Walking the Via Francigena in three parts

[Raymond Aquilina]

Dear Forum members,
I have walked several Caminos in Spain and I just completeda whole Camino from San Vincente de La Barquera to Santiago de Compostela, This included the Camino Lebaniego, Vadiniense, The San Salvador and the Primitivo.
I am now planning to walk the via francigena from Canterbury to Rome this year being the Holy year.
My plan is to divide it into three parts which I will walk in 2025.
The first part will be From Canterbury to lausanne between the 3rd week of March till the end of April. The second part from Lausanne to Lucca the whole of June and the Third part from Lucca to Rome in October.
Could someone help me to be sure that the timing is fine regarding weather.
Thank you and Buen Camino,
Raymond Aquilina

 

[Bradypus]

The only potential fly in the ointment I can see might be late snow at the Grand Saint Bernard pass. The road and the path usually open in early June but it cannot be guaranteed.

 

[DreamWeaver]

Ya, as Bradypus mentioned, depending on condition on the GSB pass, this was back in mid June of 2024, still quite a lot of snow

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[Tandem Graham]

As you may have picked up already from other sources, there are many variants to the VF route, particularly in France. If you are going to be traversing the French and Swiss Jura in early April, you may have to take the conditions into account when you choose which paths to take.
There are several options after Besancon; which you take would depend on water levels in the valleys and snow/ice/wind higher up.

As JabbaPapa says, you will probably be OK re: snow on the approach to GSB, but no guarantees.

The Via Francigena was a great adventure for me, requiring more self reliance and creative problem solving than my other caminos. It generated a lifetime of memories and a greater confidence in my own abilities in hiking and navigation. I'm sure you will have some different but similarly memorable experiences. Enjoy!

 

[Raymond Aquilina]

As you may have picked up already from other sources, there are many variants to the VF route, particularly in France. If you are going to be traversing the French and Swiss Jura in early April, you may have to take the conditions into account when you choose which paths to take.
There are several options after Besancon; which you take would depend on water levels in the valleys and snow/ice/wind higher up.

As JabbaPapa says, you will probably be OK re: snow on the approach to GSB, but no guarantees.

The Via Francigena was a great adventure for me, requiring more self reliance and creative problem solving than my other caminos. It generated a lifetime of memories and a greater confidence in my own abilities in hiking and navigation. I'm sure you will have some different but similarly memorable experiences. Enjoy!

 

[Raymond Aquilina]

As you may have picked up already from other sources, there are many variants to the VF route, particularly in France. If you are going to be traversing the French and Swiss Jura in early April, you may have to take the conditions into account when you choose which paths to take.
There are several options after Besancon; which you take would depend on water levels in the valleys and snow/ice/wind higher up.

As JabbaPapa says, you will probably be OK re: snow on the approach to GSB, but no guarantees.

The Via Francigena was a great adventure for me, requiring more self reliance and creative problem solving than my other caminos. It generated a lifetime of memories and a greater confidence in my own abilities in hiking and navigation. I'm sure you will have some different but similarly memorable experiences. Enjoy!

Dear Tandem Graham,
Thank you for your reply. So it seems that it may be too early to cross the jura mountains in early April. Do you suggest any p0articular variants in this part of the route? will appreciate any suggestion.
Kind regards,
Ray

 

[Corned Beef]

May seem odd but if you do the three parts in reverse it would be better. Italy first avoiding the summer heat. Switzerland second while the pass is open. July is good. Then France last when the vines have matured and you can enjoy the new wine.

 

[Bradypus]

May seem odd but if you do the three parts in reverse it would be better.

When I stayed in the guest house of the abbey in Saint-Maurice in 2015 I met the very recently retired abbot. He told me that as his abbey was very near the midway point of the VF he had walked from home to Rome and then also from home to Canterbury!

 

[Tandem Graham]

Dear Tandem Graham,
Thank you for your reply. So it seems that it may be too early to cross the jura mountains in early April. Do you suggest any p0articular variants in this part of the route? will appreciate any suggestion.
Kind regards,
Ray

Hi Ray,
I walked through the Jura in early September, and even then I had some heavy rain. I used the Lightfoot Guide which maps several variants. Your choice will sometimes be between following the river valley (Doubs/Loue and later Orbe), where your concern may be flooding and/or mud, or the higher ground, where you will be wary of snow/ice/unstable ground.
From Doubs (the small town which takes its name from the river) onwards, the terrain is less demanding and presumably less vulnerable to winter weather as far as Pontarlier and Jougne, but there is another preciptious drop into the Orbe river gorge, through woodland, just after Ballaigues. This was difficult even in good conditions. The road alternative to the town of Orbe would be further to walk and less scenic, but maybe safer in poor weather.
From Orbe to Lausanne, there are definitely alternative routes across the agricultural plain towards Lausanne which would bypass Romainmoutier, but would be less challenging to walk.

Good luck with your planning and your adventure.

If you'd like to follow the daily blog of my 2023 journey it is on Find Penguin. I blog under the name walkingGraham.