News

The Iron Curtain Trail retraces the physical border stretching from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea dividing Easter and Western Europe for almost half a century following the end of the Second World War. Following this cyclable route for more than 10.000Km is a living lesson in European history of the 20th century. The Route combines cultural and historic sites linked to the political, military and ideological barrier erected during the Cold War as a reminder of peace and reconciliation that have followed the fall of the "Iron Curtain"

The Route features attractive and varied landscapes and unique habitats that emerged along the former border strip.

26-28 July in Estonia, 2-4 August 2019 in Latvia 

For the first time ever, over 30 Estonian and Latvian garden and park owners are hosting open days to introduce the diversity of parks and gardens in the region. From family-owned decorative gardens to historical manor estates, visitors can build their own unique route and schedule.

Before setting off, check the gardens' opening hours and programme, and sign up for your visit! Each garden's programme is shown on the map.

Activities include creative cooking and floral workshops, free tours, lectures and educational games for children. Each garden will offer its own unique programme, so visitors will leave with good memories, new knowledge and possibly - new plants to add to their own collection.

Interreg Europe Cult-CreaTE Stakeholders from Vidzeme met in Piebalgas Porcelain factory in order to talk about the project's goals and clarify the creative industries that will have the focus during the implementation of the project. 

Whether the Baltic Coastal Hiking route is ready or not? This is a question we – creators of the route – receive almost every day. And today we are happy to announce that the Baltic Coastal Hiking route web page – coastalhiking.eu – is ready for English, Estonian and Latvian speaking hikers. Therefore there should not be any doubts about your early autumn hiking destination.

On 4-5 May 2018 Vidzeme Tourism Association participated in the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail Conference held in the German federal parliament. Representatives of 20 European states came to Berlin to discuss how to improve the Iron Curtain Trail (ICT). Green Member of the European Parliament Michael Cramer was there to present this project which he has been actively involved in since 2005.

The 8th European Greenways Awards have been given on September 28th 2017 during the official ceremony in Limerick Co. (Ireland)

Seven greenways from Belgium, Serbia, Portugal, Spain and Ireland were awarded as reference of best practices in Europe. The Award ceremony was held in Adare, Limerick Co. (Ireland)).

A new application has been launched for smart phones and tablets to help people plan and then cycle the route of EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail.  The route invites people to retrace and experience the former border that for almost half a century divided Europe into East and West.  

The second interregional workshop with study visits dedicated to ‘Industrial heritage Tourism’ took place in Borås on 14 – 16 March 2017, organised by Region of Vastra Gotaland/Vastarvet, at an old industrial site transformed into the Textile Fashion Centre.