The Iron Curtain Trail (ICT), also known as EuroVelo 13 (EV13), is a partially complete long-distance cycling route which will run along the entire length of the former Iron Curtain. During the period of the Cold War (c. 1947-1991), the Iron Curtain delineated the border between the Communist East and the capitalist West, with the East being the Warsaw Pact countries of the Soviet bloc and the West being the countries of NATO.^[1]

The ICT can also be walked as a long-distance trail.

Overview

As of December 2013^[update], many parts of the ICT are already complete, particularly in the central section, such as most of the German part and along the Czech border.^[2] When complete, the Iron Curtain Trail will run for 7,650 km (4,750 mi) from the Barents Sea down to the Black Sea.

The Iron Curtain Trail, which is closely related to the European Green Belt project, is being managed as three projects:

• The northern part is over 4,127 km (2,564 mi) in length from the Barents Sea, along the Finnish-Russian border, along the Baltic Coast, to the German-Polish border.
• The central section passes straight through Germany, following the old border between East Germany and West Germany. It then follows the current borders of the Czech Republic—Austria, Austria—Slovakia, Austria–Hungary and Slovenia for a distance of 2,179 km (1,354 mi).
• The southern part travels 1,335 km (830 mi) along the borders of Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey to the Black Sea

Development

20 countries are part of the Iron Curtain Trail project, among them are 14 members of the European Union.

The ICT was lobbied for by the efforts of German Green Party politician Michael Cramer MEP. Trails have been created and made better suited to cycling with help and finance from the European Union, with historical signposts and markers erected.^[3]