From Galway to Moscow crossing Europe on the northernmost route: Ireland, the United Kingdom, Holland, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia. Eurovelo 2
From Galway to Moscow crossing Europe on the northernmost route: Ireland, the United Kingdom, Holland, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia.
Eurovelo 2 is over 4,100 km long and is one of the three routes of the European network traveling on the continent in its length.
Dublino
Starting from Galway, the first capital you encounter is Dublin. In Ireland you always ride on secondary roads between small country villages rich in history and traditions. After reaching the eastern shore of the country, after “only” 215 km it is necessary to board you to reach Wales.
Initially, the route runs along two islands of the Welsh countryside before arrived on mainland in Bangor.
Very characteristic are the villages that meet along the route: the most particular is definitely “Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch” (Church of Santa Maria in the valley of the white hazel tree, near the rapids and the church of San Tysilio near the red cave)
which boasts the longest name in Europe! After a few kilometers of continuous ups and downs, sometimes challenging, we continue on the connecting bridge with England.
After the spa town of Bath, on a nearly flat track, following the course of the River Thames you arrive in the second capital, London. A stop in the city is a must before you take the road through the Essex countryside until Harwich, where with few hours of ferry you can be reached Holland.
In this country, you run for a few miles below sea level. The cycling road system is very well organized: you always ride on bike paths or streets with little traffic. The Eurovelo 2 route does not touch Amsterdam, but runs very close to Utrecht and the Aja, a city of extreme importance since the seat of government and numerous international organizations.
Once arrive Germany, the route crosses the cities of Münster and Höxter before heading straight to Berlin, the third capital that you meet. The remaining 120 km before the Polish border are characterized by a particularly pleasant landscape with numerous lakes surrounded by large wooded areas.
The Eurovelo route in Poland, Belarus and Russia is still largely on paper, but based on the information on the official website it is possible to outline a continuous one.
The route runs mostly in the countryside except for the stretches where fast crosses the cities. The first which you meet is Poznan and follow Warsaw, the fourth capital touched by Eurovelo 2. It is a beautiful, dynamic, modern town, completely rebuilt after the bombing of World War II.
Mosca
To enter Belarus, leaving the European Union, you will need a passport. Here, too, the route continues in the midst of vast cultivated fields, but also from Minsk, the capital, which has a rather remarkable historic center rich in monuments .
In Russia there is some slight slope that makes the journey, always through the countryside, more interesting and special. Eurovelo 2 ends in the center of Moscow: imagine the excitement of entering the Red Square of the Kremlin after so many miles on bicycle!