Danube-Ipel Greenway

Embraced by the Börzsöny mountains, Danube-Ipel Greenway runs from Budapest to Parassapuszta, along the rivers Danube and Ipel. Its main axes are the Budapest-Vác-Szob bicycle road and the cycling route along the Ipel river in Pest county. The bicylce road is connected to a network of cycling, walking, riding and water routes along with greenway-type services, programs and co-operations.

Danube-Ipel Greenway may be divided into three parts: 1. Budapest-Vác; 2. the Danube-bend between Vác and Szob; 3. the Lower Ipel valley (Vác-Parassapuszta).

Soon, the full-length of the Budapest-Vác-cycling route will be finished. This part may be important for citizens of the capital and other towns in the area in terms of freetime activities, non-motorized traveling, and the popularisation of a healthy lifestyle.

The greenway in the Danube-bend may contribute to the strenghtening of ‘mild' tourism, connected to other eco-touristic services that already exist.
The Lower Ipel valley is an isolated area that can protect its natural and built values effectively, still, greenway can mean a developing possibility.
Danube-Ipel Greenway was created by the connecting of existing routes, services, co-operations and programs. Its developement is based on the activities of NGOs, self-governments and local communities. The organization of different initiations and the collecting of greenway-based elements are continuous.

Club of Enterpreneurs Along The River Ipel that gathers the enterpreneurs of the Lower Ipel valley has joined the program as well and mainly takes part in gathering information, building and popularising partnerships and organising programs.

Gathering the values of the area are greatly helped by the Local Product-Common Value Program that is co-ordinated by Magosfa Environmental Education and Eco-tourism Foundation. The aim of the program is to help evoking and preserving local products (mainly handmade products and home-made food) and selling them on the markets of the region.

By placing information boards, publishing throw-aways, creating an internet database and organising markets, the Magosfa Foundation has already gained great popularity in the area. So far, fifty local product-maker has joined the program.

Magosfa Foundation coordinates signposting of routes - cycling and forest cycling ones - connected to the Greenway, placing information boards and building resting places. They have launched the homepage of the greenway that gives continuous and up-to-date information about greenway events. On the long run, the foundation wishes to create a community that is able to maintain the greenway and to turn it into a comprehensive tourism package and a network of roads helping the non-motorized traffic, the recreation and sport of the local population.

The Danube-Ipel Greenway was inaugurated in September 2006 with a two-day bicycle tour and it has been home to a variety of events ever since: local product markets, bicycle and other tours, usually once in a month.