ViaFrancigena

The Via Francigena came about 2,000 years ago and was the most important European pilgrimage trail in the Middle Ages. The start is in Canterbury in the UK, around 90 kilometres south-east of London. The historic episcopal city is known for its imposing cathedral, and is the seat of the Anglican religion. Crossing the English Channel at Dover, the route continues from Calais to Arras and Reims. It reaches Switzerland via Besançon and Pontarlier and continues through the Great St. Bernard Pass to Rome. The pilgrimage way is 1,700 kilometres long, of which around 210 kilometres are in Switzerland.

The French border, where there are fantastic views of the eastern face of Mont d’Or, marks the start of the first leg of the Via Francigena route through Switzerland. At the entrance to the town in the forest near Chez Barrat you can discover a very special trail: old tracks, a section of a historic Roman road, are exposed here. In the middle of the 19th century, salt was transported from the French salt works to Bern and western Switzerland.

Leaving the sleepy village of Ballaigues behind, the walk goes down to the banks of the River Orbe. The river coming from Vallorbe has made its way through the attractive Jura landscape, creating a narrow gorge with steep cliffs and rushing waterfalls. The most spectacular of them occurs right at the start: a beautiful path near the rockfaces, mossy trees and beautifully designed steps leading to the Saut du Day waterfalls, where the water flows down several rocky steps. The shallow pool below the waterfall with its clear, turquoise-green water invites you to take a refreshing bathe in the river.

The path continues along a leisurely stretch through the Orbe Gorge, hugging the river banks in parts and sometimes venturing a little higher up through the enchanted forest, past secluded bays, gravel banks and moss-covered rocks. There follows a short stretch along the road to Les Clées. Montcherand power plant provides a brief change of scenery. Once you are back down by the river, it is not far to the village of Orbe, where this stage of the Swiss Via Francigena ends.

Around 150 AD, the Romans founded the settlement of Urba here, where there was an impressive Roman grange. The mosaics, made from naturally coloured stones, decorated the most important rooms of the villa and can be viewed today. The picturesque old town also features numerous townhouses and Patrician houses, as well as three churches, including the Church of Notre-Dame. This church is considered an important example of the flamboyant style of late Gothic architecture.