Author: Redazione AEVF

After the success of the Italian events, I Love Francigena will take place in France for the first time. With 4 days of walking between Champlitte and Bucey-lès-Gy (Haute-Saône), from 18th May to 8th June 2019.

The event, launched by the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF), aims to improve the route, territorial awareness and route maintenance and signage. These four walks will also be an opportunity to discover natural and cultural heritage along the route.

The walks will begin at 10am with around 50 participants. The number of hikers is limited as these walks aim to make participants aware and to make them ambassadors of their own territory and the Via Francigena. The mayors of the crossed areas, enthusiastic about this initiative which animates the rural country villages, are working towards the enhancement of the cultural route.

These four days of walking have been supported by the department of Haute-Saone and the Fédération Française de Randonnée. I Love Francigena is an opportunity to discover history and to maintain the route: rubbish management, sustainable development, heritage and working as volunteers to clean and collect rubbish along the route.

Programme:

Saturday 18th May: Champlitte / Montot (13,5 km)

Saturday 25th May: Montot / Seveux (14,1 km)

Saturday 1st June: Seveux / Saint-Ghent (12,55 km)

Saturday 8th June: Saint-Ghent / Bucey-lès-Gy (12,6 km)

Start at 10am, packed lunch, coffee and a snack at the end of the walk and a bus ride to return to the starting point. 10€ per person per walk (bus, pilgrim passport, t-shirt, Via Francigena guide for Haute-Saône).

For information and registration (limited places) contact: 0688332329 email: viafrancigena.champlitte@gmail.com 

Download the poster and registration form below.

More information here

The municipality of Berceto, on the Parma Appenine, highlighted the potential for the territory crossed by the Francigena regarding the route’s UNESCO heritage candidacy.

Saturday 13th April saw moment of interaction which united a whole local community and saw the participation of hundreds of people: institutes, enthusiasts, historians, hiking experts and associations concerned with the theme of ‘Berceto, UNESCO municipality of the Via Francigena’.

 Some celebrities contributed to the celebration. Luciano Ghelfi, Rai Tg2 journalist, coordinated the speeches of: Alessandro Bosi, Franco Cardini, Philippe Daverio, Luca Mercalli, Don Carlo Pizzo, Massimo Spigaroli and Mario Tozzi. Attention was drawn towards various topics of discussion: “The Via Francigena, a European route” coordinated by Giovanni Capece; “The UNESCO opportunity, legal aspects and great investments for hamlet restructuring” coordinated by Rai journalist, Luca Ponzi, with conclusions by Irene Pivetti. The event also saw the input of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF).

“UNESCO candidacy of the ancient route would be a great opportunity. In a time when everything seems to be divided, the municipality of Berceto finds itself with a shared objective, which unites 19,000 people. This recognition could, however difficult it may seem, benefit every single person” says the mayor of Berceto, Luigi Lucchi.

 
Watch the video:

The 1st May was a day of celebration in Gropello Cairoli. Blessed with nice weather, lots of people took part in the family walk, together with the muncipality of Dorno, called “The Via Francigena meets Via delle Gallie“.

 The initiative, organised for the second edition of “May in Gropello Cairoli on the notes of the Via Francigena“, also saw the debut of the pilgrim stamp dedicated to the Via Francigena. The presentation even involved the youngest of participants with a colour challenge.

The Friend municipality of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) is a historic stop in the province of Pavia. It realised the “seal” to stamp on pilgrim’s Pilgrim Passports who travel the cultural route of the Council of Europe. The stamp is based on the chorus of a dialect song and the image of Saint George the Martyr, the patron saint of Gropello Cairoli. It will be available at the General Register Office, library and parish church.

“The 1st May was a very positive day, the sun encouraged the participation of many families and children. Our friends of Dorno admired their visit to the Hall of frescoes and the Capella of the park’s memorial monument. We’ll have a similar event next year, maybe a bike ride – says the Mayor of Gropello Cairoli, Chiara Rocca – We certainly won’t renounce our May date with the Francigena.“

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The Movimento Lento association, in collaboration with the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF), came up with the idea to create a network among associations along the Italian Francigena from the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome, who would become “Trail Angels”, inspired by volunteers who look after routes in the USA and other foreign countries. 

Movimento Lento organised the first meeting in Milan on 9th March 2019 during the ‘Fa la Cosa Giusta’ fair, inviting all active associations of the territory to attend. The turn-out was huge, with over 25 delegates representing 19 associations and companies. Other entities who could not make it also expressed their interest in the project. 

During the reunion, they decided to create an information channel for the associations through a Google group, so interested and available associations can look after the route and assign sections to each one. The EAVF offered free signage stickers necessary for maintenance and visibility on social media for initiatives linked to the care and animation of the route.

 Until today there was no coordination among associations, nor a “map” of safeguarded routes. The Via Francigena, like all routes, needs constant care and attention. Some Italian regions and municipalities have grasped the importance of maintenance, they’ve collected funds and created requirements to guarantee the route remains protected, secure and accessible. Other administrations, perhaps not because they lack the will or sensitivity, but because funds are more and more scarce, have not done the same.

Along some sections of the route, local associations have been passionate about route maintenance and signage for years, carrying out excellent work greatly appreciated by pilgrims, but not considered and supported enough by local administrations.

Maintenance is currently under way and associations are evaluating the idea of organising a 2020 relay along the whole Italian section of the Via Francigena, to celebrate the importance of route care and coordination among the many entities which dedicate time and resources to this important objective.

– Alberto Conte president of the Movimento Lento Association –