Sultans Trail

The Sultans Trail is a new long-distance footpath from Vienna to Istanbul. It is around 2.133 km long. The path passes Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Sultans Trail takes its name from sultan Süleyman Kanuni, Suleiman the Magnificent, of the Ottoman Empire. Suleiman personally led Ottoman armies to conquer Belgrade and most of Hungary before his conquests were checked at the Siege of Vienna in 1529. It was to be the Ottoman Empire's most ambitious expedition to the west, but the Austrians inflicted upon Suleiman his first defeat. A second attempt to conquer Vienna failed in 1532.

The Sultans Trail starts at the St. Stephen's Cathedral in the centre of Vienna; the bells of this church are made from melted iron of the Ottoman canons. It ends at the tomb of the Sultan in Istanbul. Contrary to its past the Sultans Trail nowadays forms a path of peace, a meeting place for people of all faiths and cultures. Beside the Bulgarian mountains the trail can be walked all year round. Most parts of the route have ample accommodation like hotels, pensions or private rooms. In parts of Hungary and Bulgaria bringing a tent is necessary. [bewerken]Places on the trail

Austria: Viyana, Simmering, Schwechat, Trautmannsdorf an der Leitha, Bruck an der Leitha, Sommerein, Breitenbrunn, Purbach am Neusiedler See, Donnerskirchen, Oggau am Neusiedler See, Rust, Mörbisch am See, St. Martin.

Hungaria: Sopron, Köszeg, Sárvár, Sümeg, Keszthely, Szuliman, Szigetvár, Pecs, Mohács.

Croatia: Osijek, Vukovar, Backa Palanka, Hok.

Serbia: Backi Breg, Sombor, Apatin, Novi Sad, Petrovaradin, Sremski Karlovci, Belgrado, Oresac, Smederevo, Velika Plana, Jagodina, Paracin, Deligrad, Nis, Niska Banja, Pirot, Dmitrovgrad.

Bulgaria: Main route: Kalotina, Dragoman, Sofia, Novi Han, Ihtiman, Pazardzjik, Stamboliyski, Plovdiv, Sadovo, Parvomay, Mineralni Bani,Haskovo, Harmanli, Lyubimets,Svilengrad.

Mountain route: Kalotina, Dragoman, Sofia, Vitosha, Samokov, Rila, Velingrad, Smoljan, Ardino, Kardzjali, Svilengrad.

Turkey: Main route: Kapıkule, Kemalköy, Karabulut, Sarayakpınar, (Sırpsındığı), Avarız, Edirne, Kösençiftliği, Söğütlüdere, Hasköy, Hamzabey, Uluçınar, Ahmetbey, Karlı, Hallaçlı, İnceğiz, Çatalca, Dursunköy, Sazlıbosna, Şamlar, Kayabaşı en Eyüp Sultan, Fatih municipiality and Süleymaniye mosque in Istanbul

Avyolu route: Kapıkule, Kemalköy, Karabulut, Sarayakpınar, (Sırpsındığı), Avarız, Edirne, Hıdırağa, Karayusuf, Ortakça, Kavaklı, Yağcılı, Süloğlu,Büyük Gerdelli, Dolhan, Paşayeri, Koyunbaba, Kırklareli, Kızılcıkdere, Üsküpdere, Karıncak, Kaynarca, Pınarhisar, Erenler, Poyralı, Doğanca, Develi, Vize, Okçular, Evrenli, Çakıllı, Kavacık, Saray, Küçük Yoncalı, Safaalan, Binkılıç, Aydınlar, Gümüşpınar, İhsaniye, Akalan, Dağyenice, Boyalık, Dursunköy, Sazlıbosna, Şamlar, Kayabaşı en Eyüp Sultan, Fatih municipiality and Süleymaniye mosque in Istanbul [bewerken]See also

Sultans Trail List of long-distance footpaths Lycian WaySaint Paul Trail Evliya Çelebi Way