Highlights
- Orbe Roman mosaics
- Swiss Plateau farmland
- Cossonay old town
Stage conditions
| Section | Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Full |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Orbe is reached by the Travys Orbe–Chavornay line (change at Chavornay from the SBB Lausanne–Yverdon trains), so arriving by rail from Lausanne or Yverdon-les-Bains is straightforward. Cossonay sits on a hill above its station: Cossonay-Penthalaz, on the SBB Jura Foot and Simplon lines 14.5 km from Lausanne, is served by RER Vaud lines R1/R2 and R3/R4 at half-hourly weekday frequencies, and the Cossonay–Gare–Ville funicular runs from beside the station up to the old town. Geneva Airport is about an hour beyond Lausanne by direct train.
What the season does
The stage lists May to October as its best months. This is Swiss Plateau farmland with patches of woodland, marked full shade and abundant water, so it walks well in any of those months; spring and autumn give the clearest views back to the Jura. Summer afternoons on the open fields can be warm but rarely oppressive. Outside the listed months the paths are still open, but expect mud on the farm tracks, low cloud in the Venoge valley and shorter days.
Safety on this stage
There are no mountain hazards here. Watch for farm traffic on the lanes between villages, and for cyclists on shared tracks along the Venoge. The 538 m of ascent is spread across the day rather than concentrated, but the final pull up to Cossonay-Ville comes at the end when you are tired; the funicular from the station is the alternative if you want it. In wet weather the field paths become slippery clay.
Water and food
Water is marked abundant. Every Vaud village has a public fountain, and unless a fountain is signed as not drinking water it is normally on the municipal supply; some are turned off in winter. Orbe has shops for the start, and there are cafés in the villages you pass. Fill a bottle at each fountain rather than carrying a full day's supply, and buy lunch in Orbe or from a village shop, because there is nothing on the open farmland sections.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory has no listing yet at Cossonay, so plan this night. The Swiss Via Francigena association's list names the Cure catholique in Cossonay-Ville as a pilgrim address, and pilgrim gîtes a little off route at Dizy (Gîte de la Venoge) and Ferreyres (Le Cormier), plus a campsite at La Sarraz. Carry your credential for the parish house and book ahead; if nothing is free, Cossonay-Penthalaz station puts Lausanne's beds within twenty minutes.
Sources: Wikipedia — Orbe railway station · Wikipedia — Cossonay-Penthalaz railway station · Wikipedia — Lausanne railway station · Via Francigena Suisse — Hébergements sur la Via Francigena suisse (PDF) · Umweltcheck — Drinking fountains in Switzerland
Common questions
How long is the Orbe to Cossonay stage?
It is 20.0 km (12.4 mi) and takes about 5 hours of walking, from Orbe to Cossonay.
How hard is Orbe to Cossonay?
It is rated moderate with 250 m of ascent and 280 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Orbe to Cossonay stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Orbe and away from Cossonay?
Orbe is reached by the Travys Orbe–Chavornay line (change at Chavornay from the SBB Lausanne–Yverdon trains), so arriving by rail from Lausanne or Yverdon-les-Bains is straightforward. Cossonay sits on a hill above its station: Cossonay-Penthalaz, on the SBB Jura Foot and Simplon lines 14.5 km from Lausanne, is served by RER Vaud lines R1/R2 and R3/R4 at half-hourly weekday frequencies, and the Cossonay–Gare–Ville funicular runs from beside the station up to the old town. Geneva Airport is about an hour beyond Lausanne by direct train.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Cossonay?
Our directory has no listing yet at Cossonay, so plan this night. The Swiss Via Francigena association's list names the Cure catholique in Cossonay-Ville as a pilgrim address, and pilgrim gîtes a little off route at Dizy (Gîte de la Venoge) and Ferreyres (Le Cormier), plus a campsite at La Sarraz. Carry your credential for the parish house and book ahead; if nothing is free, Cossonay-Penthalaz station puts Lausanne's beds within twenty minutes.
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.