Ambassador Luigi Soreca, Head of EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative, officially opened the EU-funded "Giro di Ćiro Sarajevo–Pale" cycling trail on 8 June 2026. The €2.3 million project, financed through EU grants, aims to promote sustainable tourism and healthier lifestyles. The trail runs approximately 13 kilometres along the historical corridor of the narrow-gauge "Ćiro" railway, connecting Sarajevo's Vijećnica (City Hall) with the old Pale railway station, passing through the Dariva pedestrian zone and the foothills of Mount Trebević.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the mayors of Sarajevo, Istočno Sarajevo, and the municipalities of Stari Grad, Istočni Stari Grad, and Pale, alongside cycling clubs from both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ahead of the event, cyclists from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska set off from opposite ends of the trail, meeting at the inauguration site to symbolise the trail's role as a shared space for citizens across the country.
Construction works included the reconstruction of nine tunnels fitted with solar-powered lighting, two bridges, and one bypass section, along with road signage and protective barriers. With an average gradient of 2.5–3.5%, the trail is designed to be accessible to a wide range of cyclists. The project was implemented in cooperation with the City of Sarajevo, the City of Istočno Sarajevo, and the municipalities of Stari Grad, Istočni Stari Grad, and Pale.
Impact on stakeholders
The trail is expected to boost local tourism and provide a recreational asset for residents and visitors. Local businesses along the route may benefit from increased footfall and cycling tourism. The project also fosters cross-entity cooperation, as it physically connects communities from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska. However, maintenance costs for the solar-powered lighting and infrastructure will fall on the municipalities, which may face budgetary pressures. Environmental groups may welcome the low-impact, non-motorised transport option, though the construction involved some land use changes along the historical railway corridor.
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