An area that connects people, land, and nature, and is full of beauty, the beauty of the past, of the connection between man and soil, river and town, and of a slower, more primal, more vivid life in the midst of today’s rush and hurry.
Destination
Ilok.
The city of the rising sun, at least when it comes to Croatia. A place where Balašević’s songs echo through every side street. The cheerful ones, and the sad ones, too.
Endless vineyards on the slopes of Fruška Gora give the impression that we’re somewhere wealthy and noble, in Tuscany or Burgundy. The Danube, the greatest European river, flows through this small town on the border of Croatia and Serbia. A river that both connects and divides. Ilok stands at the very beginning, or at the very end, of Croatia.
A wistful atmosphere surrounds old noble houses that surely remember better days; an impressive fortress and old town perched above the river; the fascinating Ilok cellars and beautiful vineyards where Traminac, the grape for which Ilok is widely known, produces what may be the finest fruit of this variety in the world.
This is a region full of secrets, you can see and feel that at every step. The secrets of times long gone, of all sorts of eras, and question marks hanging over the future, yet filled with optimism, because there is so much beauty here. It’s a place where you somehow return to yourself, where you see all those scenes from the song about dark horses running wild through meadows, the golden pocket watch, and the old farmstead…
Syrmia and Ilok are unlike anything we’ve seen so far on Epic Rides.
A part of Croatia hidden away from the public spotlight, yet standing here for thousands of years, and no matter what happens every so often, it will stand here for thousands more.
A region that connects people, land, and nature, overflowing with a particular kind of beauty.
A beauty of the past, of the bond between people and soil, river and town, a slower, more primal, more vivid way of living in contrast to today’s rush and noise.
If any place can give full meaning to the slogan:
‘Get to know your homeland so you can love it more,’
then it is Syrmia and Ilok.
Italian nobles knew it centuries ago.
Tito and Jovanka knew it.
We discovered it ourselves.
And now it’s time for you to discover it too.
Route
Probably the biggest misconception people have when they think of Slavonia is that it’s flat. Because it isn’t.
These aren’t mountains like in Lika or Gorski Kotar, more like hills, ridges, and uplands that roll like waves across the Slavonian plains.
Syrmia and the area around Ilok mark the beginning of Fruška Gora, and although it may not look like you’ll be doing much climbing on this Epic route, you definitely will.
The Epic Rides Ilok route is nearly 50 km long with almost 600 meters of total ascent.
The route starts in the medieval center of Ilok and descends through hidden paths toward the Danube. After riding alongside the river, we head up through vineyards and dense Slavonian forests, passing by several hilltops (around 250 meters a.s.l.) before descending back into the valley. At the halfway point of the route lies the Principovac estate, a beautiful historic manor that will impress you with its elegance. This is also the refreshment zone.
These forests are full of wildlife: roe deer, red deer, hares, pheasants, and even wild boar are common observers of hikers and cyclists. Dusty paths, forest roads, occasional grassy tracks, and pleasant asphalt country lanes are what you can expect along this route.
Although the vast majority of the route uses quiet roads and trails, at km 33 we enter a main road and follow it for about 1 km. Be especially cautious here, traffic isn’t heavy, but there are quite a few trucks.
Mostly gentle climbs and wide, cycling-friendly descents alternate constantly, and the mix of dirt, dust, and occasional patches of mud make this route highly interesting and diverse.
Almost everything worth seeing in Ilok fits into these 50 kilometers, a route that will, guaranteed, stay with you for a long time and one you’ll want to ride again.
Ilok. Epic Rides Ilok.
NOTE: Every Epic Rides route is carefully designed to ensure it never exceeds 50 km in distance and 1,000 m of elevation gain (combined). There are no technically demanding sections on the route, and if the terrain makes them unavoidable, they are short, can be walked, and are additionally marked on the trail itself.
Meeting point: ILOK
Start time: 10:30
*The organizer reserves the right to change the event program and schedule.
These aren’t mountains like in Lika or Gorski Kotar, more like hills, ridges, and uplands that roll like waves across the Slavonian plains.
Syrmia and the area around Ilok mark the beginning of Fruška Gora, and although it may not look like you’ll be doing much climbing on this Epic route, you definitely will.
The Epic Rides Ilok route is nearly 50 km long with almost 600 meters of total ascent.
The route starts in the medieval center of Ilok and descends through hidden paths toward the Danube. After riding alongside the river, we head up through vineyards and dense Slavonian forests, passing by several hilltops (around 250 meters a.s.l.) before descending back into the valley. At the halfway point of the route lies the Principovac estate, a beautiful historic manor that will impress you with its elegance. This is also the refreshment zone.
These forests are full of wildlife: roe deer, red deer, hares, pheasants, and even wild boar are common observers of hikers and cyclists. Dusty paths, forest roads, occasional grassy tracks, and pleasant asphalt country lanes are what you can expect along this route.
Although the vast majority of the route uses quiet roads and trails, at km 33 we enter a main road and follow it for about 1 km. Be especially cautious here, traffic isn’t heavy, but there are quite a few trucks.
Mostly gentle climbs and wide, cycling-friendly descents alternate constantly, and the mix of dirt, dust, and occasional patches of mud make this route highly interesting and diverse.
Almost everything worth seeing in Ilok fits into these 50 kilometers, a route that will, guaranteed, stay with you for a long time and one you’ll want to ride again.
Ilok. Epic Rides Ilok.
NOTE: Every Epic Rides route is carefully designed to ensure it never exceeds 50 km in distance and 1,000 m of elevation gain (combined). There are no technically demanding sections on the route, and if the terrain makes them unavoidable, they are short, can be walked, and are additionally marked on the trail itself.
Meeting point: ILOK
Start time: 10:30
*The organizer reserves the right to change the event program and schedule.
EPIC RIDES
Distance: 48.9 km
Ascent: 590 m
Offroad: 48 %
SHORT
Distance: 31.5 km
Ascent: 430 m
Offroad: 36 %
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