Walking on the Via Columbani
The Via Columbani crosses nine countries, between Ireland and Italy, visiting great heritage sites but also many lesser-known corners of Europe.
It is a path of memory and heritage, but also of peace and understanding. On the island of Ireland, for example, Turas Columbanus and the Columban Way are a single route, from Wexford and Carlow to Ards and North Down, bringing together partners from all communities.
The Pilgrimage Route
The Via Columbani is a long-distance pilgrimage route, alongside highly travelled routes such as the Camino de Santiago or the Via Francigena. It offers long-distance walkers a pilgrimage of discovery, to the early Middle Ages and the roots of modern Europe.
The Via Columbani is an integral part of the European network of pilgrimage routes. It crosses or shares stretches of other pilgrimage paths, including St. Patrick’s Way, the Paths of Saint Michael, the TroBreizh, the Camino de Santiago, the Via Sancti Martini, and the Via Francigena, offering multiple opportunities for contact and exchange.
The Via Columbani Route Guide
An original aspect of this route is its high-quality electronic Route Guide, offering a wealth of online information. This personalized guide provides walkers significant independence. It also reduces the need for local authorities to invest heavily in signposting.
The entire itinerary, across all countries, is mapped and available in this route guide, which is an integral part of this website. The guide is available in four languages, including itineraries, accommodation, services, and points of interest.
The application can be downloaded onto a smartphone, providing hikers with a detailed guide, supported by GPS positioning, as well as the option to print the stages in advance.
Local and Regional Walking
The Via Columbani offers a great range of local and regional walks, in every country, across hugely varied landscapes.
There are attractive day or weekend walks, including for families or older people, but also hikes suitable for experienced ramblers, for a few days, a week or longer.
Those interested, whether walkers, cyclists or motorcyclists, can choose the stretches of the Via Columbani that they wish to follow, by using the Via Columbani route guide, or by getting in touch with the local members of the Partnership, identified on this site.
Future development
In every country of the Partnership, considerable work is under way strengthen and extend the range of the walking trails. The Via Columbani route guide is being updated and enhanced in parallel.
A debate is underway concerning other modes of transportation, such as by bicycle or motorcycle. For organized walks, solutions are already proposed for less mobile individuals, through shared transport along public roads.
Walks scheduled on the Via Columbani in 2025
Republic of Ireland:
- 25 July: Walk along Columban Way bringing together Turas Columbanus, the interfaith forums of Dublin and Northern Ireland between Carnmore and Knockatallan.
Contact : turascolumbanus@gmail.com
France:
- 6 March: walk around Héricourt.
- 4 and 5 May: walk between Annegray and Saint-Mont.
- 7 June: walk along the route connecting Annegray to Basel with the Friends of Saint James of Compostela.
- 6 to 10 July: star-shaped walk around Bobbio after Columban's Days in Lodi.
- 15 to 18 September: walk along the Via Columbani on the banks of the Moselle from Tress-Karden to Koblenz.
- 4 to 11 November: walk along the Via Sancti Martini, which joins the Via Columbani, during the Summer of Saint Martin pilgrimage.
- 4 December: discovery trail in Luxeuil.
Contact : merlevede.jg@gmail.com
Switzerland:
- 13 March: walk organised by the St James pilgrim reception centre in St Gallen on the Via Columbani from St Gallen to Arbon.
- 9-10 May: walk organised for the Graubünden St James Way Association from Schaan (Liechtenstein) to Balzers.
- 11 June: walk organised by the St James pilgrim reception centre in St Gallen on the Way of St James, from Schwellbrunn to St Peterzell
- 25 July: walk organised by the St James pilgrim reception centre in St Gallen on the Via Columbani from Flawil to St Gallen.
- 26 September: walk organised by the St James pilgrim reception centre in St Gallen on the Via Columbani from Feldkirch to Dornbirn.
- 7 November: walk organised by the St James Way Association of Graubünden from Malans to Chur.
Contact : info@kolumbansweg.ch
Italy:
- Four stages of the Cammino di San Colombano, from Val Chiavenna to Dervio from April 25th to 28th.