Cyclists explore border history, build connections
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Lithuanians, Germans, and other nationalities are cycling 450 kilometers through areas bordering Lithuania, Poland, and the Kaliningrad Oblast to explore shared history.
The project began with a spontaneous bike trip by German journalist Markus Nowakas, who noticed changes in architecture as he crossed regions. Now, participants visit museums, speak with locals, and discuss the history of the area, formerly East Prussia and the Lithuania-Prussia borderlands.
This year’s route started in Kybartai and Kudirkos Naumestis, Lithuania, followed the Vištytis Lake, and continued into Poland. While the core group is German, Lithuanians and people from other countries join each year, drawn by an interest in history rather than cycling itself. Many participants have personal connections to the region, such as Miriam Meinekat, whose grandfather came from what is now Kaliningrad Oblast, and who discovered her surname has roots in the area's linguistic history.
The trips also offer a chance to confront difficult topics like wartime displacement and current geopolitical tensions. While planning the routes, organizers coordinate with local communities and prepare for unpredictable weather. Despite challenges like rain and gravel roads, participants find the slow pace of cycling allows for deeper engagement with the landscape and its people, fostering connections with fellow travelers and a renewed appreciation for the region’s complex past.
