Walk the Via Francigena towards peaks of the Valais Alps

Arrival in Montreux

Settle in to your hotel

Montreux–Aigle / Yvorne approx. 19km 4.5h | +240m -210m

From Montreux the route follows the lake to Villeneuve. The Swiss Museum of Games in the castle at Tour-de-Peilz and famous Schloss Chillon are worth a visit before you reach the Chablais wine region.

Aigle / Yvorne-St. Maurice approx. 19km 5h | +475m -470m

The route leaves Aigle via the vineyard to reach Gryonne and later the Rhone, which it crosses at Massongex, the old capital of Celtic Valais. At St-Maurice, pilgrims have covered exactly half the distance from Canterbury to Rome.

St. Maurice-Martigny-Orsières approx. 18km 5.5h | +745m -335m

By train to Martigny. This stage marks the end of the climb to the Grossen Sankt Bernhard-Pass. From Martigny a sometimes steep path leads over the narrow Les Trappistes pass to the medieval village of Sembrancher. From here the route follows the Napoleon-Weg.

Orsières-Bourg-Saint-Pierre approx. 15km 4.5h | +970m -190m

This stage leads first along a forest path, first west then east of the river, on the historic path from Liddes to the small Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Chapel before Bourg-Saint-Pierre.

Bourg-St-Pierre–Col du Gd St-Bernard approx. 13km 4.5h | +1,045m -305m

Undoubtedly the most symbolic stage on the Via Francigena ! The way to the pass leads along a road which has served the whole of Europe for 2000 years. Countless archaeological sites line the ascent, above all in L’Hospitalet and on the Barasson-Pass.

Col du Gd St-Bernard-Étroubles/ Echevennoz approx. 15km 4.5 hours | +60m -1,275m

The descent to the Aosta Valley begins immediately after the pass. A pilgrim's path leads down the valley flank to Italy and takes you to the small village of St. Rhémy. Shortly afterwards the roofs of the villages Étroubles and Echevennoz come into sight.

Étroubles/ Echevennoz-Aosta approx. 14km 4.5 hours | +240m -890m

Old irrigation canals called "Rus" lie along your way today. In addition to the flat passages along these canals, steep descents await you today. In Roman times, Aosta was a flourishing trading town. Today, the village is famous for its alpine experiences.

Departure or extra nights.