Over Lake Geneva into the Alps: about 195 kilometers from the French border at Ballaigues over Lausanne and the Rhône valley up to the Great St Bernard Pass.
The Swiss section of the Via Francigena is the alpine link of the pilgrim route to Rome. From the French border at Ballaigues in the Jura the route descends over Orbe to Lake Geneva at Lausanne, follows the Rhône valley to Martigny and finally climbs to the Great St Bernard Pass – the famous Alpine pass with its hospice.
Short but intense: Jura, lake, vineyards and high mountains in just under 200 kilometers.
Part of the historic Canterbury–Rome pilgrim route; well waymarked in Switzerland.
Ideal if you want a short, scenically magnificent alpine section with a clear highlight (St Bernard) – or as part of the whole Via Francigena.
Less suitable on a tight budget (Switzerland is expensive) or if you dislike elevation: the climb to the pass is alpine and only snow-free in summer.
From Ballaigues the route descends through the Jura to Orbe and to Lake Geneva at Lausanne. Along the lake and through the Lavaux vineyards (UNESCO) it reaches the Rhône valley.
Over Martigny the route climbs into the high mountains and reaches the Great St Bernard Pass (2,469 m) with its hospice – where the Italian section begins.
Over about 195 kilometers you gather over 8,000 meters of climb – the final days to the pass are alpine and demanding. Doable in 9–11 days. Waymarking and infrastructure (Switzerland) are excellent.
The pass is only snow-free roughly June–September – outside that time pilgrims use the tunnel/bus.
The highlight is the Great St Bernard Pass (2,469 m): one of the oldest Alpine crossings, with the famous hospice that has sheltered travellers and pilgrims since the 11th century – and gave its name to the St Bernard dogs.
On the way there: Lake Geneva and the vineyard terraces of Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Swiss section is one link in the chain: before it comes the Via Francigena France (Calais → Jougne), after it the Via Francigena (Italy), which runs from the Great St Bernard Pass over Tuscany to Rome. So the whole Via Francigena can be walked from England to Rome.
The best time is summer to early autumn (pass snow-free). Accommodation is in guesthouses, hospices and pilgrim lodgings. You'll need a pilgrim credential.
Switzerland is expensive. Budget roughly €60–100 per day (guesthouses/hospices), plus food.
The starting point is the border at Ballaigues; many begin in Lausanne or Orbe (good rail links).
1820 Guest House Montreux
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Agora Swiss Night by Fassbind
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Alexandre Chappuis et Fils
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Amazing Studio In Lausanne Close To Epfl and Unil
Open season unknownEverything you need for the Via Francigena (Switzerland), shipped to your door.
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