The Iron Curtain Trail
Trans European practices on memorial heritage
Michael Cramer Member of European Parliament ( Greens / EFA )
Member of European Parliament , Michael Cramer , ( Greens / EFA Parliamentary Group ), presented the project of The Iron Curtain Trail , a 6.800 kilometer cycle route running from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea along and across the former division of the continent . Initiated by Cramer in 2005 , its motto is “ experiencing the history of Europe ’ s division ”, and the frequent crosses the route makes over the border has a clear performative character . Cramer described the project as exemplifying sustainable mobility and as a European ‘ peace ’ project and as a “ tourist trail that would preserve the memory of the division of the continent , show how it has been overcome through peaceful European reunification , and promote a European identity ’’.
Through his keynote , the multitude of dimensions surrounding the Iron Curtain Trail became clear . Cramer for example pointed to the ‘ Green Belt ’ of flora and fauna that has flourished on the former ‘ Death Strip ’, while simultaneously pointing to an array of monuments and memorials along the route that had been marginalized and were in desperate need of upkeep . He also pointed to contemporary borders in Hungary and
Turkey that stood mere meters away from the former borders of the Iron Curtain . These examples , while eerie , show how such routes can be instrumentalized to enable discussions on contemporary border practices and migration routes .
The keynote further raised questions regarding the promotion of such routes and the various memorials , monuments , and structures it passes . While Cramer showed examples of signposts highlighting the route , he also made clear that these were not visible along the entire route . Similarly the keynote raised the question of how European citizens could become more involved and aware of the trail .
Cramer ’ s keynote also stressed the local and national differences in experiences and meanings pertaining to the history of the Iron Curtain , and even in the dates it was torn down . Still the Iron Curtain Trail seems to offer a quite productive framework to engage with these local and national differences , while simultaneously describing a larger formative European history .