Guidebook to the Via Francigena Pilgrim Route

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Reviews
• Further Reading

The Via Francigena is an almighty 1900km pilgrim trail from Canterbury to Rome. It leads down through relatively flat sections in north-eastern France, then reaches the mountainous Jura, continues through Switzerland and crosses the strenuous Great St Bernard Pass over the Alps, before heading through Italy to arrive at the Eternal City of Rome.

Taking an average of three months to complete on foot, pilgrims have been undertaking the Via Francigena since the 8th century, and it is one of Europe's great pilgrimages.
From its start in Canterbury, the book splits the pilgrimage into six sections (with further start points in Calais, Arras, Reims, Besançon and Lausanne), to conclude at the halfway point of the route at the Great St Bernard Pass on the Swiss-Italian border.

All six start points are places where pilgrims can easily reach or leave the route by means of public transport, should they wish to tackle the journey in shorter stages. Most people who walk the Via Francigena are not experienced walkers. Walking a pilgrim trail, throughout history, has always been a means to an end and walking a means of transport. This makes the route suitable for all reasonably fit people. It passes through many historic towns and villages, with interesting churches, cathedrals and religious monuments to see and visit along the way.
 

• first 945km of the route described in detail, with colour sketch maps
• details of facilities along the route as well as information about all the key sights
• Part 1 of a 2-part guide covering the full route