Via Francigena

Following up on fantastic trips in 2022 and 2023, we’re delighted to offer a group cycling tour from Calais to Besançon. Participants will have the option of using their own cycles or renting a traditional or electric bike. The cycle ride takes you from the opal-tinted beaches of the English Channel through the historic cemeteries and battlefields of World War I. Ride through historic cities of Arras, Laon, Reims, Langres, and Besançon on bike lanes, quiet roads, and forested pathways. At the heart of the group cycle is the Champagne Wine Region, renown throughout the world. This is an ideal way to experience the scenic wonders of the Via Francigena in France, without spending six weeks to journey on foot!

Itinerary for Calais to Besançon:

Sunday, June 30, 2024

– Gather in Calais for our orientation dinner

Monday, July 1, 2024

– Ride along the beautiful Côte d’Opal to Wissant, then turn inland toward Guînes and Licques, with an overnight at Tournehem sur-la-Hem

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

– From Tournehem-sur-la-Hem we head through the coal-mining city of Bruay-le-Buissière and then to the outdoor adventure park Parc d’Olhain.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

– A short day of riding, through the WWI cemetery of Lorette and across the valley to lovely Arras, rebuilt after WWI to its original Flemish style. Enjoy refreshment in the Place des Heroes and take an elevator up to the Belfroi d’Arras to overlook the city.

Thursday, July 4, 2024

– Today we head straight south, through the historic towns of Bapaume and Pèronne, before traversing the woods to come out to the farms surrounding picturesque Saint-Quentin, our overnight.

Friday, July 5, 2024

– From Saint-Quentin it is first along canals and then through rolling hills and forests to the spectacular medieval town of Laon, with its immaculately well-preserved 12^th c Gothic cathedral.

Saturday, July 6, 2024

– We enter the Champagne region today just after the village of Berry-au-Bac to make our way to Reims, largest city on the Via Francigena. Nearly every French king for 1000 years was consecrated at Reims Cathedral, one of the most cherished and beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Europe.

Sunday, July 7, 2024

– Rest day in Reims. As capital of the Champagne industry Reims is worthy of a rest day, and we’ll spend the day in option wine cellar tours to find our favorite vintages.

Monday, July 8, 2024

– A late breakfast allows us to be out the door in plenty of time to take flat canal roads to historic Châlons-en-Champagne, which edged out the larger city of Reims to be administrative capital of the Champagne region. Châlons is a beautiful town, full of historic buildings and quiet squares bordered by half-timber buildings.

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

– We diverge from the official Via Francigena track to enjoy one of its variants, the “Coole/Donnement Route,” an excellent bike itinerary through farmland. We stop in at Rosnay l’Hôpital to see the 15^th c stained glass windows, then continue on to Brienne-le-Château, site of Napoleon Bonaparte’s military schooling and home to a museum of his memorabilia.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

– From Brienne-le-Château it is a flat, comfortable ride through fields and forests to the delightful village of Bar-Sur-Aube, one of the hidden gems of the Via Francigena. It’s old buildings and lack of tourist crowds give an image of life in a midsized French town.

Thursday, July 11, 2024

– After Bar-sur-Aube we find French wilderness on trails and roads through the National Forest Park. Overnight beside the historic Abbaye Mormant at a quiet B&B and enjoy home cooking of our host.

Friday, July 12, 2024

– Now we make our way through forests and fields to the hilltop fortress town of Langres, birthplace of Enlightenment philosopher, Denis Diderot, and one of Europe’s few towns still fully enclosed in its medieval walls.

Saturday, July 13, 2024

– From the Marne/Seine river system we head into the Salon/Saône/Rhône system in a remote region of pastures and forests punctuated by small villages. Our overnight is at Dampierre-sur-Salon, a town known for its agriculture and metallurgy.

Sunday, July 14, 2024

– The farms begin to spread out just before the foothills of the Jura Mountains and the last city on our itinerary, beautiful Besançon. Home to the famous French author, Victor Hugo (Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables), historic Besançon is tightly compressed into a “boucle” (buckle) of the Doubs River with its Renaissance-era fortress looming above. Tonight we celebrate our successful ride with a farewell dinner and toast – celebrating a glorious ride through France on the Via Francigena.

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

– Depart Besançon

Registration and Payment Form

Return Home

Pilgrims walk 6 days and stay 7 nights beginning inside the UNESCO-World Heritage walls of historic Lucca and ending in glorious Renaissance Siena. This unforgettable walk takes pilgrims on the Via Francigena through some of the most quaint and best-preserved medieval Italian towns — all surrounded by the spectacular rolling hills of Tuscany. This is the region of focaccia bread and rich red wines and many other gastronomic delicacies. Bring your appetite and camera on your journey with our group from Lucca to Siena.

Itinerary for Lucca to Siena:

Sunday, May 26, 2024 – Aperitivi and orientation in Lucca.

Lucca has been called by some a “smaller Florence.” Inside its medieval walls the town is beautifully preserved with quiet streets full of shops and charming restaurants. The Duomo is spectacular in its intricate stone work. We meet at the apartment of Sandy Brown in one of Lucca’s major piazze for get-acquainted time and orientation and then head to a delicious dinner (see Option #1 below for a guided tour of Lucca). Overnight in Lucca.

Monday, May 27, 2024 – Lucca to Altopascio (26km/16.2 miles, rated moderately difficult). 

Altopascio also features a charming medieval quarter and its history is closely connected with pilgrimage on the Via Francigena. Rather than being a tourist town, Altopascio is a place where local Italians live, work and play. The day’s walk is on an official variant of the Francigena, following the 19th c aqueduct and then on mountain trails to Sant’Andrea di Compito before crossing the Lucca Plain to Altopascio.

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 – Altopascio to San Miniato (28.7km/17.8miles, rated Average).

The tall tower of San Miniato can be seen for many miles around and was erected as a beacon to pilgrims on the Via Francigena. Today’s stage includes a long walk through a forested nature reserve before entering the medieval city of Fuccechio and climbing to San Miniato.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 – San Miniato to Gambassi Terme (24.1km/15miles, rated Average).

Now the vast rolling hills open up and this very picturesque day carries pilgrims through beautiful farmland with constant, sweeping vistas of Tuscan countryside.

Thursday, May 30, 2024 – Gambassi Terme to San Gimignano (13.7km/8.5miles, rated Easy). 

San Gimignano is noted as one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval towns, with dozens of towers where prosperous medieval families stored their treasures.

Friday, May 31, 2024 – San Gimignano to Monteriggioni (27.4km/17miles, rated Challenging).

Monteriggioni is a fully walled medieval village atop a rounded mountain. The challenging but beautiful walk can be shortened with a van ride at the start or end of the day.

Saturday, June 1, 2024 – Monteriggioni to Siena (20.6km/12.8miles, rated Average). 

There are few words worthy to describe Siena. Inside its medieval walls there are world-renowned treasures of medieval and Renaissance art, capped off by a stunningly beautiful cathedral at its heart.

Sunday, June 2, 2024 – Tour and depart Siena.

Our time together ends with breakfast at the hotel followed by a morning tour of the city.

Option #1

Arrive a day early, overnight in Lucca’s Centro Storico, and enjoy a relaxed, Sunday May 28 tour of Lucca with a licensed tour guide followed by aperitivi on Lucca’s historic, Renaissance-era walls – €225.00

Option #2

Remain an extra night in Siena to enjoy this wonderful, medieval city (price €150 ppdo).

After an excellent experience in 2022, we’re excited to offer this walking tour once more that features six days on the Via Francigena in Tuscany. Watch for more details coming up!

This trip includes: Nightly hotel accommodations in pilgrim-grade accommodations, daily breakfast and dinner, baggage service, van service, leadership by certified hiking guide Giovanni Ramaccioni and Via Francigena guidebook author Sandy Brown. Prices do not include air or ground travel to and from start and finish points or lunch each day. Itineraries subject to possible change. Terms and conditions apply.

Return Home

Pilgrims walk 6 days and stay 7 nights beginning inside the UNESCO-World Heritage walls of historic Lucca and ending in glorious Renaissance Siena. This unforgettable walk takes pilgrims on the Via Francigena through some of the most quaint and best-preserved medieval Italian towns — all surrounded by the spectacular rolling hills of Tuscany. This is the region of focaccia bread and rich red wines and many other gastronomic delicacies. Bring your appetite and camera.

Sunday, May 28, 2023 – Aperitivi and orientation in Lucca. Lucca has been called by some a “smaller Florence.” Inside its medieval walls the town is beautifully preserved with quiet streets full of shops and charming restaurants. The Duomo is spectacular in its intricate stone work. We meet at the apartment of Sandy Brown in one of Lucca’s major piazze for get-acquainted time and orientation and then head to a delicious dinner (see Option #1 below for a guided tour of Lucca). Overnight in Lucca.

Monday, May 29, 2023 – Lucca to Altopascio (26km/16.2 miles, rated moderately difficult). Altopascio also features a charming medieval quarter and its history is closely connected with pilgrimage on the Via Francigena. Rather than being a tourist town, Altopascio is a place where local Italians live, work and play. The day’s walk is on an official variant of the Francigena, following the 19th c aqueduct and then on mountain trails to Sant’Andrea di Compito before crossing the Lucca Plain to Altopascio.

Tuesday, May 30, 2023 – Altopascio to San Miniato (28.7km/17.8miles, rated Average). The tall tower of San Miniato can be seen for many miles around and was erected as a beacon to pilgrims on the Via Francigena. Today’s stage includes a long walk through a forested nature reserve before entering the medieval city of Fuccechio and climbing to San Miniato.

Wednesday, May 31, 2023 – San Miniato to Gambassi Terme (24.1km/15miles, rated Average). Now the vast rolling hills open up and this very picturesque day carries pilgrims through beautiful farmland with constant, sweeping vistas of Tuscan countryside.

Thursday, June 1, 2023 – Gambassi Terme to San Gimignano (13.7km/8.5miles, rated Easy). San Gimignano is noted as one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval towns, with dozens of towers where prosperous medieval families stored their treasures.

Friday, June 2, 2023 – San Gimignano to Monteriggioni (27.4km/17miles, rated Challenging). Monteriggioni is a fully walled medieval village atop a rounded mountain. The challenging but beautiful walk can be shortened with a van ride at the start or end of the day.

Saturday, June 3, 2023 – Monteriggioni to Siena (20.6km/12.8miles, rated Average). There are few words worthy to describe Siena. Inside its medieval walls there are world-renowned treasures of medieval and Renaissance art, capped off by a stunningly beautiful cathedral at its heart.

Sunday, June 4, 2023 – Tour and depart Siena. Our time together ends with breakfast at the hotel followed by a morning tour of the city.

Option #1 Arrive a day early, overnight in Lucca’s Centro Storico, and enjoy a relaxed, Sunday May 28 tour of Lucca with a licensed tour guide followed by aperitivi on Lucca’s historic, Renaissance-era walls – €225.00

Option #2 Remain an extra night in Siena to enjoy this wonderful, medieval city (price €150 ppdo).

After an excellent experience in 2022, we’re excited to offer this walking tour once more that features six days on the Via Francigena in Tuscany. Watch for more details coming up!

This trip includes: Nightly hotel accommodations in pilgrim-grade accommodations, daily breakfast and dinner, baggage service, van service, leadership by certified hiking guide Giovanni Ramaccioni and Via Francigena guidebook author Sandy Brown. Prices do not include air or ground travel to and from start and finish points or lunch each day. Itineraries subject to possible change. Terms and conditions apply.