During this year, a new section of the Eurovelo 11 cycle route was added in Veľký Šariš, which also includes a unique Castle Bridge. A bike tour to it is a great tip for a family trip. However, many inhabitants of the Šariš metropolis still do not know where to find the Castle Bridge. In the following lines you will learn more about the difficulty of the route, as well as about the Eurovelo 11 project.
Cyclists can start their bike tour on the bike path behind the salvage yard, on the bridge on Bajkalska Street in Prešov (GPS: 49.0211556N, 21.2331564E).
The route from Prešov to Veľký Šariš is currently undergoing several changes - it passes through the construction site area under the motorway currently under construction. Everything is securely fenced off.
Upon entering Veľký Šariš you will be greeted by the sight of Šariš Castle Hill. When you get off the cycle path in Veľký Šariš, you will reach a bridge near St. James Church - the cycle path is approximately 3.7 km long. You have in front of you three ways to continue and pass through the town of Veľký Šariš. Just follow the cycle markings (red C or white-green tables). The end of the town is also the beginning of a new section of the cycle path (industrial zone Rybníky on Sabinovská Street).
From the end of Veľký Šariš you will pass along the flat terrain the four Sharis ponds, beautifully fragrant floodplain forest or vast wheat fields. After less than 3 kilometres you will reach the castle cyclo-bridge.
The new cycle path continues beyond the bridge - Šarišské Michaľanywhich is located between the towns of Veľký Šariš and Sabinov. The official cycle path runs alongside the fenced forest nursery for approximately 500 metres, ending at a rest area, near the entrance to this forest nursery/forestry plant.
For the next 450 metres or so, continue along the tarmac driveway to the junction with the signpost "Veľký Šariš - gardens, 314 m above sea level". From there to Šarišské Michaliany (to the Imuna plant) you can get there by two paths. The official cycle path, which quickly ends, continues along an unmaintained road through a gardening settlement, or by continuing along the tarmac road that leads from the forestry plant (about 1 km longer alternative).
If you arrive at the marker in front of the Imuna plant, you are already in Šarišské Michaľany. From there it is approximately 700 metres to the village centre.
SUMMARY:
Route Prešov - Veľký Šariš - Šarišské Michaľany is very pleasant, easy and almost completely flat (only a slight slope at the end of Prešov in the Bikoš area). It is 11.6 km long (or 12.5 km) and it can certainly be done (including the return trip) even by a casual cyclist with no fitness. In autumn 2020 it is planned to start the construction of a proper cycle path in the municipality of Šarišské Michaľany. After its completion, the currently missing section between Veľký Šariš and Sabinov will be completed. From Sabinov, the cycle path will take you all the way to Pečovská Nová Ves.
- Prešov (bridge on Bajkalská Street) - Veľký Šariš (bridge at St. Jacob's Church): 3.7 km
- Veľký Šariš (bridge by the church of St. James) - end of V. Šariš (industrial zone Rybníky on Sabinovská Street): 1.5 km
- end of Veľký Šariš (industrial zone Rybníky on Sabinovská street) - wooden castle cyclo-bridge: 3 km
- wooden castle cyclo-bridge - crossing with sign (Veľký Šariš - gardens): 1 km
- intersection with sign (Veľký Šariš - gardens) - sign at the Imuna plant: 1.7 km/2.6 km
- marking at the Imuna plant - Šarišské Michaľany (Jednota grocery, Pod lesíkom Street): 0.7 km
About Eurovel 11
Eleven countries, six capitals and 6,550 km. All this is offered by the international EuroVelo 11 cycle route, which is planned across Slovakia. In the Prešov Region, the "Beast of East", as this trans-European cycling railway is called, starts in Mníšek nad Poprad, continues in Plavnica, goes through Lipany, Sabinov, Veľký Šariš, Prešov and in the Prešov Region ends in Seniakovce.
EuroVelo is a network of cycling routes that connect major European destinations across the continent. The network has been under construction in Europe since 1993. It is made up of 14 long-distance cycle routes and will have a total length of 70 000 km when completed. A large part of the approximately 45 000 km of cycle routes have already been implemented, mainly in Western Europe.
The villages through which EuroVelo 11 passes are Mníšek nad Popradom, Sulín, Malý Lipník, Legnava, Údol, Plavnica, Šambron, Bajerovce, Krásna Lúka, Šarišské Dravce, Torysa, Krivany, Lipany, Rožkovany, Jakubova Voľa, Červenica, Pečovská Nová Ves, Sabinov, Ražňany, Ostrovany, Šarišské Michaľany, Veľký Šariš, Prešov, Haniska.
Source:OOCR Región Šariš
