Follow the historic Via Francigena pilgrimage route across 1090km of England, France and Switzerland, along ancient paths once used by medieval pilgrims to walk to Rome. Starting in Canterbury, this part of the route offers an ideal introduction to the Via Francigena, through rolling French countryside, Champagne vineyards and the Jura Mountains to lakeside Lausanne, and is suitable for most walkers.

Immerse yourself in the pilgrimage's origins with the first volume of this four-part guidebook set, while building confidence through gentler terrain before the alpine challenges of Parts 2–4 of the route. In around two months, you'll experience England's historic Kent, cross the Channel to France's Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Champagne-Ardenne regions, explore cathedrals at Reims and Laon, and finish triumphantly at Lake Geneva — creating the perfect foundation should you wish to complete the entire 3200km of the Via Francigena. 

This comprehensive guidebook simplifies planning the long-distance trail from Canterbury to Lausanne, providing clear stage-by-stage route descriptions, 1:100,000 mapping, and practical planning information throughout. Designed to help walkers and cyclists confidently tackle the opening section of this historic pilgrimage, it brings together navigation, logistics, and essential on-trail details in a single, reliable companion.

• The route is divided into 52 clearly defined stages, each with detailed route descriptions, and clear 1:100,000 mapping to keep you on track
• Stage summary tables and elevation information allow you to anticipate the upcoming terrain and plan daily distances to tailor the journey to your available time
• As well as navigation, the guidebook explores the history, culture, and landscapes of the Via Francigena, connecting walkers and cyclists to centuries of pilgrimage tradition through historic towns and rural countryside
• Detailed accommodation listings include the services provided and contact details, supporting first-time and experienced pilgrims alike
• Advice on obtaining your pilgrim passport and achieving your pilgrim credentials is included
• Downloadable GPX files provide a digital navigation option for use on smartphones and GPS devices

Open the door to the Via Francigena with this guidebook, offering a well-researched, expertly curated introduction for both walkers and cyclists to one of Europe’s great pilgrimage routes. Walk with purpose through historic landscapes and timeless towns, knowing you have a trusted companion to help you navigate every stage of the journey.

Author Highlight

“The Via Francigena is different. It is an international pilgrimage journey. It is founded on an ideal – that a walk across borders can transform many people into one. The Via Francigena is also an itinerary of natural wonder. Two unforgettable sights frame this first portion – the English Channel and the Jura Mountains.  The Channel experience begins at Dover, where the white cliffs are background for the scenic voyage to the French Côte d’Opale, colored like a dream in soft shades of turquoise and grey. The Jura Mountains, near the end of the journey, offer cascades of water falling among forested paths in high valleys, with picture-perfect villages sprung from Gustave Courbet landscapes.”

- The Reverand Sandy Brown, auhtor of the Via Francigena Pilgrim Route Part 1, 2, 3 & 4

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

Seasons

Suitable from April through to October. Hikers continuing past Lausanne on the Via Francigena should time their journey to coincide with the summer opening of the Great Saint Bernard Pass.

Centres

Enjoy historic Canterbury, then in France visit lovely Arras, Laon, Reims, Langres, and Besançon. Continue to beautiful lakeside Lausanne, Switzerland.

Difficulty

Suitable for all levels of walkers, each stage is graded 1-4 for difficulty. The terrain between Canterbury and Besançon is also suitable for cyclists of all abilities. Lodging in gîtes, hotels and private homes is available with advance reservation on the entire route at intervals no greater than 35km.

Must See

Charming Canterbury, the White Cliffs of Dover, the English Channel, rolling French countryside full of historic WWI battlefields and cemeteries, world-famous cathedrals at Laon and Reims, the Champagne wine region, the historic walled cities of Langres and Besançon, the Jura Mountains, Gorge de l'Orbe, Lake Geneva and Lausanne

April 2024

Coublanc accommodation

September 2023

Dover to Calais ferry

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