Walking the Via Francigena Pilgrim Route - Part 2

Discover the enchanting stone cloisters, medieval towers, and cobbled villages along the Via Francigena on this central section of the renowned pilgrimage route, a 726 km journey from Lausanne on Lake Geneva to the historic city of Lucca in Tuscany. Walk shaded lakeside paths by Lac Léman, cross the historic Great Saint Bernard Pass, traverse the Po Valley’s cultural heart, and finish among the scenic hills and coastline of Liguria and Tuscany, where medieval villages and vineyards meet stunning sea views.

Designed for modern-day pilgrims and those seeking a reflective walking experience, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook breaks this section of the Via Francigena into 32 manageable daily stages. The route is described from north to south, beginning in Lausanne on Lake Geneva and concluding in the medieval Tuscan city of Lucca.

• Each stage features a detailed 1:100,000 route map to guide your journey across the diverse landscapes of the Via Francigena, with enhanced 1:25,000 city maps for Lausanne, Martigny, Aosta, Pavia, Fidenza, and Lucca, providing clear navigation through these key urban centres.
• Comprehensive, step-by-step directions guide you along the route, whether crossing the vineyards around Vevey, the alpine valleys approaching the Great St Bernard Pass, or the rolling hills of Tuscany, with each section supported by downloadable GPX files for GPS devices and smartphone apps.
• For every stage, you’ll find start and finish points, precise distances, total ascent and descent, estimated walking times, and a terrain summary, helping you plan for days that might take you from the lakeside promenades of Montreux to the medieval streets of San Gimignano.
• Accommodation and refreshment options are listed for each stage, highlighting welcoming places to stay and eat in towns and villages, including Lausanne, Montreux, Aigle, Aosta, Pavia, and Lucca, as well as trail-side facilities and services in smaller settlements.
• A handy trek planner and route summary table let you customise your itinerary, whether you want to linger in the Roman spa town of Aosta, explore the historic abbeys of Pavia, or enjoy the world-famous cuisine of Parma.
• With detailed mapping and practical advice, this guide ensures a safe, enjoyable, and culturally rich Via Francigena walking experience, whether you’re tackling alpine passes, following riverside paths, or exploring the cobbled streets and lively piazzas of Italy’s northern cities.

Plan your Via Francigena adventure from Lausanne to Lucca with confidence, and experience one of Italy’s most iconic long-distance pilgrim walks with this definitive guidebook.

Seasons

Suitable for walking in spring, summer and autumn. The Great Saint Bernard Pass is fully open to hikers from June to September.

Centres

Lausanne, Martigny, Great Saint Bernard Pass, Aosta, Ivrea, Vercelli, Pavia, Piacenza, Pontremoli, Pietrasanta, Lucca.

Difficulty

Each stage is graded for difficulty (1-4). A few mountainous stages include steep and slippery slopes. No special gear is required to walk the Via Francigena in season, but off-season crossings of the Great Saint Bernard Pass require winter mountain gear and careful attention to changing mountain conditions.

Must See

Dazzling Lake Geneva, the 1500-year-old Abbey of Saint-Maurice, the spectacular 2469m Great Saint Bernard Pass across the Alps, the emerald peaks of Italy's Aosta Valley, well-preserved medieval cities of Vercelli, Pavia and Piacenza, spectacular views from the Monte Valoria at the Cisa Pass, resorts of the Lunigiana coastline and the charming walled city of Lucca.

Route summary table

Map key

Overview profile Lausanne to Lucca

Foreword

Introduction: The Via Francigena from Lausanne to Lucca

A brief history of the Via Francigena

The modern Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome

Planning your walk

Where to begin and how to get there

When to walk

Cycling all or part of the route

Where to stay

What and where to eat

Should I make reservations ahead?

How much money should I budget?

How do I secure my credential?

Tips for making the most of your walk

Topography of the Via Francigena from Lausanne to Lucca

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: The Vaud and Valais

Stage 1 Lausanne to Vevey

Stage 2 Vevey to Aigle

Stage 3 Aigle to Saint-Maurice

Stage 4 Saint-Maurice to Martigny

Stage 5 Martigny to Orsières

Stage 6 Orsières to Bourg-Saint-Pierre

Stage 7 Bourg-Saint-Pierre to Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard

Section 2: Aosta Valley

Stage 8 Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard to Aosta

Stage 9 Aosta to Châtillon

Stage 10 Châtillon to Verrès

Stage 11 Verrès to Pont-Saint-Martin

Section 3: Piemonte

Stage 12 Pont-Saint-Martin to Ivrea

Stage 13 Ivrea to Viverone

Stage 14 Viverone to Santhià

Stage 15 Santhià to Vercelli

Variant Val di Susa to Vercelli

Section 4: Lombardia

Stage 16 Vercelli to Robbio

Stage 17 Robbio to Mortara

Stage 18 Mortara to Garlasco

Stage 19 Garlasco to Pavia

Stage 20 Pavia to Santa Cristina e Bissone

Stage 21 Santa Cristina e Bissone to Orio Litta

Stage 22 Orio Litta to Piacenza

Section 5: Emilia-Romagna

Stage 23 Piacenza to Fiorenzuola d’Arda

Stage 24 Fiorenzuola d’Arda to Fidenza

Stage 25 Fidenza to Fornovo di Taro

Stage 26 Fornovo di Taro to Berceto

Stage 27 Berceto to Pontremoli

Section 6: Liguria and Tuscany

Stage 28 Pontremoli to Aulla

Stage 29 Aulla to Sarzana

Stage 30 Sarzana to Massa

Stage 31 Massa to Camaiore

Stage 32 Camaiore to Lucca

Appendix A Stage planning table

Appendix B Useful contacts

Appendix C Bibliography

Appendix D Sigeric’s journey: then and now

A Via Francigena guide in three parts

Map of the Via Francigena Canterbury to Rome

Profile of the Via Francigena Canterbury to Rome