Highlights
- Voire valley villages
- Château de Brienne
- Musée Napoléon, Brienne-le-Château
Stage conditions
| Section | France |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Moderate |
| Shade | Partial |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Montmorency-Beaufort has no public transport we could confirm. Brienne-le-Château has no railway: the Grands Lacs de Champagne tourist office names Troyes, Bar-sur-Aube and Vendeuvre-sur-Barse as the nearest stations and says Fluo Grand Est buses link Brienne with Troyes station; look up the current line on fluo.eu. Taxis and car hire operate from Troyes.
What the season does
April to October, partial shade. The Maison Fraternelle du Pèlerin in Brienne opens from 15 March to 31 October, which defines the practical season for a pilgrim bed. Hunting season, from mid-September to the end of February, brings weekend battues to the woods. Brienne is a small town without big seasonal crowds.
Safety on this stage
Few services before Brienne-le-Château. The terrain is easy, through the villages of the Voire valley on farm tracks and quiet D-roads, so walk facing traffic and step onto the verge for tractors. Hunting season, from mid-September to the end of February, brings weekend battues to the woods; wear something bright and respect 'chasse en cours' signs. Brienne is a quiet small town where ordinary care is enough.
Water and food
Water is moderate. Montmorency-Beaufort is a small village; OpenStreetMap marks a drinking-water point at Bétignicourt, about 12 km in, and no shop on the route before Brienne-le-Château. Carry the day's water and food. Brienne has shops close to the pilgrim house, so you can cook there or eat out.
Where pilgrims sleep
Brienne has one of the best pilgrim welcomes in France. The Maison Fraternelle du Pèlerin at 5 avenue Pasteur, run by an association of former pilgrims, is reserved for credential holders, sleeps eight in two rooms, has an equipped kitchen, shower, washing machine and garden, and opens 15 March to 31 October on reservation; volunteers speak English and German. Our directory adds the Hôtel des Voyageurs, the Villa Joséphine and the Demeures des Grands Lacs de Champagne in town, and the Hôtel Air-lane at Saint-Léger-sous-Brienne, about 1.4 km off the route some 5 km before the end.
Sources: Grands Lacs de Champagne — Access and transport · Grands Lacs de Champagne — Maison Fraternelle du Pèlerin, Brienne-le-Château · Wikipédia — Brienne-le-Château · OpenStreetMap — villages, stations, churches, shops and places to stay along the route (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) · European Association of the Via Francigena Ways — official stage map (stage ends and lengths only) · Le Montagnard — Calendrier chasse France 2025-2026
Common questions
How long is the Montmorency-Beaufort to Brienne-le-Château stage?
It is 28.9 km (18.0 mi) and takes about 7.5 hours of walking, from Montmorency-Beaufort to Brienne-le-Château.
How hard is Montmorency-Beaufort to Brienne-le-Château?
It is rated easy with 240 m of ascent and 286 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Montmorency-Beaufort to Brienne-le-Château stage?
There is a moderate amount of water along this stage — carry enough between resupply points.
How do I get to Montmorency-Beaufort and away from Brienne-le-Château?
Montmorency-Beaufort has no public transport we could confirm. Brienne-le-Château has no railway: the Grands Lacs de Champagne tourist office names Troyes, Bar-sur-Aube and Vendeuvre-sur-Barse as the nearest stations and says Fluo Grand Est buses link Brienne with Troyes station; look up the current line on fluo.eu. Taxis and car hire operate from Troyes.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Brienne-le-Château?
Brienne has one of the best pilgrim welcomes in France. The Maison Fraternelle du Pèlerin at 5 avenue Pasteur, run by an association of former pilgrims, is reserved for credential holders, sleeps eight in two rooms, has an equipped kitchen, shower, washing machine and garden, and opens 15 March to 31 October on reservation; volunteers speak English and German. Our directory adds the Hôtel des Voyageurs, the Villa Joséphine and the Demeures des Grands Lacs de Champagne in town, and the Hôtel Air-lane at Saint-Léger-sous-Brienne, about 1.4 km off the route some 5 km before the end.
Walk this stage
Open the full stage list to plan the legs either side, browse heritage along the route, or get the free Via Francigena Walk app for offline maps and GPS on the trail.