In the footsteps of Sigeric, the pilgrims’ road to Rome crosses France diagonally: the Opal Coast, Artois, Champagne, the Langres area and the Doubs as far as Switzerland.
982 km 610.2 mi41 stages8,500 m 27,887 ft ascentHigh point 1,140 m 3,740 ftCalais → Frontière suisse (Les Fourgs)
From Calais to Frontière suisse (Les Fourgs), over 982 km.
0 m250 m500 m750 m1,000 m1,250 m0 km200 km400 km600 km800 km1510152025303540High point 1,140 m
Elevation profile: from 4 m to 1,134 m over 982.2 km.
The GR145 at a glance
The GR145 is the name given by the FFRandonnée to the French section of the Via Francigena, the great pilgrimage route to Rome. It follows the itinerary recorded at the end of the 10th century by Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, who traveled to Rome to receive the pallium. Recognized as a Major Cultural Route by the Council of Europe, the Via Francigena has a dual identity: a long-distance footpath and a pilgrimage route, which the FFRandonnée and the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways have been promoting together since 2018.
From Calais, the path follows the Opal Coast to Wissant via Cap Blanc-Nez, then heads inland via Guînes and Licques. It crosses Artois and Arras, reaches Saint-Quentin, Laon and Reims, then Champagne via Verzy and Châlons-en-Champagne. Next come the Aube, the Haute-Marne with the Lac de la Liez, Langres and Châteauvillain, then the Haute-Saône and the Doubs: Besançon, the Loue valley, Ornans and Pontarlier. In all, eight departments, from the English Channel to the Jura massif.
After Pontarlier, the GR145 goes through the Cluse de Joux, guarded by the Château de Joux, climbs to Les Fourgs and reaches the border at the Grand’Borne, above L’Auberson and Sainte-Croix: this is the finish chosen by MonGR and followed on this page. Another route of the Via Francigena goes via Jougne. Beyond the border, the Via Francigena continues via Lausanne and the Great St Bernard Pass, then crosses Italy to Rome.
The path has no technical difficulties. A well-equipped walker can do it in one go or in sections of a few days, from one town to the next, like those suggested by MonGR.
Highlights
The start on the Opal Coast, from Calais to Wissant via Cap Blanc-Nez, from where you can see England on a clear day.
A string of towns steeped in history: Arras and its Flemish squares, Laon, Reims, Langres, then Besançon and its citadel.
Crossing Champagne, from Reims to Châlons-en-Champagne via Verzy.
The Langres plateau, between the Lac de la Liez, the hilltop town of Langres and Châteauvillain.
The Loue valley and Ornans, home country of the painter Gustave Courbet, before the plateaux of the Haut-Doubs.
A path with double waymarking: the white-and-red GR marks and the yellow pilgrim of the Via Francigena.
Practical information
Start
Calais
Calais is served by train (Calais-Ville station in the town center) and by ferries from England. The path starts from the Notre-Dame church, designated as the official starting point by Pas-de-Calais Tourisme.
Finish
Frontière suisse (Les Fourgs)
The border, at the Grand’Borne, is in the mountains, between Les Fourgs and L’Auberson. The Doubs department points to the TER station at Pontarlier, on the Frasne – Neuchâtel line; on the Swiss side, the path descends to Sainte-Croix, linked by train to Yverdon-les-Bains.
When to go
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According to MonGR, the GR145 can be walked in all seasons, but some paths become muddy in wet weather. For the end of the route in the Haut-Doubs, where the path rises above 1,100 m, Montagnes du Jura recommends the period from April to October.
Difficulty
Moderate
MonGR reports no particular difficulty for a well-equipped hiker; the effort lies in the length of the path and the climbs in the Doubs, which get steeper as you approach Switzerland.
Accommodation
1 refuge, 11 gîtes, 1 youth hostel, and 45 B&Bs
Hotels, B&Bs, gîtes and accommodation reserved for pilgrims line the path; in the Haute-Marne, the attractiveness agency and the tourist offices of Langres and Châteauvillain keep a list of them. The pilgrim passport gives access to certain pilgrim accommodation. Book your nights in advance, especially in rural areas.
Rules to know
In the Doubs, crossing the Gorges de Noailles, between Mouthier-Haute-Pierre and the source of the Loue at Ouhans, has been forbidden by municipal order since 2022: the diversion waymarked by the FFRandonnée Doubs committee is compulsory.
Water and supplies
Take water and a picnic every day, as not all the villages along the way have shops. Good shoes are useful, as some paths become muddy in wet weather. A Via Francigena app, for iPhone and Android, offers GPS tracking and maps that can be viewed offline.
The GR145 on the map
The 41 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on November 12, 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
Have your pilgrim passport stamped from Calais onwards, at the Notre-Dame church or, if it is closed, at the Museum of Fine Arts, the tourist office or the belfry.
Follow both the white-and-red GR marks and the yellow pilgrim of the Via Francigena.
To split the path into sections, take inspiration from those suggested by MonGR: Calais – Licques, Arras – Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin – Laon or Laon – Reims.
In the Doubs, keep to the Gorges de Noailles diversion: signs placed at each end indicate the closure.
The border is in the middle of the mountains: plan your last night and your return in advance, from Sainte-Croix or Pontarlier.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR145 start in Calais?
At the Notre-Dame church, which Pas-de-Calais Tourisme presents as the official starting point of the Via Francigena. If the church is closed, the pilgrim passport can be stamped at the Museum of Fine Arts, the tourist office or the town hall belfry.
Where does the GR145 end?
At the French-Swiss border, which MonGR places at Les Fourgs: the path crosses the border at the Grand’Borne, then continues into Switzerland via L’Auberson and Sainte-Croix. This is the route our map follows. From Pontarlier, another route of the Via Francigena reaches Switzerland via Jougne.
How do you continue to Rome after the Swiss border?
The Via Francigena continues in Switzerland via Lausanne and Saint-Maurice to the Great St Bernard Pass, then descends to Aosta and crosses Italy to Rome. This section is no longer part of the GR145.
What is the pilgrim passport for on the Via Francigena?
This pilgrim’s booklet is stamped at tourist offices, gîtes, churches, town halls or shops. It gives access to certain pilgrim accommodation and lets you obtain the Testimonium, awarded to those who have walked at least the last 100 kilometers of the route to Rome.
How is the GR145 waymarked?
With the white-and-red GR marks, combined with the official Via Francigena logo, a yellow pilgrim. The two sets of waymarks run together along the whole French route.
Are the Gorges de Noailles closed?
Yes. Since 2022, a municipal order has prohibited crossing the gorges between Mouthier-Haute-Pierre and the source of the Loue. The FFRandonnée states that the diversion via the viewpoints of the GR de Pays Loue et Lison is compulsory, with no reopening date.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on November 12, 2026.
