SloWays • Via Francigena in Switzerland from Sainte Croix to Gran San Bernardo

An epic and beautiful journey through Switzerland and towards the green-blue waters of the Great St. Bernard Pass, marking the grand entrance of the Via Francigena into Italy.

The path is equally enchanting - from the Canton of Vaud, with its distinctly French romanticism, medieval villages, and castles, to the shores of Lake Geneva.

But there is more - the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, a UNESCO heritage site, and the Rhone Valley, a paradise for wine lovers - we owe it to the Celts, who first began cultivating wine around 600 BC.

Finally, the Swiss Alps embrace every step of your journey until you reach the Great St. Bernard Pass, where everything ends - and begins again.

Note: due to the weather and altitude, this walk is only possible during the summer months.

Route

Day 1: Arrive in Sainte-Croix

Day 2: From Sainte-Croix to Orbe, 18,5 km

Day 3: From Orbe to Cossonay, 26 km

Day 4: From Cossonay to Losanna, 26 km

Day 5: From Losanne to Vevey, 21 km

Day 6: From Vevey to Aigle, 27 km

Day 7: From Aigle to St. Maurice, 19 km

Day 8: From St. Maurice to Martigny, 17 km

Day 9: From Martigny to Orsieres, 19 km

Day 10: From Orsieres to Bourg St. Pierre, 15 km

Day 11: From Bourg St Pierre to Col Grand St. Bernard, 12 km

Day 1: Arrive in Sainte-Croix

Arriva a Sainte-Croix e raggiungi il tuo hotel. Sainte-Croix è la capitale dei carillon e della musica meccanica. Mentre sei qui, prenditi del tempo per visitare il Museo CIMA (Centre International de la Mécanique d'Art), dedicato alla storia della musica meccanica.

Day 2: From Sainte-Croix to Orbe, 18,5 km

The Via Francigena reaches Switzerland at La Grand'Borne, near L'Auberson, and leads through the plateaus to Sainte-Croix. You start your walk downhill towards Vuiteboeuf, admiring the views on the way to Orbe, your overnight stop.

Distance: 18,5 km

Elevation gain: +450/-1080 m

Day 3: From Orbe to Cossonay, 26 km

On leaving Orbe, follow the path to the medieval town of Romainmôtier. Don't miss the Romanesque church, built between 990 and 1028 in the style of the church of Cluny and considered one of the jewels of the Yverdon-les-Bains region. After this point you continue to what is known as the centre of the world, where one part of the river Nozon flows into the Mediterranean, the other into the North Sea.

Distance: 26 km

Elevation gain: +630/-555 m

Day 4: From Cossonay to Losanna, 26 km

Today it is a fairly flat walk along the Venoge River from Cossonay to Saint-Sulpice with its Romanesque church, once the heart of a Cluniac priory, on Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), where it continues along the banks and through the Roman town of Vidy to Lausanne. Until the Reformation in 1536, Lausanne was an important pilgrimage destination and meeting point between the Via Francigena and the Way to Santiago de Compostela. Today it is home to the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. Take time to explore the hilly old town with its medieval streets lined with shops and Gothic cathedral.

Distance: 26 km

Elevation gain: +255/-440 m

Day 5: From Losanne to Vevey, 21 km

The stage with which you will celebrate the start of your journey initially runs along Lake Geneva and through the Lavaux vineyards. This wine-growing area of more than 800 hectares is a UNESCO World Heritage site as a testimony to the passion and hard work required for the perfect integration of human activity and the natural landscape. Take a break from your walk to taste some wine in a wine cellar. Cheers!

Distance: 21 km

Elevation gain: +455/-455 m

Day 6: From Vevey to Aigle, 27 km

The route skirts around Lake Leman, crossing Montreux and proceeding until Villeneuve. Leaving the lake behind, the course continues levelly till it arrives at the entrance of Aigle. It then rises to pass Yvorne and a lovely panoramic point of the Rhône Valley, before descending to Aigle.

Distance: 27 km

Elevation gain: +300/-280 m

Day 7: From Aigle to St. Maurice, 19 km

Leaving Aigle, the route passes a beautiful area of vineyards as it shortly arrives at the castle, Chateau d’Aigle, home of the wine museum, constructed in the 13th Century. Proceeding through vineyards and woods along the coast, the path reaches Ollon. It leads beyond Antagnes, where the route briefly follows the Gryonne till it arrives at Massongex and Saint Maurice, where since the Middle Ages, pilgrims have paused at on their journey to Rome.

Distance: 19 km

Elevation gain: +500/-480 m

Day 8: From St. Maurice to Martigny, 17 km

Just after Saint-Maurice you reach Vérolliez, where a tiny chapel commemorates the martyrdom of St Mauritius and his companions. On the path into the Rhone valley, you meet the famous Pissevache waterfall and the 200-metre-deep Trient gorge.

Distance: 17 km

Elevation gain: +300/-240 m

Day 9: From Martigny to Orsieres, 19 km

This stage marks the begin of the climb to the Great St. Bernard pass. From Martigny a steep path leads over the narrow Les Trappistes pass to the medieval village of Sembrancher. From here the route follows the Napoleon trail.

In Orsières, don't forget to visit the church, the bell and its "Saint Gregoire Mass" and inside the church, the exhibition about Maurice Tornay, born in Orsières.

Distance: 19 km

Elevation gain: +745/-335 m

Day 10: From Orsieres to Bourg St. Pierre, 15 km

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

Distance: 15 km

Elevation gain: +970/-190 m

Day 11: From Bourg St Pierre to Col Grand St. Bernard, 12 km

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 Great-St-Bernard Pass.

Distance: 29 km

Elevation gain: +1045/-305 m

accommodation

Sainte-Croix - Hôtel De France

Orbe - Hôtel des Mosaiques

Cossonay - Hôtel Le Funi

Lausanne - Hotel des Voyageurs

Vevey - Hotel de la Place

Aigle - Hotel du Nord

Saint Maurice - Le Dent du Midi

Martigny - Hotel Vatel

Orsieres - Hotel Terminus

Bourg Saint Pierre - Hotel au Bivouac de Napoleon

Grand St Bernard - Hotel de l'Hospice

practical info

You can find more information in the "accommodation" section: we always select your accommodation for their character and comfort. You will always be booked in a private, en-suite room, with breakfast included.

Luggage transfer (max. 20 kg) from one hotel to the hotel is included in the price.

Thanks to our special APP, you will be able to follow the track of the whole trip on your mobile phone, with no need for internet. GPS tracks are available on request.

Included

What is included

10 Nights in double room in **/*** hotels , B&B and agriturismi with breakfast
luggage transportation from hotel to hotel
maps and detailed description of the itinerary
Pilgrim Passport
Medical and luggage travel insurance
24h phone assistance

What is not included

Transfers to the starting location and from the arriving location of the tour
lunches and dinners, if not otherwise stated
visits and entrance fees - tips
personal expense
possible sojourn taxes
everything that is not mentioned in the "What is included" section.

Optional Services

These services can be added to the ones included in the base price of the tour:

Single room supplement
cancellation insurance
Transfers to reach the starting location or to leave the arriving location of the tour, which will be quoted on request.

Is this trip for me?

This journey is incredibly beautiful: you will constantly be surrounded by breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps, shimmering Alpine lakes, mountain villages, castles, and vineyards.

Due to the duration of the trip and the difference in altitude, however, it is recommended only for those who have previous experience with multi-day hiking trips, preferably in mountainous terrain. It could be quite challenging for individuals who are not adequately trained or are not accustomed to tackling steep ascents for several consecutive days.

We recommend it only if you have prior experience with multi-day hiking, are sufficiently fit, and do not suffer from vertigo.