Description
The bike route is well signposted along its entire length. On your way through Lower Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, you will find various types of signposts. The European flag with the number 13 represents the continuous symbol of the bike route! A depiction of existing signposts can be found here.
Both on the Lower Austrian side (Wald- and Weinviertel) and on the Czech side, the route has been completely newly signposted.
Starting point of the tour
Gmünd
Destination point of the tour
Bratislava
Route description Iron Curtain Trail - EuroVelo 13
Stage 1 - České Velenice/Gmünd – Litschau, 38 km
Gmünd-Eibenstein-Steinbach-Alt Nagelberg-Groß Nagelberg-Brand Nagelberg-Finsternau-Litschau
Individual arrival to Gmünd in the Waldviertel. The former Kuenringer town Gmünd presents visitors with a multifaceted offer. The Old Town Hall dominates the Gmünd town square, which provides a wonderful view of the unique sgraffito houses and a beautiful ambiance for strolling and lingering. The entire town square is now a protected monument zone. Until 1989, the Iron Curtain divided the two towns Gmünd and České Velenice. Gmünd was a divided town, similar to Berlin. Only, between Gmünd and Ceske Velenice there was no wall, but a barbed wire fence and watchtowers. The border ran through the middle of the town, in part even through houses.
From Gmünd, the route heads north. The first stage is just right for starting, as it runs pleasantly flat to Brand - Nagelberg. You will repeatedly encounter narrow-gauge railway tracks leading to Litschau or, between Altnagelberg and Heidenreichstein, still in use in summer by diesel locomotives. Traditional craftsmanship can then be admired in the glass art village Brand-Nagelberg. From fire to finished product, you can follow the path of glass here. Then the wooded and very varied scenic route leads via Finsternau to Austria's northernmost town - Litschau, where you can wonderfully relax after your bike tour at the lakeside bathing area at Herrensee.
Tip: The first stage Gmünd – Litschau of the Iron Curtain Trail can also be used as a bike radial tour of the “Bad & Bahn Tour”. More information about the bike radial tours is available at: http://www.niederoesterreich.at/radsternfahrten-waldviertel
Stage 2 - Litschau - Slavonice, 35 km
Litschau-Schandachen-Leopoldsdorf-Parten-Návary-Veolov-Landstejn-Stare Mesto pod Landstejnem-Kadolec-Slavonice
From Litschau, the route leads via Schandachen, Leopoldsdorf and Parten near Reingers to the Czech Republic. For gourmets, there is no better "potato region" than the northern Waldviertel. So enjoy the regional cuisine in a down-to-earth inn! Tip! The rustic top inn – Gasthaus Perzy in Rottal!
In the Czech Republic, the bike route initially takes you through the region “Bohemian Canada”. “Bohemian Canada” – this name was given to the natural reserve Prirodni park Ceska Kanada northwest of Slavonice due to its sparse settlement, harsh climate and extensive forests interspersed with ponds and "stone seas". In the nature park is also the Landstejn castle ruin, a preserved ruin of a Romanesque castle, which is very worth seeing. It is located at the border intersection of Bohemia, Moravia and Austria. After a trip through pure nature, you return to the town – Slavonice. The beautiful Renaissance houses in the old town of Slavonice appear like finest lace delicately carved in noble stone. The picturesque town is one of the most beautiful in the country!
Stage 3 - Slavonice - Drosendorf, 39 km
Slavonice-Fratres-Rappolz-Neuriegers-Piesecne-Zupanovice-Desna-Schaditz-Nonndorf-Autendorf-Drosendorf an der Thaya
After three border crossings, you pass the golf and riding village Autendorf into the medieval Drosendorf. The town lies on a high rock spur, surrounded on three sides by the Thaya river. It is the only Austrian town completely surrounded by preserved city walls.
Baroque facades and old townhouses frame the main square. Tip! In the main season, you can take the experience train Reblaus Express from Retz to Drosendorf and back. Bringing your bike is free of charge.
Stage 4 - Drosendorf - Hardegg, 35.5 km
Drosendorf-Unterthürnau-Oberthürnau-Vrantenin-Uhercice-Stalky-Safov-Ruegers-Felling-Hardegg
From Drosendorf, head up to the picturesque village Vratěnín, which is already in the South Moravia region. In Uherčice you can visit the local castle or cool down in the outdoor pool in Langau, Lower Austria, and visit the local open-air museum. In Felling, the Mussel Shell Museum is worth a visit. Beyond the town, you leave the Waldviertel region and enter the wine-growing region of Weinviertel. Before the Czech border, you can visit Austria's smallest town Hardegg with its magnificent castle silhouette above the Thaya.
Stage 5 (for sporty riders, MTB) - Hardegg - Znaim, 25 km
Hardegg-Cizov-Lukov-Podmoli-Masovice-Znojmo
From Hardegg, it goes over the renovated border bridge through the Thayatal National Park up to the Čížov Visitor Center, including a well-preserved section of the Iron Curtain. From here it is just a short distance to the royal town and wine metropolis Znaim.
Stage 6 - Znaim - Retz, 26 km
Znaim-Konice-Popice-Havraniky-Satov-Mitterretzbach-Oberretzbach-Retz
From medieval Znaim, you pass the first service and information center for bicycle tourism in the Czech Republic. Over the Thaya bridge and a climb on an unpaved path, you reach Konice and then Havraníky. Another stop is Šatov with its beautiful wine cellar lane, decorated cellar and a bunker behind the town. In Austria, do not miss a visit to the Wine Quarter in Retz.
Stage 7 - Retz - Laa, 50 km
Retz-Ragelsdorf-Jetzelsdorf-Auggenthal-Haugsdorf-Alberndorf-Untermarkersdorf-Hadres-Seefeld Kadolz-Jaroslavice-Hrádek-Dyjákovice-Hevlín-Laa an der Thaya
From the picturesque town of Retz, you ride comfortably through the Pulkau valley to Hadres. In Hadres, you find the longest wine cellar lane in Central Europe, with a length of 1.6 kilometers. Ride through Seefeld-Kadolz to the Czech side, through Jaroslavice (castle) and past the pond, the third largest pond in Moravia, and from Hevlín you reach the town of Laa an der Thaya. This place is known for its water castle but above all for its thermal spa, where you can also relax in the sauna world.
Tip! Learn more about the crime series of Inspector Polt and explore the filming locations by bike. On the Trail of Polt
Stage 8 - Laa - Valtice, 42 km
Laa an der Thaya-Neudorf bei Staatz-Wildendürnbach-Pottenhofen-Mikulov-Sedlec-Uvaly-Valtice
After relaxing in the thermal spa in the town of Laa an der Thaya, you set off for Wildendürnbach, known for its spiral wine cellar lane Galgenberg. From here it is just a short distance, past the rest area at the border crossing Ottental-Mikulov, to the romantic Mikulov. Behind Mikulov, the path leads into the cultural landscape Lednice-Valtice, an area designated as a UNESCO cultural and natural heritage site. The history of the Iron Curtain is documented by the museum in Valtice, housed in the building of the former customs station.
Stage 9 - Valtice – Mannersdorf/March, approx. 64.5 km (31 km bike & train)
Valtice-Reintal-Altlichtenwarth-Hausbrunn-Hohenau-SK-Suchohrad-Záhorska Ves-ferry crossing-Angern an der March-Mannersdorf an der March
From Valtice, you travel via Boří Dvůr to the border crossing Břeclav-Poštorná/Reinthal. Before entering Austria, you can refresh yourself in Břeclav, visit the Liechtenstein House or go to the confluence of Thaya and March rivers, where remains of the original border fence are preserved. The Iron Curtain educational trail leaves the Czech Republic near the confluence of the Thaya and March rivers at Břeclav and then crosses routes in the territories of Austria and Slovakia.
Tip! Combination of train & bike: Valtice - Hohenau, 31 km by bike and Hohenau-Mannersdorf/March by train
If you do not want to cycle the entire stage from Valtice to Mannersdorf an der March, you can shorten part of the route from Hohenau by train (hourly service).
Stage 10 - Mannersdorf - Bratislava, 51 km
Mannersdorf an der March-Angern an der March-ferry crossing-Záhorska Ves-Vysoká pri Morave-Devinske Jazero-Devínska Nová Ves-Devín-Bratislava
From Mannersdorf an der March, you return to Slovakia to Záhorska Ves. Then through fields to Vysoká pri Morave, a town that was literally cut through by the Iron Curtain. Unlike other places, this town is growing. Further south, the route runs closely along the bank of the March river again, and at the small settlement Devinske Jazero there is a snack bar. Then you see the Volkswagen Slovakia factory site on your left and an impressive arched bridge on the right, which provides the rail connection between Bratislava and Vienna. At Devínska Nová Ves, since 2012, the Freedom bicycle bridge forms the connection between EuroVelo 13 on the Slovak side and the Kamp-Thaya-March cycle path as well as the Marchfeld Canal cycle path on the Austrian side near Schlosshof. The steel structure was built in cross-border cooperation between Austria and Slovakia, also as a symbol of good neighborliness. A detour to Schlosshof is worthwhile! You will find Austria's largest rural castle complex and former imperial country residence – a stage for vibrant baroque. The route along the March continues south to Devín. On the left is the Sandberg, a remnant of a Tertiary sea reef and part of the Little Carpathians, located in the Devínska Kobyla nature reserve (Theben Hill). In Devín, the Theben castle/Hrad Devín rises as an impressive fortress on a rocky massif at the confluence of the March and Danube rivers. Under the Theben rock at the confluence of March and Danube is a memorial to the Iron Curtain with remains of barbed wire and a military bunker. The brightly white Gate to Freedom monument commemorates deported, displaced, and those killed while attempting to escape. The road continues to Bratislava. A bridge leads cyclists to the other side of the Danube, offering a magnificent view of the majestic river and the capital Bratislava. Bratislava is the only capital in the world that borders two states and is the political and cultural center of Slovakia. The city is also called the beauty on the Danube and has a protected old town and is a modern metropolis.
Near the city center at the "Nový most", the new bridge, is the new landing stage of the Twin City Liners. The catamaran provides a connection between the city centers of the Slovak capital Bratislava and the Austrian capital Vienna in 75 minutes.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION! The EuroVelo 13 bike route runs on the Slovak side on the section Theben – Bratislava along the “Devínska cesta”. This connection is a main traffic artery, heavily used by trucks and buses, where the speed limit is often ignored. The road is very narrow and often without a shoulder. There is also considerable dust pollution due to the operation of a landfill and a quarry nearby. Therefore, we recommend cycling about 5 km back from Theben to Devínska Nová Ves and taking the train to Bratislava!
