through the heart of Central and Eastern Europe ON EUROVELO 9
The EuroVelo 9 cycling route is part of the European Long Distance Cycling Route Network. In a few years, it will connect the Polish Baltic Sea coast with the Croatian Adriatic Sea on about 2,050 kilometres of cycle paths: The route will then run from Gdansk on the Baltic Sea across Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovenia to Pula in Croatia.
The route presented here takes you on the already completed section from the town of Breclav in southern Moravia through the east and south of Austria to Maribor in Slovenia – and thus via Austria's capital Vienna to the second largest city in Slovenia.
By the way: The transport connections (train, bus or car) along the entire cycling route are excellent as well. Tip for the retourn journey: take the RailJet from Graz to Breclav! From Maribor to Graz you`ll find many trains all day long!
A tour through wine-growing regions and historic towns
Through wine-growing regions, from thermal spa to thermal spa, through large cities like Vienna and many small, historic towns like Baden, Hartberg or Bad Radkersburg: This cycling route could hardly be more varied.
Gourmets will go into raptures over Styrian delicacies such as wine, pumpkin seed oil and chestnuts in autumn.
And besides the exciting sights along the route, relaxation plays a major role as well: A visit to the hot springs of the total of nine thermal spas along the cycling route – six of them in Styria – will soothe your body and soul.
EuroVelo 9 in Styria in a nutshell
- starting point: Breclav (CZ)
- end point: Maribor (SI)
- distance: 434 km
- stages: 8 - 10
- difficulty: medium - difficulty
Good to know: EuroVelo 9 runs exclusively along existing cycle paths:
- The section from southern Moravia on the Czech-Austrian border across the Weinviertel region to Vienna is part of the Vienna-Breclav cycling route.
- From Vienna to Bad Radkersburg, you'll bike along the Spa Cycling Route – first on the Lower Austrian part of it and then, from Mönichkirchen on, on the Styrian part. Tip: The climb to Mönichkirchen in Lower Austria requires good physical fitness. The Andreas Graf taxi and travel service in Mönichkirchen offers a transfer service for this section, Tel. +43 2649 319 oder +43 664 1553888.
- From Bad Radkersburg to Spielfeld, cyclists bike along the well-known Mur Cycle Path and through the UNESCO Biosphere Park Unteres Murtal. From there, the route branches off at the Austrian-Slovenian border – in a southbound direction to Maribor.
From the Czech Republic across Austria to Slovenia
EuroVelo 9 – a cycling route through three countries
Starting in the small town of Brecalv the route continues after some kilometres to Austria.
In Lower Austria, lanes lined with wine cellars – typical of the Weinviertel region – serve as prime examples of the art of Austrian wine culture. Via Vienna, the Vienna Woods and the Vienna Alps, the journey continues to Eastern Styria. Due to the culinary variety of products and their quality, this region is also often referred to as the "garden of Austria".
The route also runs through the Spa Country of Styria to eventually end in Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city.
Cultural highlights
Material cultural assets in the form of historic castles such as Schönbrunn, Laxenburg or the Castle Road in Styria, on the one hand – impressive customs and traditions in individual countries, on the other: It's this interplay that makes this cycling route a truly special cultural experience.
Scenic diversity
EuroVelo 9 is hard to beat in terms of diverse cultural landscapes:
- In southern Moravia and the Weinviertel region, you will find grain and wine cultures.
- From Vienna and the adjacent Vienna Woods, you can see the Eastern Alps with Semmering, Rax, Schneeberg and Wechsel.
- At the highest point of the route, in Mönichkirchen in the Vienna Alps, you'll enjoy fantastic views of Eastern Styria with its apple, wine and pumpkin cultures, as well as of Hungary's Pannonian lowlands.
- On the journey through the Spa & Thermal Country, vineyards and the six thermal spas of the region such as Heiltherme Bad Waltersdorf, Rogner Bad Blumau or Parktherme Bad Radkersburg ensure plenty of variety.
- And at the final destination in Maribor, cyclists can marvel at the "Old Vine", the oldest vine in the world.
A wealth of water
The tour on EuroVelo 9 is an exploration of healing waters, warm thermal springs and dreamy river landscapes. They include Therme Wien, Römertherme Baden, Linsberg Asia and the Spa Country of Styria – the largest contiguous thermal spa region in Europe with six thermal spas – as well as the Danube and the Mur, Austria's largest and second largest river.
Varied culinary delights
A cycling tour on EuroVelo 9 is a foray into historically-inspired cuisines. The influences and the coming together of different cultures during Habsburg times are reflected on the countries' menus: Desserts such as strudel and dumplings, pancakes and Kaiserschmarren are bound to tickle your taste buds.
Wine lovers will feel right at home on this route, too: After all, it leads right through renowned Austrian wine-growing regions – among them, the Weinviertel, Vienna, the Spa Country of Lower Austria, as well as the Volcanic Region of Styria and southern Styria.
