The European Association of the Via Francigena ways continues its series of LIVE broadcasts with the new adventure: a discovery of the Saint Olav Ways in Scandinavia.  Come join us on Tuesday 9 June at 18.00 on the EAVF Facebook page @ViaFrancigenaCulturalRoute to get to know St Olav.

The route of St. Olav, Norway’s patron, is a hiking and pilgrimage route, which crosses Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. It has been certified as a European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in 2010.

This cultural route is Via Francigena’s sister route in the Northern Europe, which shares many similarities – slow travel, shared experience and pilgrimage, discovery of cultural heritage and traditions, beautiful landscapes and respect to nature. The St Olav Way today is a network of paths leading pilgrims to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway.

Olav II Haraldsson, later known as St. Olav, was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. After his death in 1030 he was declared a martyr and a saint. Pilgrims made their way through Scandinavia to reach Nidaros Cathedral – the burial place of St Olav for many centuries. Today St. Olav’s Way is one of the most picturesque path in Northern Europe, offering tranquillity of the untouched nature and the spirituality, through silent landscapes and endless hills. In the broadcast we will discover delicious Scandinavia food, tricks to quickly make a tent, suggestions on hostels and tips of best time to depart.

The Via Francigena has been cooperating with the St Olav Ways since the CERTO European project in 2012. Since then the routes have regular exchanges and best practice share.

The broadcast will feature Hans Morten, route manager and the head of the National Pilgrim’s Centre,   Ingeborg Collin Høgseth, director of the Nidaros Pilgrim Center in Trondheim and Chin-Yu Lee, a pilgrim and blogger, who has written St Olav guidebook.

Don’t miss your chance to discover a new route taking you to the deep North!

Tuesday 9 June at 18.00 on EAVF Facebook page @ViaFrancigenaCulturalRoute

More information:

• Saint Olav Ways Route https://www.acsow.org/en/frontpage/
• Council of Europe Cultural Routes https://www.coe.int/en/web/cultural-routes/home