Walking the Via Francigena Pilgrim Route

Part1: Canterbury to Lausann

Guidebook to the first 1090km of Canterbury-Rome pilgrimage route the Via Francigena, covering from Canterbury to Lausanne. The route passes through England, France (Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Picardie, Champagne-Ardenne and Franche-Comte) and Switzerland to finish by Lake Geneva. Described in 52 stages, with information on facilities and pilgrim hostels.

The 2000km Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome is one of the world's great pilgrim routes, with a history spanning well over a millennium. This guide describes the first section, from Canterbury to Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva, a journey of 1090km passing through England, France and Switzerland. The route is suitable for walkers of all levels of ability, and the section from Canterbury to Besançon is also suitable for cyclists (mountain or hybrid/gravel bike). There are various options for accommodation, ranging from hotels and B&Bs to camping (although it is not essential to carry a tent), and the French section offers a unique opportunity to lodge with host families in welcoming chambres d'hôtes. The guide has all the information you need to plan and prepare for a journey on the Via Francigena. You'll find a wealth of detail about facilities on route and accommodation, as well as tips on training, kit, travel and pilgrim credentials. The route is presented in 52 stages of 11 to 39.5km, although the clear presentation of facilities and intermediary distances makes it easy to customise your own itinerary. There are also notes on interesting features passed and local points of interest. Beginning in historic Canterbury, England, with a gentle walk to the White Cliffs of Dover, the Via Francigena crosses the English Channel before turning inland to the rolling French countryside, site of WWI battlefields and charming French villages and towns. After visiting two of France's most beautiful medieval cathedrals, it passes through forests to the hilltop fortress of Langres. Besançon offers al-fresco dining in the city's historic plazas before the route continues, following the Loue River to its mountainous source. The unforgettable Gorge de l'Orbe of the Jura Mountains in Switzerland leads to the section's finish-point on the shores of Lake Geneva in beautiful, cosmopolitan Lausanne. Celebrating the diversity of the countries through which it passes and offering an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in Europe's beautiful landscapes and experience their culture, this is truly an international journey that will linger long in memory.

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map Canterbury to Lausanne

Overview profile Canterbury to Lausanne

Map of the Via Francigena Canterbury to Rome

Profile of the Via Francigena Canterbury to Rome

Route summary table

Foreword

Introduction: the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Lausanne

A brief history of the Via Francigena

Planning your walk

Where to begin and how to get there

How to get back

When to walk

Cycling and the ‘un-official bike option’

Where to stay

What and where to eat

Should I make reservations ahead?

How much money should I budget?

What is a pilgrim credential and how do I get one?

Tips for making the most of your walk

Topography of the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Lausanne

Understanding local cultures

Training for your walk

What and how to pack

Baggage transport and storage

Telephones

Health and well-being

How to use this guide

Route descriptions

GPX tracks and accommodation downloads

Section 1: Kent

Kent County

Stage 1 Canterbury to Shepherdswell

Stage 2 Shepherdswell to Dover to Calais by ferry

Section 2: Hauts-de-France region

Stage 3 Calais to Wissant

Stage 4 Wissant to Guînes

Stage 5 Guînes to Licques

Stage 6 Licques to Tournehem-sur-la-Hem

Stage 7 Tournehem-sur-la-Hem to Wisques

Stage 8 Wisques to Delettes

Stage 9 Delettes to Amettes

Stage 10 Amettes to Bruay-la-Buissière

Stage 11 Bruay-la-Buissière to Ablain-Saint-Nazaire

Stage 12 Ablain-Saint-Nazaire to Arras

Stage 13 Arras to Bapaume

Stage 14 Bapaume to Péronne

Stage 15 Péronne to Trefcon

Stage 16 Trefcon to Seraucourt-le-Grand

Stage 17 Seraucourt-le-Grand to Tergnier

Stage 18 Tergnier to Laon

Stage 19 Laon to Corbeny

Stage 20 Corbeny to Berry-au-Bac

Section 3: Grand-Est region

Stage 21 Berry-au-Bac to Reims

Stage 22 Reims to Verzy

Stage 23 Verzy to Condé-sur-Marne

Stage 24 Condé-sur-Marne to Châlons-en-Champagne

Stage 25 Châlons-en-Champagne to Saint-Germain-la-Ville

Stage 26 Saint-Germain-la-Ville to Saint-Amand-sur-Fion

Stage 27 Saint-Amand-sur-Fion to Vitry-le-François

Stage 28 Vitry-le-François to Saint-Remy-en-Bouzemont

Stage 29 Saint-Remy-en-Bouzemont to Outines

Stage 30 Outines to Montmorency-Beaufort

Stage 31 Montmorency-Beaufort to Précy-Saint-Martin

Stage 32 Précy-Saint-Martin to Dienville

Stage 33 Dienville to Dolancourt

Stage 34 Dolancourt to Baroville

Stage 35 Baroville to Orges

Stage 36 Orges to Richebourg

Stage 37 Richebourg to Faverolles

Stage 38 Faverolles to Langres

Stage 39 Langres to Chalindrey

Stage 40 Chalindrey to Coublanc

Section 4: Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Stage 41 Coublanc to Champlitte

Stage 42 Champlitte to Dampierre-sur-Salon

Stage 43 Dampierre-sur-Salon to Bucey-lès-Gy

Stage 44 Bucey-lès-Gy to Cussey-sur-l’Ognon

Stage 45 Cussey-sur-l’Ognon to Besançon

Stage 46 Besançon to Foucherans

Stage 47 Foucherans to Mouthier-Haute-Pierre

Stage 48 Mouthier-Haute-Pierre to Pontarlier

Stage 49 Pontarlier to Jougne

Section 5: Switzerland – Vaud

Stage 50 Jougne to Orbe

Stage 49–50 variant Les Fourgs to Orbe via Sainte-Croix

Stage 51 Orbe to Cossonay

Stage 52 Cossonay to Lausanne

Appendix A Stage planning table

Appendix B Useful contacts

Appendix C Bibliography

Appendix D Sigeric’s journey – then and now