ass tour 2 annonce

Part 2 - From Budapest to the Danube Delta in 11 days

In the context of the EU Interreg project “Transdanube.Pearls”, an international expert team, consisting of video, mobility and tourism experts, travelled the 2.860 km long route along the Danube by using only sustainable means of transport, such as busses, trains, ships and bikes.

The first part of the journey from the source of the Danube in Germany to Budapest took place in July 2017. The second part of the tour from Budapest to the Danube Delta was successfully completed in September 2017. Aim of the journey is to demonstrate the existing possibilities to travel the Danube region without private car.

The assessment tour took place in the context of the project “Transdanube.Pearls” that aims at establishing sustainable mobility solutions and tourist services that rely on the use of eco-friendly means of transport, such as trains, busses, ships or bikes. For this purpose, a network of destinations “Transdanube.Pearls” committed to sustainable mobility in tourism will be developed. This will create a unique selling proposition for the participating destinations, increase the attractiveness of the whole Danube region and above all, reduce the negative impact of transport on the environment. Thus, the assessment tour provides the possibility to evaluate the opportunities to move to, within and between the future Pearls with already existing mobility offers, like trains, busses, bicycles, ships, canoes, etc. and to experience the touristic attractions in the destinations in a more sustainable way.

In August 2017, the team continued their travel by bus from Budapest to Mohács and experienced the increasing attractiveness of bicycles for both local people, and tourists travelling along the Eurovelo 6 and 13. Interreg reporter Nóra, deployed by the Interreg Volunteer Youth, joined the team during their stay in Mohacs and had the chance to get to know the project Transdanube.Pearls, before they continued their journey to the European Capital of Culture 2010, Pécs, where they visited beautiful historical and cultural sites.

Travelling to Vukovar provided the chance to visit the largest intact wetlands in Europe, Kopački rit and to enjoy a ride on the only existing E-boat at the Danube. Arriving by bus from Belgrade to Kladovo and Donji Milanovac, the team approached the Iron Gate and experienced the most famous Danube landmarks, Veliki and Mali Kazan Gorge. Subsequently, they crossed the border and saw the Romanian side of the Iron Gate region on a boat tour in Orsova and passed through the Mehediniti Mountains.

Visiting Vidin (Bulgaria) offered the opportunity to explore Baba Vida castle and the impressive Belogradtschik rocks. In Svistov the team reached the southernmost point of the Danube and visited the great roman settlement “Nove complex” on the shores of the river. The last day in Bulgaria was dedicated to Ruse and the surrounding region including the stone churches of Ivanovo. Crossing the Danube bridge in Ruse the team headed in direction of the Danube Delta passing by Bucharest. In Tulcea, the main hub for trips to the Danube delta, the team visited the RowmaniaFEST – The International Festival of Paddle Boats.

After 22 days, they finally approached the Danube Delta by experiencing an adventurous cycling tour to the place where the Danube enters the Black Sea.

The knowledge gained from the assessment tour will provide valuable inputs about the relevant touristic points of interest, the possibilities to get there with sustainable mobility services and the availability and accessibility of information on sustainable means of transport to, between and within future Pearls. Furthermore, these new insights will contribute to the successful implementation of the project.

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Picture 1: The largest intact wetlands in Europe, Kopački rit, Croatia ©Transdanube.Pearls

Picture 2: The expert team (from left to right: Dejan Veselinov (tourism expert), Dušan Čavić and Dušan Saponja (video team) and Andreas Friedwagner (mobility expert)) in front of the only existing E-boat at the Danube in Vukovar, Croatia ©Transdanube.Pearls

Picture 3: Danube Landmarks, Veliki and Mali Kazan Gorge in Serbia ©Transdanube.Pearls

Picture 4: Mehediniti Mountains in Romania ©Transdanube.Pearls

Picture 5 & 6: Belogradtschik rocks in Bulgaria ©Transdanube.Pearls