Via Francigena KMZ files for Google Earth (Besancon-Rome)

[kiwiDavid]

Just started planning for the Via Francigena for next year (mid August on) - Besancon to Rome.
Have tweaked a few GPX files from the Via Francigena Official site so they can be opened in Google earth (they will leave a red line overlay outlining the Official route on to Google Earth).
First download files - then Open Google Earth - go to My Places - Import KML file - import the KMZ file - will open in Google Earth as red line showing official route.Each section can be switched on and off with the eye in My Places.
Have only uploaded the Swiss leg as there is a 10 file limit on the Forum but if there is a positive response will upload the rest.
An interesting contrast to the official route is shown when you also load the GPX waypoints from the Lightfoot guides.
In some areas large loops are cut out by following the Lightfoot waypoints (not necessary better but definitely shorter and another option available).
Listening to one of the Lightfoot authors recently on a Podcast he estimated that the Lightfoot guide cut 15 days from the Official route.I'm sure both options have their own merits.
If the Everything tag is on in the Map Style option of Google Earth it will also show accommodation,etc and can be switched to Google Maps by tapping on the icon that is on the screen (hotels/restaurants) - if tapped again when the icon expands to a picture Google Maps for the area will appear below - and can then be opened - make sure you don't have Google Maps turned to WIFI only or it won't open.
Buen Camino / Ultreia
kiwiDave
NB:Using on Android mobile phone.

 

[kiwiDavid]

Besancon to Jougne KMZ files - same deal as above.

 

[Kat Kostrzewska]

Bonjour David! I believe that you have done your research on the route. What is the best month to do Via Francigena? In June there is still snow on Great St Bernard Pass. July, August, September then?

 

[Harington]

Bonjour David! I believe that you have done your research on the route. What is the best month to do Via Francigena? In June there is still snow on Great St Bernard Pass. July, August, September then?

The Great St Bernard Pass is generally clear (the road up the last bit) from early/mid-June onwards. I crossed 12 June (not this year). The Hospice will tell you if you can get up on the path, or if you have to do the last couple of km on the road.

 

[Kat Kostrzewska]

Harrington thank you. You have already done Francigena. You did many other routes - impressive list by the way. How would you sum up this particular trail and what would you advise a person who thinks about doing it?

 

[kiwiDavid]

Bonjour David! I believe that you have done your research on the route. What is the best month to do Via Francigena? In June there is still snow on Great St Bernard Pass. July, August, September then?

Hi Kat - I would defer to Harrington's answer as I am still in the planning stage and haven't walked the route yet.It was great to see he thought June was doable as I am looking at around mid to late June for the pass.
The problem with that timing is of course that you will hit the heat further along on the way to Rome when it's around July/August - apparently it has been very hot the last few years.
Addit:Now looking at early/mid August start at Besancon to get through the GSB pass and hit Italy in the shoulder season - hopefully a little cooler.

 

[kiwiDavid]

Gran San Barnard - Vercelli KMZ files.
See first post.
Will open in Google Earth - if downloaded to mobile phone best saved to My Places (Google Earth).

 

[kiwiDavid]

Vercelli - Fidenza KMZ files.

 

[kiwiDavid]

Fidenza - Lucca KMZ files.

 

[kiwiDavid]

Lucca - San Quirico KMZ files.

 

[kiwiDavid]

San Quirico - Campagnano KMZ files.

 

[kiwiDavid]

San Campagnano - Roma KMZ files.
If you're keen for a detailed look at the route have a look at Efren Gonzalez website (the Drone guy) on his Via Francigena which he commenced in July (? last year or the year before - not sure).
He originally posted 1 minute video blogs but is currently expanding and posting 5-10 minute detailed blogs with costings and routes on Google Earth/Maps.He is up to mid France at this stage I believe.
His account is Numero Uno and does encompass the whole route - the drone shots give a different perspective which you wouldn't normally see and he shows you his real day to day experience including the things that didn't work out so well.
A great resource for all of us Efren - thank you.

 

[timr]

Harrington thank you. You have already done Francigena. You did many other routes - impressive list by the way. How would you sum up this particular trail and what would you advise a person who thinks about doing it?

@Kat Kostrzewska Some more information on GSB. Timing is important!

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/gsb-a-guide-to-crossing-the-great-st-bernard-pass.59812/#post-698457

 

[Kat Kostrzewska]

Fantastic post timr. Thank you SO much. That explains a lot.

I hiked Great St Bernard a few years ago in the summertime. Alps, cows grazing in the valleys, hospice with a chapel, St Bernard of Menthon, no snow....But life is no perfect so I got altitude sickness. For the first time in my life.

So kiwiDavid I don't know about you but I prefer sunbathing on the way to Rome to building a snowman on Great St Bernard Pass.

 

[timr]

Fantastic post timr. Thank you SO much. That explains a lot.

I hiked Great St Bernard a few years ago in the summertime. Alps, cows grazing in the valleys, hospice with a chapel, St Bernard of Menthon, no snow....But life is no perfect so I got altitude sickness. For the first time in my life.

So kiwiDavid I don't know about you but I prefer sunbathing on the way to Rome to building a snowman on Great St Bernard Pass.

Haha yes. The first time I attempted to cross, I took a careful record of the place where I turned around and came back, having sunk up to my knees in snow. It was quite surreal to come back six weeks later and find two young people sunbathing at exactly the same spot!

 

[Kat Kostrzewska]

timr how much did you spend a day for an accommodation? Is Via Francigena very expensive?

 

[timr]

timr how much did you spend a day for an accommodation? Is Via Francigena very expensive?

Hi Kat, hard to answer, as I didn't keep detailed accounts. I just did it!
But I was trying to do it on low budget. And on grounds of age I had decided not to camp. I stayed in pilgrim accommodation when it was available, and there is more than initially you would imagine. Lists on here

Accommodation List – Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome

The CPR Accommodation List for the sections Canterbury to the Swiss border was updated in December 2018 and is now available to download. The Swiss border to Rome lists were up-to-date as of August 2019. To support the work of …

pilgrimstorome.org.uk

and a good bit of word of mouth along the way.
I tend never to plan very much, nor book ahead.
In France, I stayed in gites, and small hotels (booking.com) and presbyteries and monasteries, and town halls and private houses with families. I would rate that as more expensive than Camino in Spain but not too much.
Switzerland is frighteningly expensive. I stayed with friends for a couple of days, in youth hostel, and pilgrim accommodation in St Maurice, Martigny, Orsieres and at GSB. I came through Romain-Motier after crossing the border where there is also pilgrim accommodation in the monastery (which is now a parish church) although I didn't stay there myself - I stayed in a rented gite with 13 other pilgrims I had met along the way.
In Italy it is much more like Camino in Spain with a lot of donativeo parish accommodation.
All in all, I would say more expensive than Camino on any route in Spain, but not outrageous. Maybe €30-40/day all over, (food and accommodation). (I may be being a bit optimistic.)
I have a very incomplete blog on walkingtim.com. I would set out again today if I could!
In fact, I continued on VFdel Sud to Brindisi later last year, and then this year from Bari to Thessaloniki and I hope to continue on to Jerusalem when time permits.

 

[Harington]

Harrington thank you. You have already done Francigena. You did many other routes - impressive list by the way. How would you sum up this particular trail and what would you advise a person who thinks about doing it?

It's very much a trail of two halves (with a Swiss sandwich in between). I particularly loved the French part, but it can be solitary, and pilgrim infrastructure (though increasing year on year) is still quite sparse. Rural France is depopulated and depressed, and you will find cafés, restaurants, shops, bakeries now closed). But it was a great experience, particularly the World War I sites which were moving in the extreme. Way marking is improving. Switzerland is well way marked but expensive, very expensive. As you progress down through Italy more and more pilgrims will join the trail, and Tuscany is popular, too popular (for my solitary taste). Good pilgrim infrastructure in Italy, and hard to get lost. I suggest you check out the website of the Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome (www.pilgrimstorome.org.uk), which has accommodation lists, FAQs, etc etc.

Please, everyone, look at my avatar. Harington has one 'r', not two.

 

[Kat Kostrzewska]

It is not very cheap, but surely manageable. timr St James' pilgrim has shell, so I wonder what sign carries pilgrim who plans to pay a visit to Saint Peter in Rome?

 

[timr]

It is not very cheap, but surely manageable. timr St James' pilgrim has shell, so I wonder what sign carries pilgrim who plans to pay a visit to Saint Peter in Rome?

There was a thread on this last week.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/via-francigena-pilgrim-identifier.63575/#post-770310

 

[Kat Kostrzewska]

Of course keys to Heavenly Jerusalem...

 

[kiwiDavid]

So @kiwiDavid I don't know about you but I prefer sunbathing on the way to Rome to building a snowman on Great St Bernard Pass.

Absolutely Kat - I have to agree (I'm a summer person) - after reading timr's fantastic post on crossing the Pass it makes me think picking the month/season to walk over is crucial (as he said - "timing is important !").
It was interesting hearing on your own post that you had great weather but experienced some altitude sickness - haven't heard or thought about that aspect and will have to find out a bit more about it.

I saw on your other post your enquiry about costs -
"how much did you spend a day for accommodation? Is Via Francigena very expensive?"
Efren Gonzalez has a website giving a daily breakdown of all his expenses on the Via Francigena from Canterbury - unfortunately his more comprehensive daily blog is only up to Rhiems so far.

 

[timr]

Of course keys to Heavenly Jerusalem...

And I think @kazrobbo in the last post on that thread is quite correct to say that the little figure of a robed walker is much more common. I would never get involved in a discussion about which was more authentic!!!

 

[Kat Kostrzewska]

Altitude sickness was all my fault I was spending holiday by Geneva Lake and decided to hike Great St Bernard Pass. So I started my day at an elevation of 500m and by 3 o'clock I was at an elevation of 2500m. I felt terrible and I didn't know what was happening. Even delicious liqueur made in monastery didn't make me feel any better We took a bus and as soon as we got to Martigny I was ok again. So kiwiDavid maybe check the symptoms just in case, because you never know… I hiked the mountains for years and it had never happened to me before.

 

[kiwiDavid]

Wow - 2000m up - that's like an elevator - I can see the problem.
I did have a look at the symptoms etc and rapid elevation increase can be a problem apparently.
Will have to look into the "delicious liqueur" you mentioned as well - sounds intriguing !

 

[Kat Kostrzewska]

Delicious liqueur is luscious. I believe that it was made with cold winter in mind however it perfectly worked in the summertime. I wonder if timr had it as well...

 

[Sheena]

Thank you so much David for your detailed route to Rome!

We’re only walking from Viterbo to Rome this May.
We’re very slow walkers so have adapted the stopovers to make it more manageable for ourselves!

Please can you tell me if your red routes are alternatives off the signed route?
Or are they signposted as well?
Some of them, look much more interesting, and probably further away from the traffic.

Sheena

 

[kiwiDavid]

Hi Sheena - the red line is the route which I obtained from the Official VF site.I assume they would be signposted being the official route but I can't guarantee it.
Hopefully they are consistent and will be signed.
David
Hope you have a great time in May.

 

[Sheena]

Thanks David.
I’ve just started to look at the new version of the Lightfoot Guide which arrived yesterday.

I’ve been using the maps.me trace and checking on Google Maps Street View. The latter is probably out of date coming into the Nature Reserve near to Rome.

There seems to be a house blocking access to it! But I’m sure we’ll work it out!
Sheena

 

[kiwiDavid]

I like to compare the Lightfoot route with the official one just for the second option it gives you.
Sometimes switching between Google Maps street view and Google earth can show you a way through if you're having problems - a solution can sometimes be seen on Google earth which won't show up on Maps.

 

[Sheena]

Thanks very much David. I’ll give it a go later. S

 

[kiwiDavid]

Have made the download a bit easier by attaching the complete Modern VF as one file (instead of 1 file for each leg) - this will display on Google Earth as a red line - a blue line will also display which is roughly the route taken by Sigeric.Also added two files for the Lightfoot route (Besancon - Rome) which will display as yellow pins (I recommend getting the Guide if you want to make sense of them - especially in bushland areas).If you have laid down the route leg by leg (file by file) the Modern VF file will just overlay it except where there are small variations (ie: out of Pontalier) where it will diverge slightly - this just gives you another option.Or if you wish you can just use the one file (Modern VF) instead of the 65 odd files previously posted.