About this book
A guidebook to walking the 3200 km Via Francigena pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome. Part of a four-volume set, this volume covers the first 1090 km, from Canterbury, England, through France to Lausanne, Switzerland. Suitable for most abilities, this section can be walked in around two months, or there is the option to cycle the majority of the way, shaving around three weeks off the total time. The route is presented in 52 stages, of between 11 and 40 km (7–25 miles). Variants for cyclists are shown on the maps but not described.
- GPX files available to download
- 1:100,000 mapping plus larger-scale town maps for key locations
- Handy route summary tables and pilgrim lodging details help you plan your itinerary
- Comprehensive information about refreshments and facilities along the route
- Advice on planning and preparation
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
Customer Reviews
Biography
Sanford 'Sandy' Brown is a community activist, long-distance walker and ordained minister from Seattle, Washington. Inspired by The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho, he trekked the Camino de Santiago in 2008 and, since then, has walked or biked over 18,000 km on pilgrim trails in Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy and the United States. He leads group pilgrimage treks through his travel company. Sandy earned his undergraduate degree in medieval history at the University of Washington in Seattle, his MDiv at Garrett Theological Seminary, which honoured him in 2006 as a Distinguished Alumnus, and in 1997 earned a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary in gender, sexuality and spirituality. In 2023, the European Association of Via Francigena Ways bestowed its Honor Award on Sandy for his contributions to the development of the route. He has two grown sons and lives with his wife, Theresa Elliott, in Lucca, Italy.
