Sultans Trail
The Sultan's Trail is a long distance hiking trail and leads to a length of 2,200 km from Vienna to Istanbul by Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Turkey.
Name and historical background
The name Sultan's Trail is the Sultan Suleiman I, the Magnificent dedicated ', ruler of the Ottoman Empire. Under his leadership, the Ottoman troops Belgrade and most of Hungary conquered and besieged Vienna for a short time. The present road follows the route described by Sultan Suleiman on his way to Vienna. He started on May 10, 1529 in Istanbul, reaching Vienna to 141 days on 23 September. It was the most difficult expedition to the West. A second conquest of Vienna failed 1532 1566, at the age of 60, he led his troops for the last time. ; he died near Szigetvár in Hungary.
In contrast to his past, the Sultan's Trail is now a walk in the sign of peace and international understanding. The trail starts at the St. Stephen's Cathedral (Vienna ); the bells of the cathedral are made of molten iron Ottoman cannonballs. It ends at the grave of the Sultan in Istanbul ( Suleymaniye Mosque).
Idea and today's Route
The Sultans Trail is being developed by the NGO Sultans Trail International in the Netherlands. After the experience with the crowded by pilgrims Spanish Camino de Santiago in 2009, the idea was to add a new culturally-historic hiking trail, connecting the West with the East and invites you to encounter different cultures. In 2010 was made the first ascent of the entire path from Vienna to Istanbul.
Since no one knows the exact historic route of Süleyman, a route has been developed that combines the historical sites of the campaign with other cultural and natural attractions. Furthermore, already been existing long distance trails, such as the E8, and a route used in parallel to the Danube bike path. The path can be run throughout the year except for the section from the Bulgarian mountains. On most routes, there are a variety of accommodation options such as hotels, guest houses and private rooms. In Hungary and Bulgaria it is necessary to bring a tent.
The Culture Routes in Turkey
Sultans Trail is a recently founded cultural routes in Turkey. While the other paths run exclusively in Turkey, Sultan Trail is currently the only path that leads beyond Turkey by other countries and thus more closely want to connect with Europe. The roads designated as cultural routes follow ancient trade routes, or are based on traces of famous travelers. You can walk, be explored by bicycle or on horseback. The routes have been developed with the aim of promoting the cultural heritage of Turkey trekkers and other Wegnutzern "in passing " accessible. The Association, founded in 2012, the cultural routes in Turkey is a non-profit organization in which the founders of the routes have teamed up with local tour operators, board operators and other partners. The aim of the association is the way to develop in a sustainable tourism, and to preserve the routes for future generations.
The course of the Sultan's Trail
Austria: Vienna - Simmering, Schwechat, Rauchenwarth, Trautmann an der Leitha, Wilfleinsdorf, Bruck an der Leitha, Rohrau, Petronell- Carnuntum, Hainburg an der Donau, Wolfsthal.
Austria - Purbach route: Simmering in Vienna, Schwechat, Rauchenwarth, Trautmann an der Leitha, Somme clean, width Brunn am Neusiedler See, Donnerskirchen, Donnerkirchen Eisenstadt, St. Margaret in Burgenland Mörbisch.
Slovakia: Devin, Bratislava, Marianka, Modra, Harmonia, Častá, Dobra Voda, Prašník, Vrbové Čachtice, Nové Mesto nad Váhom Beckov, Trenčín, Topoľčany, Nitra, Nové Zámky Kolárovo, Kameničná, Komárno Iža, Radvaň nad Dunajom - Žitava, Radvaň nad Dunajom, Moca, Kravany nad Dunajom, Obid, Štúrovo
Hungary: Halászi, Györ, Tata, Tatabánya, Annavölgy, Esztergom, Szentendre, Budakalász, Budapest, Százhalombatta, Székesfehérvár, Dunaföldvár Szekszárd Bataszek, Mohács, Sátorhely, Udvar.
Hungary - Balaton route: Sopron, St. Martin ( Austria ), Köszeg, Sarvar, Sümeg, Keszthely, Szulimán, Csertő, Szigetvár, Pécs, Mohács, Sátorhely, Udvar.
Serbia: Morović, Sremska Mitrovica, Mačvanska Mitrovica, Jarek, Sabac, Belgrade, Orešac, Smederevo, Velika Plana, Jagodina, Paracin, Deligrad, Nis, Niska Banja, Pirot, Dmitrovgrad.
Serbia - Carski Drum route ( to Belgrade ): Backi Breg, Bezdan Backi Monostor, Sombor, Kupusina, Apatin Svilojevo, Sonta, Bogojevo, Karavukovo, Deronje, Bac, Serbia, Mladenovo, Karađorđevo, Backa Palanka, Neštin, Susek, Banoštor, Novi Sad, Petrovaradin, Karlovci, Krušedol Selo, Šatrinci, Dobrodol, Ljukovo, Golubinci, Vojka, Novi Banovci, Zemun.
Bulgaria: Kalotina, Dragoman, Sofia, Novi Chan, Ichtiman, Pazardzhik, Stambolijski, Plovdiv, Sadovo, Parwomaj, Haskovo, Charmanli, Ljubimez, Svilengrad.
Bulgaria - Mountain Route: Kalotina, Dragoman, Sofia, Vitosha, Samokov, Rila Monastery, Rila, Velingrad, Smolyan, Ardino, Kardzhali, Svilengrad.
Turkey: Kapıkule, Kemalköy, Karabulut, Sarayakpınar, ( Sırpsındığı ) Avarız, Edirne, Kösençiftliği, Söğütlüdere, Hasköy, Hamzabey, Uluçınar, Ahmetbey, Karli, Hallaçlı, İnceğiz, Çatalca, Dursunköy, Sazlıbosna, Şamlar, Kayabaşı Eyüp Sultan Mosque, Fatih and Suleymaniye Mosque.
Turkey - ' hunting route ( Avyolu ) ': Edirne to Dursunköy: Hıdırağa, Karayusuf, Ortakça, Kavaklı, Yağcılı, Süloğlu, Büyük Gerdelli, Dolhan, Paşayeri, Koyunbaba, Kırklareli Kızılcıkdere, Üsküpdere, Karıncak, Kaynarca, Pınarhisar, Erenler, Poyralı Doğanca, Develi, Deputy, Okçular, Evrenli, Çakıllı, Kavacık, Saray, Küçük Yoncalı, Safaalan, Binkılıç, Aydınlar, Yaylacık, Gümüşpınar, İhsaniye, Akalan, Dağyenice, Boyalık, Dursunköy.