Have you ever dreamed of traveling by bicycle throughout Europe, at your own pace and in a safe, attractive and comfortable way? Then Eurovelo is perfect for you.
And is that Eurovelo is European network of cycling routes par excellence. Coordinated since 2007 by the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), this network has been designed both for the practice of long-distance cycle tourism and for everyday and recreational use of the bicycle. A project that is already contributing significantly to the consolidation of cycle tourism in different areas of Europe.
15 different routes to choose from
The vast diversity of a territory like Europe is reflected in the approach to the proposed cycle routes. Currently this network is made up of 15 long-distance routes connected to each other, totaling more than 70.000 cyclable kilometers that pass through 46 different countries:
- euroveil 1: The Atlantic Coast Route (from Norway to Portugal)
- euroveil 2: The Capitals Route (from the Republic of Ireland to Russia)
- euroveil 3: The Pilgrims' Route (from Norway to Spain)
- euroveil 4: The Central European Route (from France to Ukraine)
- euroveil 5: The Via Romea (from the United Kingdom to Italy)
- euroveil 6: The Atlantic Route – Black Sea (from France to Bulgaria)
- euroveil 7: The Route of the Sun (from Norway to Malta)
- euroveil 8: The Mediterranean Route (from Spain to Cyprus)
- euroveil 9: The Baltic – Adriatic Route (from Poland to Croatia)
- euroveil 10: The Baltic Sea Route (from Poland to Lithuania)
- euroveil 11: The Eastern European Route (from Norway to Greece)
- euroveil 12: The Northern Sea Route (from Norway to the United Kingdom)
- euroveil 13: The Iron Curtain Route (from Norway to Türkiye)
- euroveil 15: The Rhine Route (from Switzerland to Holland)
The most complete route today is Eurovelo 6, or route from the Atlantic to the Black Sea. Fully signposted and with maps available, it is the perfect choice for your first long-distance cycle touring experience. Its 4.448 km cover 10 countries and the Loire, Rhine and Danube Rivers, through a flat, simple route with well-developed infrastructure.
Eurovelo in our country
3 Eurovelo routes run through Spain, which are currently in most sections in development phase:
- Route 1 (or Atlantic Coast route), which begins in North Cape (Norway) and reaches Sagres (Portugal) crossing Spain along the Bidasoa Greenway and covering a large part of the Silver Route and the coast of Huelva.
- Route 3 (or Pilgrims' route), from Santiago de Compostela to Trondheim in Norway, which coincides with the route of the Camino de Santiago.
- Route 8 (or Mediterranean route), the old route of the Via Augusta that extends from Cádiz to Atenas and which already has more than 150 km of signposted route in the province of Girona (the most developed section in our country).
Guaranteed route quality
And a long-distance cycle route needs to have an offer of specialized services available 365 days a year along the entire route to be considered a Eurovelo route. To guarantee all these requirements, the ECF has developed a Route Development Manual prepared based on the following simplified criteria:
- Route continuity
- Routes with little or no motorized traffic
- Surface and width suitable for the use of any type of bicycle
- Soft earrings
- Routes with attractive natural and cultural environments
- Homogeneity in signaling
- Possibility of accessing public transport by bike at least every 150 km
- Availability of basic accommodation and catering services
- Repair shops, bike shops and/or self-service repair stations
- Communication online and through printed guides
Currently, the vast majority of the existing sections of the Eurovelo network run on paved tracks very similar to conventional bike paths. Besides, All sections meet the following specific conditions:
- They do not have slopes greater than 6%
- They are wide enough to allow the passage of at least 2 bicycles.
- They are roads with very low motorized traffic (less than 1.000 vehicles per day) or non-existent.
- They are paved at least 80% of the way.
- They must remain open all year round
The commitment to the Eurovelo project
Both the EU and more and more European countries and regions are more involved in the development of this cycle tourism network. And the data supports this commitment: according to a study commissioned by the European Parliament in 2012, it is estimated that Every year 2.300 billion bicycle trips are made in Europe that generate a economic impact of more than 44.000 million euros. More than 20 million tourists stay one or more nights during their trip and these stays have an economic impact of more than 9.000 billion euros annually. If completed the Eurovelo network in 2020 (expected completion date), the study estimates that it would generate more than 60 million trips per year with an economic impact of more than 7.000 million euros annually.
This is why we must continue to support the development of this network throughout the European territory. In the case of Spain, we are convinced that the execution and commissioning of these 3 routes will represent a definitive boost for the cycle tourism sector, and an opportunity for socioeconomic development, especially for those areas where tourist activity is currently low or non-existent ( rural areas especially).
“Build infrastructure (Eurovelo) and the cyclists will come.”
