Highlights
- Bar-sur-Aube historic center
- Aube river valley
- Champagne-Burgundy transition
Stage conditions
| Section | France |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Moderate |
| Shade | Full |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Brienne-le-Château has no railway; it is reached by Fluo Grand Est bus from Troyes station, and the Grands Lacs tourist office names Troyes, Bar-sur-Aube and Vendeuvre-sur-Barse as the nearest stations. Bar-sur-Aube has a station on the Paris-Est–Belfort/Mulhouse line, served by TER Grand Est trains via Troyes towards Culmont-Chalindrey, Belfort and Mulhouse, and by TER coaches; it sits between Vendeuvre-sur-Barse and Chaumont. This is the first railway since Châlons-en-Champagne and a natural place to start or end a section, with Paris reachable in an afternoon via Troyes.
What the season does
April to October, fully shaded through the woods of the Aube. The stage climbs into the Côte des Bar vineyards, whose harvest in 2026 began on 12 August; pickers take spare beds then. Bar-sur-Aube's volunteer pilgrim welcome operates six months of the year on a rota, so outside spring and summer expect a hotel. Hunting from mid-September affects the forest sections.
Safety on this stage
Some hilly sections, says the stage data: 491 m of ascent as the route leaves the plain for the Côte des Bar. The day mixes forest tracks and vineyard lanes with quiet D-roads; walk facing traffic and expect tractors on the vineyard tracks during the August harvest. In hunting season, from mid-September to the end of February, keep to the marked way in the woods and wear a bright layer. Bar-sur-Aube is a small town on the river; ordinary care in the streets and on the quays.
Water and food
Water is moderate. Brienne has shops close to the pilgrim house, so buy the day's food there in the morning. The villages on the way are small and the vineyard slopes have no fountains, so carry a full bottle. Bar-sur-Aube has bakeries, cafés and supermarkets, and the pilgrim gîte has a kitchen. Shop here for tomorrow as well: the LightFoot guide warns that between Clairvaux and Langres accommodation and services thin out sharply, and Clairvaux itself has little beyond its hotel-restaurant.
Where pilgrims sleep
Bar-sur-Aube has a municipal pilgrim gîte at 13 rue du Collège near the church of Saint-Maclou: three bedrooms with eight beds, shower, toilets and kitchen, run by the volunteer association Accueil Pèlerins de Bar-sur-Aube, with booking through the presbytery or the tourist office in the morning for that evening. Our directory adds the hotels La Pomme d'Or and Le Saint Nicolas, the chambres d'hôtes Chez Anna and Le Quai de St Pierre, and the Village de la Champagne camping.
Sources: Grands Lacs de Champagne — Access and transport · Wikipédia — Gare de Bar-sur-Aube · Office de Tourisme de la Côte des Bar — Gîte accueil pèlerin, Bar-sur-Aube · Journal de la Haute-Marne — Accueil des pèlerins : ça marche ! · LightFoot Guide to the Via Francigena, Canterbury to Besançon (PDF, 2014 edition) · France 3 Champagne-Ardenne — Ban des vendanges 2026 · Le Montagnard — Calendrier chasse France 2025-2026
Common questions
How long is the Brienne-le-Château to Bar-sur-Aube stage?
It is 22.0 km (13.7 mi) and takes about 6 hours of walking, from Brienne-le-Château to Bar-sur-Aube.
How hard is Brienne-le-Château to Bar-sur-Aube?
It is rated easy with 250 m of ascent and 230 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Brienne-le-Château to Bar-sur-Aube stage?
There is a moderate amount of water along this stage — carry enough between resupply points.
How do I get to Brienne-le-Château and away from Bar-sur-Aube?
Brienne-le-Château has no railway; it is reached by Fluo Grand Est bus from Troyes station, and the Grands Lacs tourist office names Troyes, Bar-sur-Aube and Vendeuvre-sur-Barse as the nearest stations. Bar-sur-Aube has a station on the Paris-Est–Belfort/Mulhouse line, served by TER Grand Est trains via Troyes towards Culmont-Chalindrey, Belfort and Mulhouse, and by TER coaches; it sits between Vendeuvre-sur-Barse and Chaumont. This is the first railway since Châlons-en-Champagne and a natural place to start or end a section, with Paris reachable in an afternoon via Troyes.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Bar-sur-Aube?
Bar-sur-Aube has a municipal pilgrim gîte at 13 rue du Collège near the church of Saint-Maclou: three bedrooms with eight beds, shower, toilets and kitchen, run by the volunteer association Accueil Pèlerins de Bar-sur-Aube, with booking through the presbytery or the tourist office in the morning for that evening. Our directory adds the hotels La Pomme d'Or and Le Saint Nicolas, the chambres d'hôtes Chez Anna and Le Quai de St Pierre, and the Village de la Champagne camping.
Walk this stage
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