Cycling camp and competition on two sides of the border

A new bicycle path has been constructed and further cycling infrastructure developments took place within the EV13 GAP project. On the weekend of 21-22 September 2019 fifty Hungarian and Croatian pupils and their children have got acquainted with the project, who participated at the various organised events.

Pupils and their parents from the Arany János Primary School in Barcs and their Croatian counterparts, the Vladimir Nazor Primary School in Virovitica attended a camp at the Janković chateau in Kapela Dvor, on Sunday they took an excursion on the Barcs–Drávatamási cycling path, where a competition took place for them. The event was part of the European Cooperation Day serial, which is organised on the same day in whole Europe, in order to promote cross-border cooperation.

The new cycling path, which is going directly along the border line from Barcs to Drávatamási, in beautiful nature, near the Drava, is the project has been named after. So far there has been a “gap” on the Hungarian section of the EuroVelo 13 cycling route, which is going from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea, along the former Iron Curtain. Previously there has been a signposted dirt road on loose terrain, which was muddy in rain and dusty in dry weather, therefore mostly hardly appropriate or inappropriate for cycling.

Besides the nine kilometre new asphalt the development involved the establishment of a resting area for cyclists. On the Croatian side a new connecting section will be established, between the Barcs border crossing station and the chateau, avoiding the high-traffic state road, moreover developments took place in the chateau, including biker-friendly services. Through these investments the Hungarian and Croatian network is connected, Barcs will become a real node of cycling tourism at the Drava.

The project „EV13 GAP – Filling the gap: completion of the cross-border section of EuroVelo 13 between Drávatamási and Virovitica” (HUHR/1601/2.1.1/0006) is implemented through the Interreg V-A Hungary-Croatia Cross-border Cooperation Programme, with co-financing of the European Union, in cooperation of the Town of Barcs and Virovitica-Podravina County from Croatia. The project is not only in line with the development of the EV13 route, but also aim at the development of cycling infrastructure, services and promotion in the border area. Through these measures it is achievable that cyclists will be more acquainted with the beautiful landscape, local people will be more involved in tourism service provision, which altogether significantly contribute to maintain local population in the sparsely populated area.