The Via Francigena is the old way of 1700 km of the Pèlerinage of Rome which leads Canterbury (capital of the Église of England) to the tomb of Saint Pierre in the Basilique Saint-Pierre of the the Vatican to Rome. Following the example way of the Pilgrimage of Saint-Jacques-to-Compostelle, and Pilgrimage of Jerusalem, it is an important way of Pèlerinage medieval Catholique which was recently the object of studies, a beaconing and a recognition by the the Council of Europe. One can traverse it with foot or bicycle.

Origin

“ All the ways go to Rome ”: there was no single route to go on the tomb of Saint Pierre in the Basilique Saint-Pierre of the the Vatican to Rome. It was with that of Jerusalem (Places holy: Bethlehem, the Holy Sepulchre, etc: the pilgrims were called “paulmiers”) and that of Compostelle (tomb of Saint Jacques: the pilgrims were called “jacquets”) one of the three great Christian pilgrimages. The pilgrims of Rome were called “roumieux” or “romées” (from where the Italian first name “Romeo”). The “way of the Francs” ( via Francigena ) points out “Camino Francés” of Compostelle: it is the way followed by a great number of pilgrims, come here from the north of the the Alps, there of the north of the the Pyrenees. The route traditional (and modern) follows the layout of the voyage undertaken into 990 by Sigéric of Canterbury, Archevêque of Canterbury (chief of the Église of England), which went to Rome in order to there meet the pope and to receive the Pallium hands of the pope Jean XV. Sigéric precisely describes the 79 stages of its route in a text which was preserved.

Route

The course makes nearly 1700 kilometers starting from Canterbury. After the crossing of the English Channel, it via Francigena passes inter alia by Arras, Rheims, Châlons-sur-Marne, Bar-sur-Aube, Langres, Besancon and Pontarlier; then, in Swiss, by Lausanne, Saint-Maurice, before climbing the Collar of the Large-Saint-Bernard; then, in Italy, by Aoste, Ivrée (Ivrea), Verceil (Vercelli), Pavia, Fidence, Lucques, Poggibonsi, His, Bolsène, Viterbe, to join Rome and the Basilica Saint-Pierre with the the Vatican by the Via Triumphalis (on the Mario Mount). Previously, a good part of the way follows the course of the antique (and modern) Via Cassia.

The 80 stages according to the manuscript of Sigéric (on average, approx. 20 km per day) are used as a basis for the modern route.

Beaconing - topicality

Via Francigena is not identifiable by a symbol as known as the shell of Saint-Jacques-with-Compostelle. The beaconing integrates the figure of a pilgrim (in Switzerland, in the north and the center of Italy) then a “F” in red. Association Via Francigena (founded with Martigny in 1997 per Trezzini Adelaide) publishes guides, carries out studies and supports the installation of a beaconing and reception facilities on the whole of the course. This way, which is done traditionally with foot, is also a cycle route EuroVelo (EV 5 - Via Romea Francigena). The Jubilee of the year 2000 and the World Journées of Youth marked a stage in the revival of this way. At the time of the 500e birthday of the pontifical Swiss Guard, in 2006, to commemorate their call by Jules II in 1506, of old Swiss guards went to Rome by via Francigena, with foot.

See too

• Saint Pierre
• Sigéric of Canterbury
• Pilgrimage of Jerusalem
• Pilgrimage of Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle

External bonds

• EUROVIA Association - Via Francigena.
• Association Via Francigena.
• European Institute of the cultural routes.
• European Association of the communes along via francigena.
• Project Ways of Europe: Via Francigena, way of Jacques Saint.

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