Author: Redazione AEVF

The group weekends and trips with “Walden Viaggi on foot” have begun again, in the footsteps of Sigeric, accompanied by professional guides, to discover one of the most important pilgrim routes of western Christianity.

We’ll traverse the most beautiful and interesting legs, from the north to the south of Italy, visiting hamlets, Roman churches, castles, old hospitals. We will pause in convents, inns and farms and taste local cuisine. We’ll meet other pilgrims of a range of nationalities.

The pilgrim passports will certify the walk, from time to time. There’s even the possibility for pre-established and school groups to join in.

Click here to find out more.

2018 brings great news for “Romei” hikers along the Via Francigena in France.

 The FFRP (Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre) has announced the homogenisation of the route in the department of Haute-Saône, after the department of Doubs which took place in 2017: the Via Francigena is now homogenised and signalled as GR145, a hiking route from Calais to Les Fourgs.

Over the next few months, in the regions of Hauts-de-France and Grand Est, the official signage will be introduced, with the red and whites signs (signage of the Grande Randonnée), and the Via Francigena logo which will be inserted step by step on all the signs of the region. The European Association of the Vie Francigene thanks the FFRP and the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté for the work carried out and its recognition of the Via Francigena in the GR145.

This is a great step forward for hikers who wish to walk along this European cultural route and is also an opportunity to invite people to visit the most important historic-cultural sites along the Grande Randonnée, which can be found on their website. 

Martine Gautheron

EAVF Vice-president in France

The Via Francigena returns to the BIT, International Tourism Exchange, programmed the 11th to 13th February in Milan.

The European Association of the Vie Francigene will participate in the event dedicated to “Lombardy: tales of steps – experiences and emotions of pilgrims” organised for Sunday 11th February to the 14th, at the capital of the Lombard region.

The meeting, organised by Alberto Pugnetti of Radio Francigena, will include various participants. Sami Tawfik, Project Manager of the European Association of the Vie Francigene, will talk about the Francigena, presenting several projects in collaboration with the region of Lombardy.

“We are happy to return to BIT and to bring our contribution with the Via Francigena, a route of European nature but more and more attractive on a global level – states Tawfik – During the meeting we will present our projects carried out with the region of Lombardy and the actions put in place in regards to maintenance, promotion and communication with “I Love Francigena”. The event will give us the opportunity to increase the visibility of the areas and entities crossed with the “Terre della Via Francigena” project on our portal and the official app of the European Association of the Vie Francigene.”

Monica Nanetti will also participate in the talk as a journalist and pilgrim of an experience along the Via Francigena by bike.

Other participants will also include Cristina Menghini, with a reflection on emotions along the route; the Via Francigena Renana will also be covered by Iubilantes, as well as promotion and tourism accessible along the religious routes of Lombardy by AIAS Milano Onlus. The session will also include a part dedicated to the Cammino di Sant’Agostino, supported by the Associazione Cammino di Sant’Agostino, the Via degli Abati by Associazione Via degli Abati and the Cammino dei Monaci supported by Nocetum and the Politecnico of Milano.

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The Via Francigena returns to the small screen. On Sunday 4th February, Rai 3 “Kilimangiaro” aired the first of two reports on Sigeric’s ancient route which connects Canterbury to Rome.

The report, edited by Linda Tugnoli and named “La felicita in cammino” (happiness on foot), narrates the first half of the route, from the km zero point to Reims. The documentary, 10 minutes long, covers the story of this medieval arterial route, explaining the diary of Sigeric, the Archbishop of Canterbury, retiring from Rome in 990, in which he noted the 79 rest-stops of his journey. A journey now taken up by modern pilgrims.

It illustrates and highlights the characteristics of the first legs hikers will come across along the Francigena in England to Dover where they will embark on the ferry to the north of France. From Calais, through the woods and grain fields until reaching the towers of Laon with its majestic cathedral in Picardia. The woods open up to the vineyards until arriving at Reims.

Breath-taking views display the Francigena route from a naturalistic, historical and cultural route. On Sunday 18th February the second part of the report will be aired which will take viewers to the Great St Bernard Pass.

Click this LINK to watch the first documentary.

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