Via Francigena: Orbe - Lausanne

This is the longest Via Francigena stage in Switzerland. This historic connection between Orbe and Lausanne leads from the highlands of the Canton of Vaud to Notre Dame cathedral in Lausanne. For accommodation, please refer to the "Comments" below.
Shortly after our start in Orbe, below the castle, the «Escaliers de la Poterne» staircase leads us to the bike route to Chavorney. From there on until the middle of the stage, we follow the Talent river passing through small villages with castles formerly belonging to Montfaucon family and later to the Savoy family.
From Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, we arrive directly at the ancient Akropolis offering an impressive view over Lake Geneva and the Savoy Alps. Here, we also find Saint Maire castle and the historic bishop's seat (now the Museum of Old Lausanne) and Notre Dame Cathedral (12th to 14th century) with its «painted portal» on the east side - the most beautiful gothic monument in Switzerland St. Francis church is located at the centre of the modern city.
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Note(s)
The «Via Francigena» is one of the 3 main christian pilgrimage trails of the Middle Ages, the main axis leading from Canterbury to Rome. This documentation currently covers the stretch from Pontarlier close to the F/CH border across Lausanne to Rome.
Between Jougne and Lausanne, Orbe is the only larger agglomeration, that's why we have split the Jougne-Lausanne stretch in Orbe. However, both in Orbe an Lausanne, accomodations at modest prices are hard to find. We therefore recommend to focus for accomodations on Romainmôtier, then on one of the villages bertween Orbe and Lausanne, and finally on Vidy short behind Lausanne.