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Classical Vienna - Budapest
cycle tour
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Description
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During this tour you will visit three Central European
capitals along the Danube: Vienna (Austria), Bratislava
(Slovakia) and Budapest (Hungary) with many attractions
and splendid cultural heritage of disappeared empires. |
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Our classical cycle tour starts in Vienna, the Austrian
capital. You will ride all along the Danube bank, while
you cross the Slovakian border and arrive the next
capital Bratislava. Leaving the town you follow on the
dike of Danube to Szigetköz Island in Hungary. From Győr
you leave the River Danube and proceed across the Pannon
lowland, Kisalföld to Pannonhalma then Bábolna. The path
returns to Danube at Komárom fortress then turns back to
Lake Tata at the foot of Gerecse Hills. Crossing the
Gerecse Hills will arrive back to Danube at Esztergom
and follow the river from Danube Bend to Hungarian
capital. 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 Millenary
Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and the Buda Castle
District and the view of the Danube banks in Budapest.
(The unique fortification system of Komárom from the
Austro-Hungarian monarchy is on the candidate list of
future Hungarian World heritage sites.) You can discover
the musical heritage and modern cultural treasures of
Baroque capital, Vienna; historic castles at the Danube:
Hainburg and Bratislava, the rich architectural the
spectacular architecture of baroque center of Győr,
known as the city of meetings at the confluence of three
rivers Rába, Rábca, the Bábolna National Stud a peculiar
site of the world's horsing culture, which was
established in 1789, the water castle on rock core of
Tata once was the residence of kings, the ruins of
medieval royal towns in the Danube Bend at Esztergom and
Visegrád.
During
the tour you can explore the remains of fortification
system and other finding from Roman period along the
Danube at Petronell- Carnuntum, Arabona, Brigetio,
Aquincum. On the road you can admire the natural
treasures of the environment, Lake Tata, Gerecse
Landscape Protection Area and the Danube Bend. You can
enjoy the flora and fauna along the peaceful bicycle
roads the national park March-Danube, in the Green Belt
of the Szigetköz water-land and in the forests around
Pannonhalma Hills.
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Map
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Itinerary
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1st day: Arrival
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This day you can discover the
fascinating cultural heritage of
Austrian capital. Do not miss
visit the historic places:
Hofburg, Schönbrunn Palace,
Stephansdom, Opera House, and
Belvedere Palace and more.
Overnight in Vienna.
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2nd day:
Vienna -
Hainburg
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(54 km)
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The first day on the
tour takes you along the Danube
river valley to the town
Hainburg. On the road you can
stop to visit the hunting castle
of Eckerstau, the four tower
baroque castle of Orth and the
ancient roman settlement
vicinity Petronell-Carnuntum.
The route is almost entirely
flat. You remain in Lower
Austria but approach the Slovak
border. Overnight in
Hainburg.(B)
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3rd day:
Hainburg - Bratislava -
Mosonmagyaróvár
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(58 km)
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Today's ride brings you briefly through
Slovakia via Bratislava with its historical
old town center. Bratislava is the capital
of Slovakia. Visit the castle and the old
city center with many interesting sights of
historical town (was also called Pozsony
during the centuries it was part of the
Hungarian kingdom). After leaving the town,
you will cycle towards the border of Hungary
at Rajka, and ride until Mosonmagyaróvár
located at the confluence of River Lajta and
Mosoni-Duna. The border town at the
connection between the East and West is
famous about its thermal waters. Overnight
in Mosonmagyaróvár (B)
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4th day:
Mosonmagyaróvár - Győr
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(44 km)
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You will cycle through
enchanting villages of sometime
Danube Islands (Szigetköz) and
proceed on the cycle paths to
Győr, situated at the confluence
of three rivers: Rába, Rábca and
Danube.
The cycling route is
broken up by small, farming
towns, green fields, and
forests. It’s worth to stop and
visit the Castle with English
park in Hédervár and make a
detour and relax in the famous
thermal bath at Lipót. The
destination of today‘s route is
the city of Győr. This town,
originally a Hungarian
stronghold from A.D.900, has
also a superb cathedral from the
12th century. Overnight in Győr
(B)
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5th day:
Győr -
Pannonhalma - Bábolna
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(51 km)
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You will cycle today in this
rustic, farming landscape,
leaving the Danube's river flow.
The first 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.
Finally you will reach Bábolna,
the village is famous for its
horses. The famous Shagya
stallion, whose offspring are
highly esteemed all over the
world, was bought to Bábolna
from Syria in 1836. The Bábolna
Stud Farm won the Grand Prize at
the 1900 World Exhibition in
Paris. Overnight in
Bábolna. (B)
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6th day:
Bábolna - Komárom - Tata
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(44 km)
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Leaving Bábolna
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
Komárom. 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 200 000
solders. At the end
of the section you
reach Tata, the town
of waters situated
on Lake Tata with
lovely atmosphere.
Cycling paths around
the lake make a nice
add on. Overnight in
Tata. (B)
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7th day: Tata -
Esztergom
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(52 km)
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Today the route goes through
forested landscape with an
ascent to cover but after that
it is a straight run to
Esztergom. You will need to
gather your strength for this
section. There are places where
some 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.
Driving into the city center you
can enjoy the beautiful scenery
of Esztergom environment, the
river Danube and the nearby
hill. You can admire the most
monumental construction of
Hungarian Classicism, the
largest Basilica in Hungary,
dating from 1822, which
incorporates an earlier,
renaissance church from the 16th
century. Overnight in Esztergom.
(B)
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8th day:
Esztergom
- Visegrád - Szentendre (50 km) or Budapet
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Cycling along the Danube river valley
gets you to the small town of Visegrád
situated at the exit of a loop in the Danube
in the Danube Bend. This historical town is
a popular destination for excursions because
of ruins of the royal palace and citadel and
the scenery view of Danube Bend. You can
take a trip up to the “Castle in the clouds”
and enjoy the amazing panorama which unfolds
your eyes. Cross the Danube by ferry to
Nagymaros. On the other side you will cycle
along the Danube Bank to the
one-thousand-year-old Episcopal seat –city
Vác. After crossing the Danube to the
Szentendre Island, Continue on to the town
of Szentendre with its many churches,
galleries and arts. You can travel
another 20 km by HÉV (suburban train) to
reach Budapest, the magnificent city, once a
centre of the Austro-Hungarian Empire,
boasts incredible architecture and its
thriving centre offers many things to do.
Overnight in Szentendre or Budapest. (B)
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9th day:
Budapest - Departure Day
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You depart on your own
today or add some extra nights
to have more time to explore
Budapest. (B)
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Notation: (B) = Breakfast |
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Dates
Available:
from 1st of April till 31th October 2010
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Price
Participation fee: EUR
685 / person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: EUR 195
Bike rental: EUR 110
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Services
Price includes: 8 nights accommodation in 3-star Hotels
or Pensions, with breakfast, daily luggage transfers
from hotel to hotel, detailed route description with
maps and trips on sights, cultural highlights, scenic
stops, hotline in case of emergencies.
The price also
includes local tax and VAT and valid in case of
min. two Person.
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Tour Identifier: CYVB091
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