enchanting villages of sometime Danube islands and proceed on the dike of old Danube until Dunakiliti, then cross the border at Rajka. In Slovakia you will ride from Dunacsúny to Bratislava on the dike of Moson Danube. Arriving late afternoon into Bratislava. Accommodation in Bratislava.
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9th day: Bratislava
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A whole day in Bratislava, enable you to discover the interesting sights and history of the town: Castle, Parliament,New Bridge, Building of National Philharmony, National Theatre, Old City Hall, Main Square, St Michael Gate. From 1278 until 1920 the town was part of the Hungarian kingdom and became its temporary capital in 1536. Between 1536 and 1835 in the St. Martin’s Dome took place the coronations of 11 Hungarian kings . It was also the meeting place of the Hungarian diet until 1848. Accommodation in Bratislava.
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10th day: Bratislava - Vienna
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(68 km)
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Leaving Bratislava you will cross the Austrian border and ride through Wolfsthal to Hainburg.
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Stop here and discover sights of the important frontier town of East-West connections at the Danube with great political and cultural influence. like the town's wall, Vienna Gate and the ruined 12th century castle. You should not miss to visit the remains of ancient Roman settlement in its vicinity, Petronell-Carnuntum, the military, administrative and trade center once was the capital of the Roman province Upper Panonia.
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Cross the river at Hainburg and proceed on the left side of Danube along the Cycle Path, until you arrive at Vienna. On the road you can stop to visit the imperial hunting castle of Eckartsau and the four tower baroque castle of Orth.
Accommodation in Vienna.
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11th day: Vienna
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This day you will discover the fascinating cultural heritage of Austrian capital. Visit the beautiful and historic places: Hofburg, Schönbrunn Palace, Stephansdom, Opera House, Belvedere Palace. Walk along Maria-Hilfer-Straße, the popular shopping street, enjoy the attractions of the famous Prater amusement park or dink a cup of coffee in Donauturm, from which there's an excellent view of the city.
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Accommodation in Vienna.
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12th day: Departure
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Dates
Available: from 1st of April till 31th October 2010
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Price
Participation fee: EUR 1095/ persons sharing the double room
Single Supplement: EUR 270
Bike rental: EUR 140
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Services
11 nights in 3-star and 4-star hotels, in double bedrooms with a bathroom,
half board, daily luggage transportation from hotel to hotel, detailed route
description, maps, information materials.
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Tour Identifier: CYBV121
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