Steirer Bridge (Mur Pedestrian Bridge)

The Mur river, which rises in the Austrian Alps and flows through Styria before reaching Slovenia, forms the border between Slovenia and Austria for a stretch in the Pomurje region, and at the twin towns of Gornja Radgona and Bad Radkersburg a footbridge crosses it. Walking over it you step from one country to the other in a matter of minutes, with the river flowing slowly beneath you and the two town centres a short stroll away on either bank. It is a small crossing, but it carries a good deal of meaning in a region where the border has moved and then softened over the past century.

The towns were once a single settlement, known as Radkersburg and part of Austrian Styria for centuries. After the First World War, the border was drawn along the Mur, and the smaller part of the town, across the river, became Gornja Radgona, in the new Yugoslav state, while the larger part remained Austrian as Bad Radkersburg. The two grew apart for decades, and the border was a real barrier, but in recent years, especially since Slovenia joined the European Union and the Schengen area, the two towns have worked closely together. The pedestrian bridge is a symbol of that renewal, a practical and friendly connection that people use daily to go to market, to visit friends and to take a walk. It is modern and functional rather than historic, and the pleasure of crossing it lies in the setting and in what it represents.

Both banks have attractive paths. The riverside is green and calm, with trees along the water, benches and promenades for walking and cycling, and the bridge makes it easy to loop between the two towns. On the Austrian side, Bad Radkersburg is a thermal spa town with a pretty old centre and historic squares, while on the Slovenian side Gornja Radgona is known for its wine and especially for sparkling wine, which has been made here since the nineteenth century. Tasting Wines And Sparkling Wines In Gornja Radgona is a popular activity, and the cellars welcome visitors by arrangement. The crossing is free and open at all times, though you should carry your identity document when travelling near a border.

The wider Pomurje region has more to offer. Banovci Thermal Spa and Banovci Natural Bathing Sites, Hotel Bioterme Mala Nedelja, Časar's Mill, the Fine Lušt Homestead, the Island Of Love On The Mura River (Ižakovci), the Otter Centre AQUALUTRA in Križevci na Goričkem and Razkrižje, which holds a Slovenia Green Destination Bronze Label, can all be combined with a walk over the bridge.

It suits walkers, cyclists and anyone curious about borderlands. The Steirer Bridge is the Mur Pedestrian Bridge in everyday speech. There is no ceremony at the crossing. While it is short, it says much about modern Europe.