Iron Curtain Trail

Following the end of World War I, for almost half a century, there was a physical border that divided Eastern and Western Europe. The European Cycle Route Network’s EuroVelo 13 retraces this “Iron Curtain,” a border stretching from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea. Following this route for more than 9,950 km is a living history lesson but also provides a welcome reminder of the peace and reconciliation that have followed the fall of the Iron Curtain.

A small but important section of EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail passes through Türkiye. The itinerary takes in the northern part of the country, along its 240-kilometer-long border with Bulgaria.

The route enters Türkiye from the Dervent hills and leads cyclists to an area with a different cultural landscape than the rest of EuroVelo 13. After crossing areas of mixed woodland and farmland, EuroVelo 13 reaches the city of Edirne, which served at the third capital of the Ottoman Empire and is famous for its beautiful Selimiye Mosque. Then, EuroVelo 13 continues through rural landscapes and the city of Kırklareli before crossing back into Bulgaria again.