Cycling Tour in the Border Region of Three Countries – Six Days, Three Countries, Silver Generation and Countless Experiences

In early September 2025, for six days, the border regions of three countries – Croatia, Hungary, and Slovenia – welcomed participants of a cycling tour organized within the framework of the IBC project. The program focused on active leisure for the silver generation, nature experiences, and discovering the cultural and gastronomic values of the region. With the help of e-bikes, daily distances of 35–50 kilometers were comfortably achievable for all participants.

During the cycling tour, participants could discover not only the cross-border landscape but also the shared cultural heritage, while new acquaintances and friendships were formed.

Day 1 – Departure from Mursko Središće, mining heritage and nature education

The tour started from Mursko Središće, where group members familiarized themselves with the tour guides, e-bikes, and tour safety rules. In the initial section, they visited coal and oil mining memorial sites in Peklenica, then at the Medimurje Nature visitor centre in Muraszentkereszt they could learn about the region's wildlife and natural values. At the end of the day, the cyclists stayed in Donji Kraljevec, where comfortable accommodation and delicious dinner awaited them.

Day 2 – Following Rudolf Steiner's footsteps, lace-making and gold panning

On the second day, the group visited the centre named after the settlement's famous son, Rudolf Steiner, and his birthplace, following his memory.

Subsequently, in Sveta Marija they could learn about local lace-making traditions, which connected in many ways to the motif world of Hungarian Halas lace. In the afternoon section, they continued cycling along the Drava River. At Donji Vidovec, locals held a gold panning demonstration, then they comfortably returned to Donji Kraljevec on the gravel, embankment-bordered cycle path. On the second day, they covered approximately 40 kilometres.

Day 3 – Through the Kerka Valley to Lenti

This day represented the longest but perhaps most varied section of the tour. From Croatia, they arrived in Hungary at Letenye, where they first cycled in the natural environment of the Kerka Valley. At Szécsisziget there was a buffalo reserve, then at Lovászi a bunker museum evoked the region's history. Lunch was also in Lovászi, with local specialties (such as dödölle and venison stew). They completed the daily 50 km distance on well-built cycle paths, and at the end of the day the group arrived in Lenti, where they spent the night at Hotel Balance, where they could also enjoy wellness facilities.

Day 4 – Following churches and ceramics in the Vendvidék region

On the fourth day, the group took a rest at a small ornamental pond at Lendvajakabfa, then continued to Szentgyörgyvölgy, where they visited the Reformed church with its coffered ceiling. This was followed by Velemér and the famous Árpád-era Holy Trinity church, where a local guide told stories about the church's construction history and its arrangement according to the sun's path. The tour concluded at Magyarszombatfa, famous for its pottery-making traditions, where participants could familiarize themselves with a potter's demonstration and exhibition. The accommodation was at the friendly Ginti Pension.

Day 5 – Into Slovenia: rotunda, energy centres and historical monuments

On the fifth day of the tour, participants crossed into Slovenia. At Prosenjakovci, the ruins of Matzenau Castle welcomed them, followed by the medieval rotunda (St. Nicholas round church), which is one of the most famous monuments of the Mura region. The tour continued at Lake Bukovnica, where the St. Vid spring and chapel, as well as the energy lines hidden in the forest, made the experience special. During the day, the group also stopped at the Hetés Friendship Park, where they viewed the memorial site commemorating the Iron Curtain era. The evening ended in Moravske Toplice, at the five-star wellness Hotel Vivat, which provided real refreshment after the active day.

Day 6 – Along the Mura back to Mursko Središće

The final section led back to Mursko Središće, all along the Mura River. Participants visited the working Babic's water mill in Veržej, Lake Gezove jame at Mota, and crossed the Mura River with a special ferry (Tinek's ferry). They had lunch at the Mlinarska Kuća bistro, then arrived in Mursko Središće in the afternoon, where they collected their luggage, said goodbye to the organizers, and set off home.

Experiences and lessons learned

The tour was accompanied throughout by an excellent tour guide who ensured the group's safe passage through busier sections and quickly resolved any technical problems that arose (e.g., punctures). The electric-assisted bicycles significantly facilitated completing the daily distances, especially on the hillier sections of Slovenia.

The linguistic diversity (Hungarian, Croatian, and Slovenian participants and guides) presented challenges at times, as many locations only offered Croatian-language guided tours. However, visual materials, multilingual information boards, and helpful translations between participants facilitated understanding.

Over the six days, participants covered nearly 250 kilometres in total, while experiencing adventures in stunning natural environments, varied programs, comfortable accommodations, and diverse gastronomic offerings.