The European Association of the Via Francigena ways (EAVF) has launched the fourth edition of the “Via Francigena International Award”, with the aim of highlighting the good practices implemented by its Members and Friends for the development and promotion of the itinerary.
Step-by-step participation guide:
1️⃣ EAVF Members and Friends are invited to submit their application , one for each theme, briefly describing an activity related to the Via Francigena, carried out in their local area between 01.01.2024 and 31.12.2024.
The application form lists 5 different themes: a maximum of 5 forms can be submitted, which means 1 activity per theme, by Wednesday 30 July 2025.
2️⃣ All submitted best practices will be shared with Members and Friends and published on the website www.viefrancigene.org, in a dedicated section.
3️⃣ The three best practices, selected by an international evaluation panel appointed by the EAVF President, will be awarded during the General Assembly, to be held in Rome on Friday 7 November 2025.
Our sincere appreciation to all those who will participate!
Tourism professionals, business associations, public authorities, and local stakeholders: the call is now open to join the Train the Trainers programme, part of the European project DETOUR – Developing Resilient Tourism Ecosystems along Mediterranean Routes.
Co-funded by the European Union and running from November 2025 to September 2027, DETOUR brings together eight international partners and aims to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism SMEs along four cultural routes: the Via Francigena (Italy), the Lycian Way (Türkiye), the Sultan’s Trail (Bulgaria), and the mountain trail network in Greece (Mount Olympos, Kissavos, Mavrovouni).
An opportunity for growth and networking for trainers and stakeholders
The Train the Trainers programme is designed for tourism experts, consultants, DMOs, representatives of local authorities, and academics with experience in supporting tourism SMEs and related sectors (e.g. agri-food, crafts, culture, etc.). Selected participants will receive free training (both online and in person) during the period from 1 August to 30 November 2025, covering key topics for the future of the sector: sustainability, digitalisation, resilience, and tourism product innovation.
Certified DETOUR Trainers will join a European network of professionals and take part in hands-on mentoring activities for local SMEs. They will also support businesses in accessing micro-financing of up to €25,000 for green and digital innovation projects.
How to apply
Applications are open until 15 July 2025 at 17:00 CET. To apply, candidates must:
Submit a motivation letter in English (max. 1 page), outlining relevant skills, experience, and motivation related to the themes of the green and digital transition in tourism.
📌 This is a unique opportunity to strengthen your expertise, join a European knowledge network, and contribute to the development of the Via Francigena and other cultural routes through sustainable tourism.
For more information, contact: detour@comune.fidenza.pr.it 👉 Learn more about the DETOUR project: LINK
During the first General Assembly of 2025, held on 17 May in Troyes, the important collaboration agreement between the European Association of the Via FrancigenaWays (EAVF) and the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP) — the leading organisation for the promotion and management of the hiking network in France — was officially renewed.
Sealing the partnership was a symbolic handshake between EAVF President Francesco Ferrari andFFRP President Frédéric Montoya, reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening the management, promotion, and visibility of the Via Francigena on French territory. Particular focus was placed on the GR145 route, under the stewardship of the FFRP and supported by a large network of local volunteers.
In his address, President Ferrari emphasised the international dimension of the Via Francigena, recognised as a Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in 1994. He also reiterated the importance of collaboration between local authorities, institutions, and associations to ensure the route becomes increasingly accessible, valued, and sustainable along its entire length.
This renewed agreement marks a concrete step towards building an integrated European model for managing the route, fully aligned with the values promoted by the Council of Europe and the shared goals of soft mobility, environmental sustainability, cross-border cooperation, and intercultural dialogue.
The choice of Troyes as the venue for the General Assembly was no coincidence. The city, deeply rooted in the history of the Via Francigena, is currently investing in urban regeneration through the revitalisation of the historic pilgrimage route.
With this renewed partnership, the Via Francigena continues to affirm itself as an evolving European project — one that connects regions and communities, promoting a vision of Europe based on culture, sustainability, and unity.
During the EAVF General Assembly held in Troyes (Aube, France) on 16 May 2025, new institutional members were officially welcomed into the EAVF network, which now includes 250 municipalities, provinces, and regions across the four countries of the Via Francigena!
This significant new milestone was achieved thanks to the membership of the municipalities of Ballaigues and Sainte-Croix (Vaud), Poggibonsi (Tuscany), Monterosi (Lazio), Santa Cesarea (Apulia), and the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve (Apulia).
A symbolic and meaningful achievement for the EAVF, which in the Jubilee Year is welcoming an ever-increasing number of municipalities, public bodies, and private organisations from Italy, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, all committed to walking together along the 3,200 km cultural, historical, and tourist route of the Via Francigena through Europe.
A key moment in the recent international development of the network was undoubtedly the relay“Via Francigena Road to Rome 2021. Start again!”, organised to mark the association’s 20th anniversary. This initiative gave new impetus to the growth and sharing of the Via Francigena project, particularly thanks to the many meetings chaired by founder Massimo Tedeschi with mayors, local authorities, associations, and organisations along the route.
Looking to the future
Being part of the EAVF network means actively contributing to the building of a more connected Europe — one made up of people, ideas, and opportunities. This shared commitment is also reflected in European projects such as Detour, aimed at developing SMEs along the Francigena route by enhancing the local economy and the areas it traverses.
The EAVF membership network allows for the coordinated development of services for pilgrims, strengthening the visibility of the regions involved and supporting the path toward a major shared goal: the recognition of the Via Francigena as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
☀️ Summer is just around the corner! And we’re celebrating with the return of the most beloved photo competition among pilgrims from all over the world: the Francigena Photo Contest 2025.
The competition, organised by the European Association of the Via Francigena in collaboration with the Swiss Association of the Via Francigena (ASVF – www.viafrancigenasuisse.ch), will take place from 1 June to 30 September 2025.
This initiative is open to all pilgrims, cyclists, walkers and hikers who travel along the European route during summer 2025, and invites you to share your on-the-road adventures—rewarding the best photos and reels from your Via Francigena experience.
To enter, simply follow these 4 easy steps:
Post one or more photos or videos (reels) from your journey on Instagram and/or Facebook (posts only, no stories!).
In the caption, include: – A description – The location where the photo was taken – The hashtag #FrancigenaContest2025
📌 Please note: – Your profile must be public to participate. – If you post a gallery or album, only the first photo will be considered. – Missing tags, hashtags, or failure to follow the Via Francigena profiles will result in disqualification.
🚩 WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 30 SEPTEMBER?
Entries will be reviewed by 15 October 2025 by an internal jury made up of members from the European Association of the Via Francigena (AEVF) and the Swiss Association of the Via Francigena (ASVF), who will select one winner for each of the following categories:
• The best photo ➡️ Win a Ferrino backpack • The best video/reel ➡️ Win a pair of Garmont shoes • The most captivating story/anecdote ➡️ Win a Ferrino camping tent • The funniest content ➡️ Win a Via Francigena t-shirt and a branded Via Francigena gadget
🎉 The winners will be announced by 20 October 2025.
On 17 May 2025, another significant milestone was reached on the path to international recognition for the Via Francigena. As part of the 4th Festival of the Regions, taking place in Venice until 20 May, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Italian regions crossed by the historic route—Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Lombardy, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Lazio—to formally support the nomination of the Italian section of the Via Francigena, from the Aosta Valley to Lazio, for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The protocol was signed by the seven regions, under the coordination of the Region of Tuscany, in the presence of Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli and AEVF President Francesco Ferrari.
“This nomination sends a powerful message that the Francigena is not only a historical treasure, but a living route,” stated Minister Giuli. “It is a European axis of dialogue between peoples, religions, and cultures—one that bridges the past and the future.”
Today, the Via Francigena stands as a symbol of slow and sustainable tourism. It fosters the rediscovery of medieval villages, inland areas, and local food and wine traditions, drawing thousands of Italian and international walkers each year.
Achieving UNESCO recognition would not only ensure greater protection of the route, but would also serve as a valuable opportunity for revitalising the entire territory, encouraging investment in cultural heritage, hospitality services, and promotional initiatives all along the path.
The nomination process follows a defined set of steps, including the drafting of scientific and technical documentation. To support this initiative, the Ministry of Culture allocated €1.1 million in 2022, entrusting the Region of Tuscany—as lead authority—with the preparation of the application dossier.
The next key stages on the road to international recognition are fast approaching. By 15 June, the Italian National Commission for UNESCO will review the nomination dossier. If approved, the Italian government will submit it to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre for preliminary evaluation by15 September.
An information desk at Santiago Airport, Spain, is open daily until 31 May 2025. This initiative serves as an international promotional tool for the Via Francigena during the Jubilee Year.
Throughout the month of May 2025, the Via Francigena is featured at Santiago de Compostela Airport—one of the key hubs for international slow tourism—with a dedicated space welcoming pilgrims and travellers returning from the renowned Spanish pilgrimage route. Operating daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the info desk provides visitors with informative materials, practical advice, and inspiration to plan a new journey—this time along the ancient European route stretching from Canterbury to Rome, and onward to the ports of Puglia.
This initiative forms part of the “Fondo Sviluppo e Coesione – Piano Sviluppo e Coesione” (Card 33 – Via Francigena – Cross-cutting Actions), which aims to enhance the Via Francigena as a driver of tourism, culture, and regional development. The Via Francigena is increasingly seen as “our Camino de Santiago”—a central axis in the network of slow travel routes across Italy and Europe. The Italian Ministry of Tourism is actively promoting it through a wide-reaching campaign.
With over 500,000 pilgrims having received the Compostela in 2024, Santiago Airport is a strategic location for engaging a motivated audience interested in meaningful, authentic experiences. The Francigena stand, designed as a welcoming and interactive space, offers multilingual materials, meetings with route experts, personal stories from walkers, and multimedia presentations showcasing the history, emotions, and landscapes of the Via Francigena. The goal is to inspire visitors to embark on a new pilgrimage along the historic path connecting Canterbury to Rome, and further on to the ports of Brindisi and Santa Maria di Leuca in Puglia.
The Via Francigena’s presence in Santiago carries strong symbolic value and is of great significance at a European level. It represents a bridge between two of the continent’s most iconic pilgrimage routes, both recognised as Cultural Routes by the Council of Europe. This synergy fosters dialogue among peoples, shared spirituality, and a vision of a connected Europe, united through its historical paths.
Following participation in international outdoor travel fairs in New York(January) and Paris (February), the Santiago initiative reaffirms the commitment of the Italian government and Ministry of Tourism to promoting the route on a global scale—engaging directly with an international community in search of slow, sustainable, and deeply cultural travel experiences.
Stretching over 3,200 kilometres across four countries—England, France, Switzerland, and Italy—the Via Francigena continues to grow as a symbol of sustainable tourism, regional enhancement, and shared heritage.
On 16 May 2025, the spring General Assembly of the European Association of the Via Francigena ways (EAVF) took place in Troyes, the capital of the Aube department in the Grand Est region.
Located about 40 km from the French route of the Via Francigena, the city welcomed over one hundred representatives from England, Switzerland, Italy, and France, gathered to discuss the future of this European cultural route. Following the group photo and the national anthems of the four countries crossed by the route, the assembly officially opened with the entry of new members into the EAVF network: the Swiss municipalities of Ballaigues and Sainte-Croix (Vaud), along with the Italian towns of Poggibonsi (Tuscany), Monterosi (Lazio), Santa Cesarea Terme, and the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve (Apulia). With these new additions, theEAVF network now includes 250 members across Europe, confirming a shared commitment to an increasingly international path.
One of the highlights was the signing of an agreement between the EAVF and the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre – the organisation that promotes and manages France’s trail network and is responsible for the GR145 Via Francigena. This was marked by a handshake between President Francesco Ferrari and President Frédéric Montoya.
This was followed by the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Templar Route, a cultural itinerary currently under consideration for recognition by the Council of Europe. Participants had the opportunity to discover this historic route during a guided tour, with a key stop at the majestic Troyes Cathedral, where the Templar Rule was drafted in 1129.
Two key points were central to the assembly:
The financial report: the 2024 final accounts and the 2025 budget forecast were approved.
The election of association bodies: Francesco Ferrari was unanimously re-elected as President, confirming continuity with the work carried out since 2001. The newly appointed Vice-Presidents are: Francesco Gazzetti (Deputy), Gaëtan Tornay (Second Deputy), Bill Hicks, Natacha Bouchart, Valery Denis, Luigi Laterza, Civita di Russo, and Aldo Patruno. Sergio Luigi Ricca was appointed Treasurer.
The Presidential Office was also renewed for the 2025–2028 period, comprising 16 municipalities, 6 provinces/agglomerations, and five associations.
During the assembly, current projects were extensively presented, starting with Detour, a European initiative aimed at supporting SMEs and services linked to the Via Francigena.
Updates were also shared on ongoing projects along the following sections:
English (between London and Dover),
French (municipalities of Wisques and Champlitte),
Swiss (events and activities for 2025),
Italian (municipalities of Piacenza, Colle Val d’Elsa, Rome, Apulia Region and Lazio Region).
The Assembly concluded with a well-received food and wine tasting, part of the Sosta&Gusta (Stop&Taste) project, featuring Parmigiano Reggiano, the Tuscan Ham Consortium, Antoine Ney Brewery, and the Barfontarc winery.
The event was preceded by a guided tour of the “Cité du Vitrail” and the city of Troyes, and concluded the following day with a guided tour of the city of Bar-sur-Aube and a walk along the Via Francigena, ending in Baroville, where participants had the opportunity to taste champagne from the Barfontarc winery. These three wonderful days were supported by the Department of Aube and the municipality of Bar-sur-Aube.
From 19 to 21 March 2025, students from the Emilia-Romagna town of Calendasco had the opportunity to take part in an intercultural exchange along the Via Francigena in France. Organised under the Erasmus Young Pilgrims programme, part of the broader PNRR project “Transitare, cultural landscapes” (2022–2026)—funded by the European Union to support the regeneration of the villages of Calendasco and Berceto along the Via Francigena in Emilia-Romagna—the initiative brought together students, local officials, mayors, and citizens for a three-day visit to Champlitte, a French commune in the Haute-Saône region. The visit featured cultural activities, walking along the historic route, and institutional meetings.
The Programme
The exchange began on Wednesday 19 March with the students’ departure from Calendasco and their arrival in Champlitte in the early afternoon. There, French and Italian students took part in an “Explor Game”—an innovative and interactive way to discover the town’s local heritage. The day continued with an official meeting at the Town Hall, where the Mayor of Champlitte and the municipal team welcomed the students, school representatives, and delegations from Calendasco. The gathering, accompanied by a reception offered by the local authority, highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation and the educational value of the pilgrimage route.
On Thursday 20 March, the experience continued with a visit to the middle school in Dampierre-sur-Salon, where the Italian students were greeted by their French peers, the two mayors, and school staff. After a shared lunch in the canteen, the group returned near Champlitte and set off on foot along a 10-kilometre stretch of the Via Francigena, passing through Montot. The walk was led by Mayor Degrenand, Vice-President of the CC4R (Community of Communes of the Four Rivers), who, along with other guides, shared insights and local stories throughout the route. The day concluded with a visit to the Departmental Museum of Arts and Techniques in Champlitte, followed by a convivial dinner at Café des 3 Rois, in a spirit of friendship and exchange.
Friday 21 March was devoted to the discovery of Besançon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the final stop of the initiative. After leaving Champlitte in the morning, participants joined a guided tour of the historic centre, renowned for its Roman remains and fortified architecture. Free time over lunch offered a chance to explore the city at their own pace before returning to Calendasco in the afternoon. All cultural and leisure activities were organised in collaboration with the CC4R Tourist Office.
These three days served as a bridge between cultures and territories, with the Via Francigena as the connecting thread—not just a physical path, but a tool for education, intercultural dialogue, and European citizenship. The initiative strengthened the bond between Champlitte and Calendasco, two communities united by the same historic route, today more than ever a symbol of shared heritage and future cooperation.
On Sunday 8th June, the 7th edition of the Via Francigena Marathon Val di Susa returns to the Susa Valley (Piedmont, Italy), from Avigliana to Susa (with or without the detour via the Sacra di San Michele). A truly unmissable event for outdoor enthusiasts!
The marathon route follows a stretch of the Via Francigena through the Susa Valley, allowing participants to rediscover a territory rich in history, art, alpine culture, and the natural beauty of mountains and valley forests. Walking rather than running will give everyone the chance to admire breathtaking landscapes and the traces left by humanity over 6,000 years of history.
This year, four route options are available:
“MARATHON” Route Avigliana – Susa approx. 45 km (passing through Sacra di San Michele); altitude difference 1400 D+
“EASY MARATHON” Route Avigliana – Susa approx. 40 km (without passing through the Sacra di San Michele); altitude difference 800 D+
“HALF MARATHON” Route Half Marathon from Sant’Antonino di Susa to Susa ; approx. 25 km, altitude difference 800 D+
“SACRA DI SAN MICHELE MARATHON” Route km 12 approx; along path 502 – Via Crucis from Sant’Ambrogio di Torino; difference in altitude 600 D+
⚠️ REGISTRATION CLOSES ON 11th MAY! Don’t miss the chance to enjoy this wonderful experience — REGISTER NOW!
The event Via Francigena Marathon Val di Susa is organised by ASD IRIDE of Rivoli, whose mission is to promote the inclusion of people of all ages in amateur sports activities with social, recreational, and cultural aims.
