What do you know about Burgenland? Maybe that it’s the most easterly province in Austria and the smallest in terms of population? Perhaps you didn’t know that there is a cycle path that crosses the entire province from north to south and connects with three other European countries. The Jubiläumsradweg (anniversary cycle path) starts near the Slovakian border, runs along Hungary and ends near the Slovenian border. On these 290 kilometres (180 mi) – more if you start in Bratislava – you'll encounter many exciting and unexpected places.

But why isn't the route called the Burgenland Cycle Route or something similar? The reason for this goes back to 2001 when Burgenland was 80 years old, and the cycle path was opened to mark this anniversary. At that time it was also uniformly signposted, so you can orientate yourself via a blue sign stating "Burgenland Jubiläumsradweg R1".

The route runs from north to south, and you can start at the official starting point in Kittsee, as I suggest in the Collection. Or you can start in Bratislava, both starting points are easily reached by train. The destination Kalch, on the other hand, is far from a train station, so it's best to spend a night in Kalch and cycle to Feldbach station the next day and start your journey home from there.

Between start and finish, the diverse Burgenland awaits you. Lakes and green fields, castles and wine villages, small towns and gently babbling rivers line your path. You're mainly on quiet back roads and cycle paths, so a mountain bike is unnecessary. However, good gears and calves that can cope with mountainous terrain won't hurt, because there are some tough climbs. There are fast descents, so you should also check your brakes beforehand.

So, let this Collection take you through the entire Burgenland. I hope you have a lot of fun.