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GUIDE |
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REVIEWER |
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DATE |
REVIEW |
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Via Francigena: Via Francigena: Canterbury to the Summit of the Great St
Bernard Pass & Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome |
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Nick Crane - Best known for his work as a presenter on the BBC’s Coast
and Map Man series, Nick is a rare combination: an expert cartographer,
historian and explorer |
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29.06.08 |
Thank you so much for sending me the two splendid volumes of the
LightFoot Guide to the via Francigena. I can see that they have been
compiled on the basis of many hard-won miles, and they will be an
inspiration to many who follow your hoof-tracks! What a wonderful
example of green tourism! Congratulations! |
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Via Francigena: Canterbury to the Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass &
Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome |
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Alison Raju - For the Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome |
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01.07.08 |
Paul Chinn and Babette Gallard, LightFoot Guide to the via Francigena:
Canterbury to the Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass, Fougères: EURL
Pilgrimage Publications, 2008, 219pp, ISBN 9782917183014.These are what
we have been waiting for!
Two route-finding guides in English, to lead the pilgrim all the way
from the cathedral in Canterbury to St. Peter’s Rome, whether on foot,
on horseback or riding a bike. (And volume 1, covering the sections
through England, France and Switzerland, is the first such guide in any
language at all.)
Volume 1 covers the first 21,030 kilometres, as far as the Great St.
Bernard Pass, while Volume 2 describes the remaining 942, from there to
Rome. The route is divided in 77 sections, 1-44 in the first book, 45
onwards in the second, with each daily stage containing a route summary,
cultural and historical overview of the region, detailed instructions, a
map and a blog extract.
The colour maps for each section not only have the route traced on them
but also include numbered GPS waypoints referring to the detailed
directions given in the following text, symbols to indicate facilities
available in the different places along the way, an altitude profile,
map references and, where applicable, pictures of the types of
waymarking used. Each section also include listings of accommodation
and practical facilities such as doctors/vets, internet cafés and
tourist offices.
As well as basic information about England (useful for those who don’t
live there), France, Switzerland and Italy, the introductions to each
volume also offer practical advice specifically for walkers, riders and
cyclists, information about dogs and horses relevant to each country,
useful websites, a short reading list (though without bibliographical
detail) and vocabulary lists. At the end of each volume there is also a
section that can be used as a pilgrim record.
With these two clearly laid-out books the pilgrim should have no trouble
finding his or her way along the Via Francigena or places to sleep en
route. They do, however, have one drawback, as least as far as this
reviewer is concerned. The authors explain that information on areas
along the route is restricted to the general and/or topographical,
without detailed reference to religious sites, a decision taken partly
for reasons of space but also because, in their view, a significant
percentage of people following the Via Francigena today are either not
religious or belong to a different faith. The pilgrim road from
Canterbury to Rome was, however, fundamentally a religious route in its
origins, and while many modern-day pilgrims may not be religious in the
conventional sense many will be interested in the historical, artistic
and cultural aspects of the religious sites along the route. A whole
dimension is therefore missing from this otherwise excellent pair of
guidebooks.
LightFoot guides are published on demand (POD) and are available from
the shop facility on
http://pilgrimagepublications.com/UKShop/PayPal/ppbooks.html as well as
from the from the Confraternity of Saint James’ secure online bookshop
(www.csj.org.uk)
A copy of each volume is in the CPR (Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome)
library.
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Via Francigena: Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome |
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John and Marion Topping |
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03.07.08 |
We are finally back home in New Zealand after completing our Via
Francigena successfully due mostly to your wonderful book. We had a
great time together which is just as well because we came into contact
with no other pilgrims on the entire journey. It's funny, although
everyone says it's not like the Camino you sort of don't really believe
it, but gradually as you walk you realise that there is in fact no
'spirit', no pilgrim feasts, common goal or all of the other wonderful
aspects of that journey. We were surprised as to how little known the
journey is the prime example being when we had arrived in Rome and
stopped at the souvenir shop beside the pilgrims office to see if they
had anything commemorating the Via Francigena .. but no the women had
absolutely no idea of what we were talking about and when it finally
dawned on her she simply said the office was next door. We had no
problems with finding accommodation, but it was a bit more expensive
than the book indicated in some areas ... but that's inflation for you
....and a weak kiwi dollar. Best wishes Marion |
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Via Francigena: Canterbury to Orsiéres |
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Maria Franci |
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24.07.08 |
My news after a long time, I am sorry!
I left Canterbury april/27 and arrived at Orsiéres june/05. I walked 37
days and met only one pilgrim, Augusto, an Italian from Tuscany, going
to Rome.It was at the good "gite rural" of Amettes. I showed him your
book, he was with the maps TOPOFRANCIGENA and said it was difficult to
find the ways.
I confirm I could follow the ways with the guide.
I slept two nights at Laon, Reims and Besançon, very beaultiful places,
where I wanted to stay one day more.
I could not find place to stay at Tergnier, the very bad hotels had no
place and Le Rallye is now closed, then I went to Laon by train. I was
very happy, the only town I had no place to stay was served by SNCF.
Them, I did not walk TEGNIER - LAON.
The way Martigny - Orsières was too difficult for me. I am a 65years old
woman that was affraid with the difficult ways completely alone. Before,
at some woods, I had thought it was dangerous to walk alone, but I
decided to go on. But when I arrived at Orsiéres I thought I had reached
my limits and I did not try Orsières - Col St Bernard.
Once again, thanks for your attention and your guide. I don't know I
will continue Via Francigena next april/june. I am thinking to return
to the ways in "Chemin St Jacques", now, beginning at Mont St Michel. I
never was so alone like in Via Francigena! I will think about.
If you want to know if I had problems at any specific section, tell me.
Thank you and good ways!
From braziliam pilgrim
Maria Franci |
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Via Francigena: Via Francigena: Canterbury to the Summit of the Great St
Bernard Pass & Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome |
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James Martin - Travel Journalist |
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28.07.08 |
Another interesting thing about pilgrimage is the willingness of
pilgrims to share information. Babette Gallard recently sent me a copy
of her LightFoot Guide to the via Francigena. It’s a monumental work,
full of necessary route information and maps for the pilgrims, but also
a worthy book on the wonders found along the route by folks who’ve
experienced it in various ways, including on horseback.
Check out the map of the Via Francigena, even if you have no interest in
traveling along it. You’ll find all the “best” cities in that part of
Italy along it.
Pilgrimage changes not only the pilgrims.
When I return to the Lunigiana in a few weeks, I'll be right on the Via
Francigena pilgrimage route that takes pilgrims from Canterbury to St.
Peter's in Rome, This time I'll have Paul Chinn and Babette Gallard's
LightFoot Guide to the via Francigena with me. The authors have created
a very detailed record of the Via and what you'll find along it. It's
always a great feeling to know that there are people who work toward a
common cause that is spiritual, or at least doesn't have as its aim the
domination of the world or the destruction of other cultures.
Walk in peace, pilgrim.
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Via Francigena: Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome |
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Mike Metras, author of Walking with Awareness |
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15.08.08 |
I apologize for being so tardy at getting to reviewing your wonderful
new book LightFoot Guide to the Via Francigena, Summit of the Great St.
Bernard Pass to Rome. I received the copy you sent me last month. Thank
you.
As I mentioned earlier, in 2006-07 we walked from Germany to Rome
following the VF from Fidenza. I have written a web version at
http://www.WalkingWithAwareness.com/romewalk.htm. I have just sent my
book on this pilgrimage, Germany to Rome in 64 days: Our Pilgrimage, to
the publisher. It should be available at the beginning of September or
so at www.lulu.com/mikemetras.
The LightFoot Guide is a wonderful book, clearly a product of a lot of
gathering, work, and organization. I reviewed it extensively and used it
to cross-check some of my facts as I finished my book. We used Guida
della Via Francigena by Monica D'Atri and Franco Cinti and Association
VF maps and their Dormifrancigena B along with their Vade Mecum. All are
in Italian. We made it with our marginal Italian. But now a book in
English! And such a thorough book!
As I studied the book comparing it to my notes, recollections, and these
other books I used, I wished more and more that I would have had it when
we walked. Even without a GPS and knowing nothing about what all those
numbers really can do for me., I can see the LightFoot Guide could be a
great help to someone walking the VF. That said, I cannot say I am ready
to be so tied to a machine and the companion words in the book, looking
at them ever hundred meters or so--or, for that matter, having to keep
track of going 470 meters for the next way-point. I seem to be able to
flow with a map better--maybe it is my 55 years of using a map :).
Thanks for your wonderful work.
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