The Via Francigena is an experience to remember. It's just as suitable for pilgrims as it is for lovers of hiking, scenery and heritage. This article will help you prepare for a successful Via Francigena hike.
What is the Via Francigena?
The Via Francigena is a pilgrimage route from Canterbury in the UK to Rome. To do this, the trail crosses diagonally across northeastern France and Switzerland. In France, the route starts in Calais, in the Hauts-de-France region, then passes through Arras, Reims, Langres, Besançon and Pontarlier. In all, the Via Francigena covers 3,000 km.
Historically, the route follows the itinerary of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who made the journey in the year 990 in 79 stages. Like the Pilgrim 's Way to Santiago de Compostela, the Via Francigena remains a very popular pilgrimage today, with believers and walkers alike.
Planning your itinerary
To prepare for your Via Francigena hike, you first need to choose your starting point. While the route starts at Canterbury Cathedral, many people choose to begin in the French part of the route, to avoid crossing the Channel by boat. Depending on your physical condition, you may also consider reducing the distance to be covered, by starting in Tuscany, for example.
The Via Francigena is divided into stages of around 22 km, and in exceptional cases up to 32 km in one day. Depending on your level of fitness, you can adapt the stages to suit your needs. Don't forget to allow several days to visit Rome on arrival, as it is one of the world's most beautiful cities.
Choosing the right period
Spring and autumn are the best times to walk the Via Francigena, particularly in May, June, September and October. The climate is mild. In winter, some mountain passes may be closed due to altitude and snow. In summer, some areas with little shade may be difficult to cross under the sun.
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Physical preparation
Preparing to hike the Via Francigena requires some training beforehand. Although the itinerary is not particularly technical, the main difficulty lies in the fact that you'll be walking every day without respite. Before you set off, remember to organize regular weekend hikes of at least 20 km, and make sure you stay active by including walking every day.
Equipment to bring
To prepare for your Via Francigena hike, it's essential to have the right equipment. As far as possible, you should limit yourself to the essentials so as not to weigh yourself down too much, but here are the essentials:
- Good hikingshoes
- Walkingsticks
- Lightbackpack
- Technical, breathableclothing to cover the climatic variations between Switzerland and Italy
- One or morewater bottles
- Lightweightsleeping bag of your choice
- A headlamp
- A first-aidkit
- A bag to collect your garbage and reduce your ecological footprint
Don't forget your luggage
A number of companies offer to collect your luggage from your accommodation in the morning, and deliver it to the place where you'll be sleeping the following night, before you arrive. While this will inevitably add to your budget, this service will also considerably improve your comfort during the pilgrimage, as you'll be able to walk freely without the weight of your bag. Just take a small bag with snacks, a water bottle and a first-aid kit.
Eating along the Via Francigena
Generally speaking, you'll find grocery stores, bakeries, tables d'hôte and restaurants all along the route . However, some sections are more rural and do not pass through towns or villages. To prepare for your Via Francigena hike, you'll need to anticipate these sections from day to day, so you can plan to eat for the day. You can find out about this when you arrive at your accommodation for each night. Remember to eat carbohydrate-rich foods to provide your body with the energy it needs for such physical exertion. As far as water is concerned, there are water points and fountains all along the route, but again, some sections are poorer. So be sure to bring enough water bottles and fill them up as soon as possible.
Sleeping on the Via Francigena
The various stages of the Via Francigena are designed to stop wherever overnight accommodation is available. You'll find hotels as well as gîtes, guest houses, campsites and inns. We strongly advise you to book your accommodation in advance, as facing a closed door or full accommodation after walking 20 km and only wanting to rest is not a very pleasant experience! Some regions, notably in Italy, also offer the possibility of sleeping in a tent in a bivouac, but this implies precarious comfort, no showers and carrying your tent around all day!
Back to the starting point
There are several ways to get back. You can either walk back as you did on the outward journey, or take public transport. Buses and trains are well-developed for an easy return trip, especially via Milan, which is well connected to Italian and French trains. You can also hitchhike back.
Don't hesitate to book your train tickets now:
