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From Canterbury in England to Rome in Italy, the 1900km "Francigena Way" dates back to the 11th century when pilgrims travelled across Europe on foot to visit the site of Martyrdom of St Peter and St Paul in Rome. With the modernisation of Europe and the shifting of borders the route became obsolete, until a recent revival of the pilgrimage making it one of the most exciting pilgrimage trails in Europe today.
From the French border, this walk crosses the Canton of Vaud, strewn with relics of Roman times and peppered with chapels and medieval towns, to reach Lake Geneva and Lausanne. The route continues past the UNESCO-listed vineyards of Lavaux, the Rhone Valley and finally crosses the magnificent Swiss Alps leading to the historical Great Saint Bernard Pass. This section of the Francigena pilgrimage route will wow you with its spectacular views, delicious local cuisine and fascinating history.
Note: Due to the weather and altitude this walk is only possible during the summer months
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18kg of CO2-e PP per day
(194kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)
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Day 1
Arrive Yverdon-les-Bains
Arrive Yverdon-les-Bains and make your own way to your hotel. Nestled in between the Jura Mountains, Yverdon-les-Bains is a traditional spa town. Visit the ruins of the Roman spa, take time to explore the Savoy Castle or maybe the House from Elsewhere, Europe's first science fiction museum.
Meals: Nil
Day 2
Catch the train or bus to Le Day. Walk to Orbe (3.5hrs)
After breakfast, catch the train or a bus to Le Day (own expense). You then hike down to the Saut du Day waterfall and follow the course of the Orbe River. The walk takes you through a nature reserve to the village of Les Clées and on to the Gorge de l'Orbe. The small town of Orbe where you overnight is known for its Roman mosaics. Distance 14km/8.6mi, +130m/426ft -440m/1443ft
Meals: B
Day 3
Walk via the medieval town of Romainmôtier to Cossonay (7hrs)
On leaving Orbe you'll follow the path to the medieval town of Romainmôtier. Don't miss the Romanesque church, built between 990 and 1028 in the style of the Cluny church and considered one of the jewels of the Yverdon-les-Bains region. After this point you continue to what is known as the centre of the world, where one part of the River Nozon flows to the Mediterranean, the other to the North Sea. Distance 28km/17.3mi, +450m/1476ft -370m/1213ft
Day 4
Continue to the banks of Lake Geneva and Lausanne (7hrs)
Today is a fairly flat walk following the Venoge river from Cossonay to Saint-Sulpice with its Romanesque church, once the heart of a Cluniac priory, on Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), where you continue along the banks and via the Roman town of Vidy to Lausanne. Until the Reformation in 1536, Lausanne was an important pilgrimage destination and where the Via Francigena and the Camino to Santiago de Compostela crossed paths. Today it is home to the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. Take the time to explore the hilly old centre with its medieval, shop-lined streets and Gothic cathedral. Distance 26km/16mi, +180m/590ft -360m/1181ft
Day 5
Walk to Vevey / St-Légier Chiésaz (6.5hrs)
From the quay in Ouchy, continue on the Via Francigena along the shores of the lake to Vilette. The trail winds through the UNESCO World Heritage listed Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, which date from the 11th century when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area. Enjoy fantastic views over the lake on your way to St-Légier Chiésaz. Distance 22km/13.6mi, +330m/1082ft -330m/1082ft
Day 6
Continue on to Aigle / Yvorne (7hrs)
You continue walking today along the lake shore. The Swiss Museum of Games in the castle at Tour-de-Peilz and famous Schloss Chillon are worth a visit before you reach the Chablais wine region. From Villeneuve you'll continue on to the Rhone plain and follow an idyllic path along the Rhone. Arriving in Aigle you'll marvel at it's impressive castle surrounded by vineyards. Overnight Aigle, Yvorne. Distance 25km/15.5mi, +150m/492ft -110m/360ft
Day 7
On to Saint Maurice (5.5hrs)
The walk for today is generally quite flat, as you walk along the banks of the Rhone river. As you enter Saint Maurice you'll be able to see the town's famous cliffside Abbey. For pilgrims travelling the whole route from Canterbury to Rome, this is the half way point. Overnight Saint Maurice. Distance 18km/11mi, +415m/1361ft, -410m/1345ft
Day 8
Walk to the town of Martigny (4.5hrs)
situated on the Rhone, has a history which stretches back over 2000 years. The town is home to a restored amphitheatre, Roman thermal baths, temples and living quarters which you can visit. Here you can also visit the St Bernard Dog Museum and learn of the role they played on the Francigena Way. Overnight Martigny. Distance 16km/9.95mi, +305m/1000ft, -255m/836ft
Day 9
Continue on to Orsieres (6hrs)
This stage marks the beginning of the climb to the Great Saint Bernard Pass. From Martigny a sometimes steep path leads over the narrow Les Trappistes pass to the medieval village of Sembrancher. From here you follow the Napoleon trail to Orsieres. The church of Orsières is worth a visit. Distance 20km/12.4mi, +630m/2066ft, -215m/705ft
Day 10
Walk to Bourg St Pierre (5hrs)
Most of today's walk follows a steady climb but there are a few short, steeper sections. As you climb you're sure to be rewarded with the stunning alpine views. Bourg St Pierre is a small, alpine village with ties to Napoleon's Italian campaign. Overnight Bourg St Pierre. Distance 14km/8.6mi, +820m/2690ft, -80m/262ft.
Day 11
Final walk to the Saint Bernard Pass (4.5hrs)
Undoubtedly the most symbolic stage on the Via Francigena! The way to the pass leads along a road which has served the whole of Europe for 2000 years. Countless archaeological sites line the ascent, in L’Hospitalet and on the Barasson-Pass. The pass is famous for its hospice and St Bernard dogs that were used to rescue weary pilgrims. Overnight Great St Bernard Pass. Distance 12km/7.45mi, +880m/2887ft, -30m/98ft
Day 12
Trip Concludes
Trip concludes after breakfast, or continue through Italy to Rome on the Via Francigena trail.
What's included
What's not included
During the trip you will be staying at selected 3 star hotels and inns. All rooms in the accommodations have ensuite facilities. Please note that a twin room is not always associated with having two beds. Quite often a twin bed has one or two mattresses on the same bed frame but with two separate duvets. Sometimes there might be two beds positioned together, but they cannot be separated because of constraints of the room. Some accommodation may offer spa or sauna facilities.
The Pilgrims' path follows a combination of dirt, stony and weather dependant muddy tracks. During the hot drier months, the path can be hard underfoot. You will walk on roads with some traffic as you enter and leave villages and towns.
GRADE 4 - You walk along paths that are well defined and clearly marked. You should be an experienced walker and be able to walk for up to 7 hours a day (most days are between 5 to 7 hours) in potentially hot sun (or rain / cold) on dusty (or muddy) and on stony tracks. There are some steep hills, and the terrain is mountainous in some parts. A good level of fitness is required. As with all of our trips it is important that you are well prepared. We suggest that you undertake regular exercise – swimming, cycling, and jogging, three to four times a week for three months prior to your departure. The walking times are calculated from town centre to town centre and may vary depending on the accommodations booked. Breaks are not included in the walking estimate in hours.
Per Person, Twin Share
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
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11Days
Moderate to Challenging
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