Riding through Europe

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The GRANDE TRAVERSATA delle ALPI

THE GREAT ALPINE CROSSING!  From  the shores of the Mediterranean sea to Switzerland, through the French and Italian Alps; this must rank as one of the most scenically spectacular trekking routes in the world. Peter van der Gugten, began planning for this ride in 2006; the journey itself started on 3rd August 2007 and finished at th beginning of September in the same year - the story is here.

Lungavia - after four months and four days, after more than 1600 km of travel, on the 14th October 2006, the "Lungavia" caravan finally arrived at its destination ...

"Through meadows, through woods, along roads and along grassland, we heard the song of the wind ..."

The story of their journey can be downloaded as pdf's; it is available in French and in Italian and is a VERY good read. You don't need any language to be amazed at some of the simply stunning pictures and videos on the site.

The 'Way of Saint James' to Santiago de Compostella is perhaps the best known of the routes designated by the Council of Europe as a 'European Cultural Itinerary'. It is not unusual for people to complete all or part of the various routes on horseback, and there are several books written about the experiences of those who have made this journey, the most recent being "Horseshoes and Holy Water" by Mefo Phillips. Tim Moore in his book "Spanish Steps" wrote about the trials and tribulations of going to Santiago de Compostella accompanied by a donkey and there is a book "The Way of Saint James on Horseback: The French Road,"  by  Javier Pascual, written in 2002, which gives a comprehensive listing of equestrian information, such as  stables, hostels, blacksmiths, vets etc on the most popular route of the pilgrimage, that of the Camino Frances in Spain. Even the well-know explorer, Robin Hanbury-Tenison, made this journey, which he describes in his book "Spanish Pilgrimage - A Canter to St James".

This is one of the oldest and best-used routes in Europe; from time immemorial people have journeyed to the 'end of the earth' - Finisterra, or finis(end) terra(earth) - and, in Christian times, stopped off at Santiago de Compostella to give thanks and receive pardon from St James the Great. Pilgrims to Santiago de Compostella may approach by several different routes; the Camino Frances ( the French Road) is the most popular. .

Pilgerritt is a very comprehensive website of Kerstin’s journey to Santiago de Compostela from Boenen in Germany – and of the many other long journeys she has taken on her Haflinger "Poldi" through Germany and further afield.  The site contains a huge amount of useful information for anyone who wants to ride his or her horse independently through Europe.You do need to be able to read German fairly well, though there are LOTS of photographs.

The Confraternity of St James  exists to give advice about the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The cost of joining is far exceeded by the value of the information available from the confraternity.

This is the route from Rome to Canterbury (or vice versa, although strictly speaking the journey Canterbury to Rome should be called Via Romea) taken by Archbishop Sigeric in the year 989. As Archbishop of Canterbury, he was expected to travel to Rome to pay homage to the Pope. He kept a journal of his pilgrimage which was rediscovered in the 1990s by Italian researchers and the Archbishop's descriptions of places along the route have been shown to be remarkably accurate.  In 1996 the Via Francigena was designated by the Council of Europe as a 'European Cultural Itinerary'.

Mefo Phillips, already mentioned in the Santiago de Compostella section above, completed the route in 2006. I look forward with eager anticipation to her book.

Babette Gallard and Paul Chin, of Pilgrimage Publications, have recently produced a well-researched guide - click on the link for more details.

Many walkers and cyclist have completed this route, or part of it. It is reported as being often boring through France, very beautiful through Switzerland and very risky through parts of Italy where there is no alternative but to use major roads for some lengthy stretches of the route. Recent grants made for upgrading the route should see this problem ameliorated somewhat in Italy, although of course the route will not then be as authentic. Naturally the pilgrims of old, and the traders, used the easiest routes, which gradually developed into the major highways we know today, with all their problems of danger and pollution. The problems of danger and pollution, though, were as great or greater in history; it is just the type of danger and the type of pollution which varies!

... doesn't this sound like a ride to tug on the heartstrings? Mozart, the Sound of Music, Dvorak ... even if you don't love classical music, who could resist the mountains, lakes and forests of this riding route from Austria to the Czech Republic, in this quintessentially beautiful part of Central Europe?

Reitweg Donau-Boehmerwald is what it's called. It is not yet quite finished, but most of the Austrian and Bavarian routes are open. The map on the left gives an idea of its range. (nb - wide pink line = international borders; green line = riding paths in Austria   purple line = riding path in Bavaria (Germany). The numbers indicate existing or proposed accommodation or refreshment establishments.

Every year in late May/early June, a ride is organised from Munich in Bavaria to Merano in Northern Italy, via Austria. The ride is about 320 km, and uses many ancient Roman and other roads to cross the Alps. The established route is 9 days' ride and takes the following route - Munich - Peiting - Oberammergau - Lermoos - Fernpass - Imst - Reschenpass - Vinzing - Merano.  Anyone interested in joining it may read more about it on the  Alpen-ritt (Alpine ride) website - German only.