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The Via Francigena
 The route follows the path taken by Sigeric, Archbishop
of Canterbury, who travelled to Rome in 990 to meet Pope
John XV and receive the investiture pallium. The 79
stages recorded in the Archbishop’s succinct diary
of his journey have made it possible to retrace the key stops
on this, the shortest route between the North Sea and Rome,
which first became known as the "Via Francigena" in 876.
Dates and countries
Incorporated into the programme
"The Council of Europe Cultural
Routes": 1994
Countries: France, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Presentation
 The Via Francigena honours the shared European
cultural heritage both as an expression of cultural diversity
and identity, by linking together into a single itinerary
of outstanding interest a network of routes along which
European identity and unity has been created through
the centuries.
To rediscover this 1800 km
journey through England,
France, Switzerland and Italy
along the paths followed
by pilgrims en route to Rome,
onward to Jerusalem or
to Santiago de Compostella,
the European Association
of Vie Francigene (EAVF) was
founded on 22nd April 2001.
EAVF, as a carrier network,
can rely on a partnership
between European institutions
and local authorities
committed to the valorisation
of the millenary pilgrimage
route in order to promote
measures for the development
of the Via Francigena
as a genuine tourist and cultural product, not only in view
of its cultural importance, but also in relation to its potential
role as a catalyst for local development, with an emphasis
on sustainability.
(Photo: Great Saint Bernard Pass, Switzerland)
More information
E-mail:
segreteriagenerale@associazioneviafrancigena.it
Website:
http://www.viefrancigene.org
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