"Karlsroute II" - expansion of the cycle route started
Second round of the German-Czech project has started
The city of Chemnitz is one of eleven partners in the German-Czech cycle route project "Karlsroute II". Six German and five Czech municipalities are participating in the development of the cycle route under the leadership of the "Muldentalradweg" special-purpose association. The project, which has a total budget of around 3.5 million euros, will be implemented by 30 June 2019. The cooperation partners recently met for the official kick-off event in Eibenstock.
It is 85% funded by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - "Cooperation Programme for the Promotion of Cross-border Cooperation between the Free State of Saxony and the Czech Republic 2014 - 2020".
The project pursues three main objectives:
Main objective 1 - Expansion of the route network
The project aims to extend the main cycle route from Aue via Hartenstein and Oelsnitz/Erzgebirge to Chemnitz by approx. 50 km, increasing the total length of the "Karlsroute" to approx. 110 km.
Existing cycle routes or those listed in the Saxony Cycle Network (Saxon Cycle Traffic Concept, 2014) are to be taken into account when planning the route. In addition, a further four secondary routes are to be designated in order to achieve an even broader cycle tourism development of the border region. Three on the Czech side and the Eibenstock dam circuit with approx. 35 km on the German side.
This should create an additional attractive offer for day and overnight guests and thus increase the length of stay and added value in the region.
Intermodality is also to be promoted. In particular, the opportunities for linking cycling and rail travel along the Chemnitz - Aue - Johanngeorgenstadt - Nejdek - Nová Role - Karlovy Vary railway lines are to be further developed.
Main objective 2 - Increasing the level of awareness
In addition to the cycle tourism infrastructure, the "Karlsroute" is to be developed, marketed and profiled as a magnet for cycle tourism. The plan is to expand the website and create information flyers and a folding map. Work is also underway on a cycle route app and a "Karlsroute" cycle route guide. All information material is to be produced in three languages (de/cz/en). In addition, the general public and tourism stakeholders on both sides of the border will be regularly informed.
Main objective 3 - Agreement on the future preservation of the "Karlsroute"
A corresponding inter-municipal agreement will be drawn up as the basis for maintaining the "Karlsroute" (as a cross-border cycle route and tourist product) beyond the duration of the project and the specified earmarking period. In this way, joint, cross-border structures are to be developed between the co-operation partners to consolidate the co-operation.
Background
The cross-border tourist cycle route "Karlsroute" was established between the towns of Karlovy Vary and Aue between 2012 and 2015 as part of the "Karlsroute I" project. In addition to the approx. 60 km long main Karlovy Vary - Aue cycle route, four secondary routes (three on the German and one on the Czech side) were created, which are connected to the main route.
Following the successful realisation of this project and the very large and positive response, the follow-up project "Karlovy Vary Route II" has been developed over the past twelve months. The project application was approved by the binational monitoring committee of the cooperation programme on 15 June 2016.