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IPPNW Baltic Bike Tour 2006
- Medical Students Cycle for Peace -
August 21st - September 6th
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Route
The map below shows you the approximate route from Tallin (EST) via St.
Petersburg (RUS) to Helsinki (FIN). Thisis part of the EuroVelo Tour
No. 10 of the European Cyclist Federation. The red line delineates the
route,
the black dots signify nightly stops and the numbers next to each leg
of the journey mark the total days. Below is also a table with the
distances travelled each day and some information about the road
quality, sights, etc.
Map
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Distances
 Here
you can see the distances travelled each day. As you can see, the total
distance travelled with be roughly 880 km, although we might deviate
from the planned route as needed so that the total distance will be
somewhere between 850 and 900 km. You will also notice that there will
never be more than 100 km to travel each day, which is fairly
realistic, as the roads are rather good, the terrain plain and the
weather quite nice (end of August, beginning of September).
After meeting up in Tallinn on the 20th of August, getting all the
bikes
in shape, getting to know each other and taking care of those
last-minute organizational things, we will travel along the National
Bike Road No. 1 on Estonias
northern coast line for the first 4 days, arriving at the Russian
border on the 24th of August. Here we will mainly be driving on sealed
highway with little traffic and alongside beautiful scenery, oftentimes
along the sea.
From Narva, we will enter Russia and head towards St. Petersburg,
staying close to the sea and taking 3 days to reach the city of the
czars. This stretch of the road is also quite well laid out for bikes
and there will be orthodox churches, remnants of the Russian empire and
of course the wonderful city of Peter the Great to discover.
After spending some time in St. Petersburg with the Russian IPPNW
students, we will continue on the old "King Road" for the rest of the
way, passing by the Russian city of Vyborg after 3 days and reaching
the Finnish border on the fourth. This historic street, which stretches
from Russia to Norway has beautiful rural scenery and coastal views as
well as nice accommodations for cyclists along the route.
Within Finland, it's 4 more days of cycling through idyllic little
coastal towns until we finally reach Helsinki one day ahead of the
student pre-meeting, where we will be greeted by the Finnish IPPNW
students and will have time to relax in the famous saunas of Finland's
capital before the start of the meeting.
By the way, here is what the European Cyclists Federation has to stay
to this route: " The route meets the sea culture of
different nations living here from the historical times until nowadays
and gives an opportunity to discover the diversity and charm of wild
nature reserves, virginal beaches, small fishing villages and big
harbor towns, single lighthouses on sand dunes and stone piers, old
castles as well as high civilized modern resorts."
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Sights on the way:
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Tallin
Formerly known as Reval, this historic
Hanseatic city is at once the capital and the most important port of
Estonia. Paved with cobble-stone and encircled by sturdy stone walls,
the entire old quarter of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and
the picturesque city hall, the Toompea Hill with the Lutheran cathedral
and the famous Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral are well
worth a visit.
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Estonian Coastline
For most of the way, we will pass by the
beautiful northern coastline of the country, which is stony and rough
with waterfalls and cliffs. To the West it turn into a landscape of a
thousand islands. For 50 years this beauty was forbidden for
foreigners, locked up behind the Iron Curtain. Now we can safely drive
along National Bike Route No. 1, stopping for a
splash in
the Baltic Sea every once in a while and enjoying the remnants of
centuries of clashing cultural influences. |
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Rakvere
This 700 year old city is well known for its historical 13th century
stone castle on Vallimägi Hill, which once housed the Order of
Teutonic Knights which settled this area. North of the city is the
beautiful Lahemaa National Park. |
Narva
Situated on the bank of the border-river Narva, this mainly Russian
city is associated with the historic Battle of Narva, which took place
beneath its walls. Remnants of its bellistic past are found in the
Castle of the Order of Teutonc Knights , the Hermanni Linnus, and the
city museum. This will be the last stop in Estonia and a chance to rest
before starting off into Russia the next day.
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Iwangorod
Narva's Russian twin city
Iwangorod on the other side of the Narva
boasts an equally impressive rivers-die castle, built by Tsar Ivan III
(the Terrible), documenting this historic border between East and West.
At this checkpoint we will enter the realm of the old Czarist Empire
(the old Soviet Union or modern-day Russia, whichever you prefer).
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Sosnovoyy Bor
This city, which was built
around 30 years ago to house the workers of the now antiquated
"Leningrad Atomic Electric Station". This Nuclear Power Plant, which
has roughly the dimensions of the similar Soviet-Era plant at Chernobyl
is infamous for its near-catastrophes, such as the unexplained sudden
loss of pressure in the reactor in 1992,
which led to the release of
radioactive iodine and inert gases. Not quite a tourist magnet, but
certainly worth a visit during this tour in order to show the hazard of
nuclear installations on the Baltic coast.
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St. Petersburg
For many years, this magnificent city built by Czar Peter the Great was
the capital of the mighty Russian empire. With its gold-domed
Admiralty, the Winter Palace housing the famous Heremitage Museum of
Fine Arts and its broad boulevards, the most famous of which being the
posh Nevsky Prospekt, the city has more to offer than old
Leningrad-nostalgia. Eating Bliny on the street market, passing by the
site of the October Revolution and meeting up with the Russian IPPNW
students will justify staying a day or two longer in Sankt-Peterburg as
the locals call it.
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Zelenogorsk
Known as Terijoki in medieval times, this famous "dacha of St.
Petersburg" lies beautifully positioned on the Gulf of Finland
and offers some hints at its glorious past as one of the prime
recreation centers for city-sick St. Petersburg gentry. Its famous
orthodox church is a site not to be missed.
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Vyborg
Founded by Swedish knights in 1293, this city was heavily fought over
its entire history. It first changed into Russian hands when Peter the
Great conquered the city in 1710 during his Great Northern War. The
city was claimed by Finland when it declared its independence from
Russia in 1918 and grew to become the second biggest city in Finnland.
During WWII, the city changed hands twice and was eventually taken by
the Red Arms and incorporated into the Soviet Union. Besides the
historic Swedish castle and the Russian fortifications of Peter the
Great, the city also boasts the Lenin house, where the Bolsheviks
planned the October revolution and the picturesque Mon Repos - one of
the most spacious English Gardes in Europa.
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The King's Road
This ancient route between the old northern capitals of Oslo,
Stockholm, Turku, Helsinki and St. Petersburg has been travelled by
kings and czars, merchants, artist and pilgrims since the 14th century.
Lined by medieval castles
and grey stone churches, romantic old ruins, elegant manor houses and
18th century sea fortresses, the network of pretty country-roads and
narrow town-lanes has alsways been a melting pot
of East and West - and provides for some of Europe's most enticing
cycling. See also http://www.kuninkaantie.net/eng/eng.html
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Kotka
This town, whose finnish name translates to
"Eagle" is located on the mouth of the river Kymijoki and boasts the
annual Sea Days, which attract visitors from all over Europe every
summer. Founded as a Russian fortress during the Crimean War, the city
still retains some czarist architecture, including the St.
Nicholas Orthodox church and Czar Alexander III's fishing hut, located
in the splendid Langinkoski park. |
Porvoo
This is Finland's second oldest city, dating from 1346. The Old Town
features charming red wooden shore houses along the Porvoo River and
cobblestone streets. Porvoo has attracted and inspired many Finnish
poets and artists. The national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg, sculptor
Ville Vallgren and painter Albert Edelfelt all resided in Porvoo. A
perfect place for a nice swim, as well.
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Helsinki
Finnland's magnificent capital city was founded by the Swedish king
Gustav I in order to have a strong port opposite of the
Russian-controlled city of Reval (modern day Tallinn). After several
destructions by subsequent Russian armies, the city was favored over
the old capital city of Turku by the Russian Czar when he conquered
Finland and has stayed the capital of Finland ever since. Home of the
OSCE and boasting countless examples of fine classicist architecture
like the Dome, the Senat and the University buildings, Helsinki is a
treat for visitors. Relaxing in one of the traditional Finnish saunas
and having a taste of Finland's finest sea food and drinks seems like a
fitting way of ending this adventurous journey along the Baltic coast.
By the way: learn to speak Finnish in three minutes: HERE
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