Rapeseed fields in Austria / Photo by Stephen Chapman
The Schengen Zone Agreement was signed in 1985 in Schengen, Luxembourg by five European Community states to allow free movement of their people. The area now comprises 25 countries across Europe whose borders have been eliminated. Most of those involved are members of the EU with the exception of Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. The UK and Ireland are not part of this Zone.
It’s possible to drive from the south of Spain across all of Europe to Estonia without ever leaving the Schengen zone – a distance of some 4,300km (Further than Sydney to Perth or Miami to Seattle).
Czech Republic to Croatia
A recent trip from Prague to Dubrovnik with a few whl.travel colleagues really opened my eyes to the possibilities of road travel within Europe.
Day one was Breakfast in the Czech Republic, Lunch in Austria and dinner in Slovenia. Admittedly the driving was near constant but in a nine seater van boredom is rarely a problem. Day two took in another trio of countries - Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia - and we eventually broke out of the Schengen Zone leaving Slovenia. Croatia is forecast to be joining the EU soon so it’s inclusion in this zone will not be too far away.
The change in landscape upon entering the top of Croatia is dramatic. The lush, forested hills of Slovenia take over from the bright yellow rapeseed fields of the Czech Republic and Austria and give way to a barren karstic landscape that extends right down into the Balkans region.
Croatia-Slovenia border
For many years whilst Yugoslavia existed the border between Slovenia and Croatia was unmarked. Today many Croatians living along this line cross it every day for various reasons, and there’s an agreement that allows them to do so with only an ID card. The same is true along their borders with Hungary and Italy.
Yugoslavia fully disappeared in 2003 and by 2008 Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Kosovo all appeared independently on the world map. Travelling through this region is a real education on the many political and social conflicts that have unfolded throughout history. Fascinating and hugely important events from a global perspective have occurred here over recent years. WWII was triggered when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated on 28th June, 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
The journey down through Croatia towards Dubrovnik requires a short passage through Bosnia & Herzegovina at Neum. This stretch of the Adriatic coast is the only access Bosnia & Herzegovina has to the Sea, and it splits Croatia in two for almost 25km. The division goes back to the 1700s when Dubrovnik gave access to the Turkish army for protection from the nearby Republic of Venice.
All of the destinations listed below have travel websites run by local people, all eager for you to visit their homes. I met all of these individuals at the conference I was travelling to on the island of Mljet, Croatia. We stayed in the only hotel on the island, Hotel Odissej – a fascinating place to spend a few days with an inspiring group of people, all with incredible stories to tell.
- Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina - Twitter: @greenvisions & @thierryjoubert
- Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Medjugorje, Bosnia & Herzegovina - Twitter: @medjugorjeinfo
- Kvarner, Croatia
- Kotor, Montenegro – Twitter: @SlavicaMA
- Budva, Montenegro
- Podgorica, Macedonia
- Ohrid, Macedonia
- Bled, Slovenia
- Ljubljana, Slovenia – Twitter: @travelSlovenia
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