Following in the footsteps of the first known pilgrim, the Frankish monk Bernard, who linked Monte Gargano to Mont-Saint-Michel around 867-868.
A little history
Here are the major historical milestones that we find indicated in The Path Guide by Charles Estienne :
- the Grand Chemin montais, one of the oldest and best-documented routes linking Mont-Saint-Michel to Le Mans (72),
- the clearest choice was then to reach Lyon via Orléans (45), Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire (45), Gien (45), Nevers (58) and Charlieu (69)
- then Chambéry before crossing the Alps at Mont-Cenis to reach the Sacra di San Michele, Rome and Monte Sant'Angelo.
Your path today
The itinerary below is presented in the North-South direction, from Normandy to Italy, but you only need to read it in the opposite direction to reach Mont-Saint-Michel. It was designed in the direction of Mont-Saint-Michel, but the presentation in this direction illustrates the gradual completion of this European itinerary.
From Mont-Saint-Michel to Orléans via Chartres, 352 km
In the past, one option was to go via Le Mans to Orléans via Saint-Calais (72) and Vendôme (41). This route is still being researched in the field,
Today, from Le Mont, take the Chemin de Chartres via Mortain, Domfront, Carrouges, Alençon, Bellême, Nogent-le-Rotrou, Thiron-Cardais and Illiers-Combray, already defined and published.
CHEMIN DE CHARTRES A ORLEANS, 81 km
Since the end of 2020, it has been possible to to Orléans via Chartres by a new four-stage signposted route (81 km) crossing the Beauce via Voves, Orgères-en-Beauce (28) and Sougy (45). The route, created in conjunction with the Compostelle 28 and Compostelle 45 associations, was inaugurated by videoconference on 13 November 2020.
gpx files - Orléans -Chartres to download for gps
Orléans-Sougy Sougy - Orgeres-en-B Orgères-en-B - Voves Voves - Chartres
ROAD FROM ORLEANS TO LYON, 474 km
Once in Orléans, take the GR 3 which follows the Loire valley and corresponds to the historic route to Italy via Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire, Sully-sur-Loire, Gien, Briare, Cosne, La Charité, Nevers, then continue on the GR 3 to Decize and Bourbon Lancy.
Orléans/Jargeau (22.4 km)
Jargeau/Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire (19 km)
Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire/Sully-sur-Loire (9 km)
Sully-sur-Loire/Gien (25.2 km)
Gien/Briare (12.1 km)
Briare/Belleville-sur-Loire (19.3 km)
Belleville-sur-Loire/Saint-Satur (24.7 km)
Saint-Satur/La Charité-sur-Loire (27.4 km)
La Charité-sur-Loire/Nevers (29.4 km)
Nevers/Chevenon (11.9 km)
Chevenon/Decize (27.6 km)
Decize/Charrin (16.9 km)
Charrin/Cronat (14.4 km)
Cronat-Bourbon-Lancy (16.8 km)
From Bourbon-LancyThis is a route defined in 2020 by the Association in collaboration with friends of Saint-Jacques in Rhône-Alpes, with the first four stages, from Bourbon-Lancy to Charlieu, corresponding to a green route:
Bourbon-Lancy/Pierrefitte-sur-Loire (15.3 km)
Pierrefitte-sur-Loire/Paray-le-Monial (27.7 km)
Paray-le-Monial/Marcilly (27.7 km)
Marcilly/Charlieu (21.1 km)
then, from Charlieu it's a footpath, mostly on quiet country roads
Charlieu/Cours la Ville (via Arcinges, La Cergne) (20.8 km)
Cours la Ville/Amplepuis (via Pont-Trambouze, Thizy) (21.8 km)
Amplepuis/Tarare (via Les Sauvages) (19.2 km)
Tarare/ L'Arbresle (via Pont-Charra-sur-Turdine, Les Arnas, La Varenne) (20.5 km)
L'Arbresle/Charbonnières-les-Bains (15.5 km)
Charbonnières-les-Bains/Lyon Bellecour (9.8 km)
GPX FILE ORLEANS -LYON -SAVOIE TO DOWNLOAD FOR GPS
Orléans - Lyon - St Genyx (global, 28 stages 573 km)
FROM LYON TO MONT CENIS
Once in Lyon, capital of the Gauls and a key stopping-off point, you will head for Chambéry via 4 stages to Savoie, following an itinerary defined with the Friends of Saint-Jacques in Rhône-Alpes for the first 4 stages and by the association "Les Chemins de saint Michel en Savoie". from Murs-Géligneux to Mont-Cenis.
1. 01. St Genyx - Morestel 2. 02. Morestel - Crémieu3. 03. Crémieu - Jonage 4. 04. Jonage - Lyon5. 05. Lyon - Charbonnières 06. 06. Charbonnières - L'Arbresle 07. 07. L'Arbresle - Tarare 08. 08. Tarare - Amplepuis 09. 09. Amplepuis - Courses 10. 10. Course - Charlieu
11. 11. Charlieu - Marcigny 12. 12. Marcigny - Paray13. 13. Paray - Pierrefitte14. 14. Pierrefitte - Bourbon15. 15. Bourbon - Cronat16. 16. Cronat - Charrin 17. 17. Charrin - Decize 18. 18. Decize - Chevenon19. 19. Chevenon - Nevers 20. 20. Nevers - La Charité 21. 21. La Charité - St Satur22. 22. St Satur - Belleville23. 23. Belleville- Briare 24. 24. Briare - Gien 25. 25. Gien - Sully 26. 26. Sully - St Benoît 27. 27. S Benoît - Jargeau28. 28. Jargeau - Orléans
IN ITALY, you will follow the Via Francigenaliterally the "Way of the French" but also the "Way of France".
It is in facta network of routes used by travellers from Frankish lands on their way to Rome (and later Jerusalem). This network dates back to antiquity and was inspired by the ancient Roman roads. The most famous of these is the route taken by Sigeric, Archbishop of Cantorbury, who went to Rome to seek his pallium in 990, which has become the basis of the Council of Europe's cultural itinerary.
- See our section on i cammini di san Michele
The Milan-based association I Caminantes has compiled a single file showing the route of the Via Francigena from Val di Susa, just outside Mont Cenis, to Monte Sant'Angelo, with the accommodation contacted in early 2021.
From Val di Susa to Monte Gargano
- To visit La Sacra di San Michele, click here
- The Via Francigena that crosses Piedmont is partly described in Monica d'Atti's guidebooks, available at Confraternita di San Jacopo di Compostella website
Here are some websites to help you on the Via Francigena:
- theEuropean Association of the Via Francigena (Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene) (AEVF), promoter of the Council of Europe's Via Francigena Cultural Route
- theInternational Via Francigena Associationwhich is ceasing its activities and merging with the AEVF in 2020
- To visit Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, click here
- Click to visit Monte Sant'Angelo town website and the sanctuary
- Another solution is to follow the Cammino di San Michelewho wants to follow the famous linea micaelica
By bike
From Mont-Saint-Michel to Chartres, la Véloscénie has already been laid out and corresponds almost exactly to the footpath signposted by the association
from Chartres to Orléans, the three stages through the Beauce region can be adapted for cyclists
From Orléans to Nevers, follow the Loire by bike
A continuous green route via Decize and Paray-le-Monial to Charlieu (69)
from Charlieu to Lyon, adapt the walking route described above
then from Lyon, follow the Via Rhona to Chambéry, then the cycle track the road to Mont-Cenis
In Italy, the Via Francigena, which now links Puglia and Monte Gargano https://www.viefrancigene.org/fr/bicicletta/, offers a wide range of routes.
A few testimonials from pilgrim walkers may also be of great help.
Some share their adventures on the internet. You can consult :
– the Route de l'Angethe website of a group of Italian and French pilgrims on their way to link the main sites of Saint Michael, from Monte-Sant'Angelo to Mont-Saint-Michel via the Sacra di San Michele and Aiguilhe. It's a wonderful adventure to follow, and we've got some great advice to help you find your way!
- and for cycling pilgrims, Pierre-Marie Werlen's bloga miquelot who linked Mont-Saint-Michel, the Sacra di San Michele, Rome, Monte Sant'Angelo and Compostela!