Author: Redazione AEVF

Travelling on foot is the new face of tourism. More and more people decide to experience walking at a slow pace, to be in contact with nature and culture.

There are those who walk individually for days and those who follow professional guides on weekend or group trips.

The European Association of the Vie Franigene (EAVF) has renewed their collaboration with “Walden Viaggi a piedi”, an expert tour operator EAVF partner which has organised responsible tourism journeys on foot in Italy and other countries for years, they propose numerous excursions along Sigeric’s route.

Among the various suggestions, from February to December 2018, Walden has planned one weekend per month along different tracts of the Tuscan Via Francigena to encourage those who have no experience of journeys on foot to become a part of the world of walking. For those already physically ready, one of the first 2018 proposals is in March, where we will cross the Orvieto-Sutri tract.

The Via Francigena is a synonym of Social Trekking. The format idealised by Walden Viaggi in 2012 was transformed last November, in collaboration with the EAVF, into a Francigena event in Pavia. A celebration in the city in order to get to know the area, the people, and the pilgrim hospitality of the important Lombard rest-stop. A social event in collaboration with Walden Viaggi as well as an opportunity to become a  part of the world of walking with an event to share with others.

A new edition of Social Trekking along the Via Francigena will become available in 2018. While we await the choice of city, more information on Walden Viaggi is available at this link: http://www.waldenviaggiapiedi.it/

The 44th edition of the “Via Francigena and the European Cultural Routes” is online.

The new edition of the European Association of the Vie Francigena’s (EAVF) magazine was presented on the 27th January during the V International Forum “Comuni in Cammino” in Monteriggioni.

The cover, dedicated to the Tuscan municipality which hosted the important event, introduces the content rich magazine, a journey along the Route of the Council of Europe from a cultural, touristic, and gastronomic perspective.

The magazine opens with an editorial by the EAVF vice-president and Assistant Director of Canterbury City Council, Velia Coffey, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme which was celebrated in Lucca in September 2017. The event, which united 400 participants from over 30 countries, brought the theme of accessibility to the foreground of the event, with the speech of Pietro Scidurlo, president of Free Wheels Omus.

As well as the headline on Monteriggioni with its castles and works of art, the new edition of the magazine explores the identity of Lombardy along the Francigena, from its maintenance work along the route to its accommodation. The third headline of the magazine focuses on one of the most notable pilgrimage destinations in Puglia, San Giovanni Rotondo. The city of Padre Pio, a land of walks and, since December 2017, host of a newly inaugurated pilgrim hostel.

In regards to the places and routes section, Martine Gautheron, EAVF vice-president, narrates her pilgrim experience from Canterbury to Champlitte. The challenge for the future of the European route begins at the km zero point of the Francigena. “We welcome all who come to start their travels here or just to visit” reminds the Leader of Canterbury City Council, Simon Cook.

The pages of the magazine take the reader to Switzerland to discover the development of the route through coordinated activities and promotion put in place by the European Association of the Vie Francigene in collaboration with Aigle Région. The Via Francigena is the synonym of “Sosta e Gusta” in the Parmigiano cheese factories and a spa opportunities. The route is even sustainably accessible through the use of trains thanks to the agreement made between the EAVF and Trenitalia. 

For more details, all you must do is read the new edition of the magazine. News, information and interviews to be read slowly in three languages: English, French and Italian. Five thousand copies of the magazine have been published by Studio Guidotti, and can be purchased at the online shop; the magazine is also available online for free at www.rivistaviafrancigena.it.

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