VIA EGNATIA NEWSLETTER July 2023
New developments on the Via Egnatia front, so time to give you an update!
1. The Hiking Trail
The Covid epidemic has interrupted many people’s travel plans and caused a break in hiking for two years. The flame is being relighted this year. The Via Egnatia Hiking Trail was used in spring, but unfortunately the weather was quite bad for months. From the messages on VE friends and Facebook we gather that all hikers persevered heroically.
Another effect of the Covid era is the economic one. When we were in Northern Greece last year we discovered that many hotels and B&B’s have not survived this period economically. That is most unfortunate, of course for the owners themselves but also as for the hikers. At the moment the Greek economy is growing again, but this is not directly noticeable for the people. They have to see the use of the hiking path to find the courage to restart, so please let it not hinder you to go! We already found some alternatives (check the website), but for now you still may have to bring a tent with you in Northern Greece or to take a bus, taxi or hitch hike to a bigger town once in a while.
2. Guide book Via Egnatia on Foot part 2 
The guidebook about the second part of the VE Hiking Trail was published last year. It covers the route from Thessaloniki into Turkey.
At Feres the route splits in two parts: the direct one to Ipsala in Turkey, and a northern route through the Evros delta to Edirne. This extra route was necessary because of the problems at the southern border, due to the ‘push backs’ of refugees there.
The detour however is most advisable: we discovered the rich nature of the Evros region and the really fascinating city of Edirne.
By the way: Edirne being an important city, this northern route was often used through the ages, and also due to inundations and broken bridges.
The book is available in the better hiking shops and via our website.
4. Via Egnatia board game
VEF is developing an educational game about Via Egnatia, meant for schoolchildren of the age between 10 and 14. The purpose of the game is stimulating ‘civil society capacities’ – as is the main goal of VEF. Kids ‘travel’ along Via Egnatia as a certain character, they meet each other and have to cooperate and solve problems together, to bargain and trade, to think and discuss.
We are te
sting the prototype of the game in a number of schools in North Macedonia as well as in the Netherlands.
As you see on the picture of a group of children in Bitola they liked the game enormously. It was not only learning but also a lot of fun!
We do this in cooperation with a North Macedonian ngo : Macedonian Civic Education Centre and as an exchange program between North Macedonia and the Netherlands, sponsored by Erasmus funding.
The final version of the game will be produced early next year and distributed in schools in North-Macedonia and the Netherlands around May 2024. Following up on these activities the game will also be distributed in Albania.
Since the game has also an English version (next to Macedonian and Albanian) we are thinking of making the game wider available to all interested in it. You will learn more in the next Newsletter.
5. Fresh blood
In a former 
Newsletter of 12 years ago I read that “we need a long breath” for this project. Aha! That proves to be true. But now we are really getting older.
To secure the continuation of this project we are desperately needing young people to strengthen our board and organization. Young people are much better than we in using social media and find ways to attract other youth.
Therefore we seek contact with possibly interested youth organizations and student clubs. If you have idea’s on this or want to join us yourself, please contact us!
With enthusiastic greetings,
Marietta, for VEF board.
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The Via Egnatia has become part of the Via Eurasia,
a route of Empires, linking Europe to the East
The Via Egnatia Foundation works together with the Via Francigena Association (Italy), Sultans Trail (Holland/Turkey), Paths of Greece, Tirana Trails (Albania), and the Turkish Cultural Routes Society in the Cultural Association of the Via Eurasia (CAVea). Together, by linking parts of all our trails, we are making one long hiking trail: the VIA EURASIA.
We share all our expertise, a synergy that has opened the door to a vast reservoir of knowledge, experience and knowhow for all participants in the fields of route making, promotion, sustainable management, international contacts, etc. The CAVea is to become a professional organization for the management of the whole route, while the individual trails will still will keep their own character, guide books, apps, and websites.
For the Via Egnatia Foundation this is a great opportunity to ensure the growth and future of the Via Egnatia Hiking Trail.
The VIA EURASIA, together with the VIA FRANCIGENA is an ambitious, long-distance cultural route running from Canterbury in the UK to Rome, across Italy and the Balkans, through western Turkey to Demre on the Lycian coast of Turkey’s southwest… and beyond. The VIA EURASIA links Via Francigena del Sud, Via Egnatia, Sultans Trail, Tolerance Way, Evliya Çelebi Way, Phrygian Way, St Paul Trail, and Lycian Way.
The VIA EURASIA, together with the VIA FRANCIGENA, extends from the north-westernmost limit of Europe to its eastern edge, and links diverse cultures and landscapes in a unified whole. It tracks through ancient kingdoms and colonies, and along Muslim and Christian pilgrimage and faith routes.
The initial and final stages of the VIA EURASIA – the Via Francigena and the Lycian Way-are already very popular trails, and other existing cultural routes are gaining recognition. The Via Egnatia trail is ready from the Albanian coast to Kipi on the Turkish border. The remainder of the VIA EURASIA is under active construction. Once completed, including the Via Francigena, the route will be a continuous hiking trail 5600km in length. Some sections are also suitable for biking and horse-riding.
The VIA EURASIA is currently applying for the official status of European Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. A lot of work has already been done until now: meetings, promotional activities, releases of guide books. The project was funded by the Turkish government and the European Union (Civil Society). The assessment is well underway now and we hope to get the status in spring 2021!
Read more on Via Eurasia.org
