Stretching across Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and Serbia, the Mura, Drava, and Danube Rivers jointly make up one of the largest natural river systems of Central Europe. Because of the wealth of wildlife, its unspoiled and largely untouched natural state, it has been dubbed the “Amazon of Europe.” AoE Bike Trail project has found a way how to use the tourism potential of the area for sustainable development. 

May 4, 2021

Image: AoE Bike Trail 

The Danube-Drava-Mura area is one of the most species-rich habitats of the continent. Some of it has already been designated a Natura 2000 area. As Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia have jointly submitted a UNESCO application for the biosphere reserve, with a total area of 930,000 hectares and a length of 700 kilometres, Mura-Drava-Danube landscape might soon become the largest river protection area in Europe and the world's first 5-country biosphere reserve. 

Amazon of Europe Bike Trail

The ecosystem of the Mura-Drava-Danube nature reserve spreads across much of the 11 border regions which, already being less developed, are facing loss of jobs and emigration of the local population. Falling under UNESCO protection soon, their development will be even more complicated as it will have to go hand in hand with nature conservation. The “Amazon of Europe Bike Trail'' project has addressed this challenge with transnational cooperation. Altogether, 35 organizations from 6 countries have developed a model for sustainable mobility. Existing cycling routes along both banks of the Mura, Drava and Danube were connected and equipped with adequate infrastructure (resting areas, info boards and info points), resulting in approximately 1.400 km² of joint bike trails. 

To offer comprehensive information about the new route, the official Amazon of Europe Bike Trail platform was launched. Besides providing key facts about the trail, it also features informative maps with main attractions in 5 countries, regular updates and news and cycling guides. In the future, the website should also include an online booking system which will offer individual tour packages. 

“This year is promising to be really exciting – the Bike Trail is now taking shape very nicely and we are mere months away from having this amazing region recognized by the UNESCO as the world’s first 5-country biosphere reserve. We can’t wait to have a Trail ready to allow more people to get to know this wonderful area at a pace in rhythm with the water’s flow and as close to nature as possible – by bike.”

Emőke Györfi, WWF Austria

Image: AoE Bike Trail 

Developing sustainable transnational tourism product

From the beginning, the building of a new cycle trail was hoped to generate jobs and create transboundary connections establishing the future biosphere reserve as ecotourism macro-destination. Aside from cyclists, the Amazon of Europe Bike Trail is open to all types of visitors offering possibilities for various leisure activities. Hence, in addition to a series of cycling events that took place in 11 locations along the route, other trips organized as part of the project included paddling in a canoe, for example. The project results will be further upgraded by developing much-needed joint strategies, IT solutions and learning interactions in the follow-up Amazing AoE project. 

"The Amazon of Europe Bike Trail is a role model for the development of a sustainable transnational tourism product. The project has, consistently proceeded, the potential for a new, Europe-wide leading destination for responsible travel."

Günter Mussnig, Trail Angels GmbH