Hike /Schweiz Mobil
ViaFrancigena, Stage 2/10
OrbeCossonay
- Distance
- 26.0 km
- Duration
- 6:45 h
- Ascent
- 640 m
- Descent
- 560 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Fitness
- Hard
- Route type
- One way
- Season
- May - October
01/ Overview
The route
After Orbe, the Via Francigena reaches the medieval town of Romainmôtier with its Cluniac abbey. Finally, you arrive at the centre of the world, where part of the Nozon River flows into the Mediterranean Sea and the other part into the North Sea.
The 26-kilometre hike begins at Orbe railway station. Following yellow-marked hiking trails, it leaves the town and crosses open fields and pastures, interspersed with stretches of woodland and small villages. After just over two hours, the route reaches Romainmôtier. Standing directly beside the trail is the former abbey church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, now a Reformed church.
Shortly after Romainmôtier, the hike reaches its highest point at around 730 metres, near Sur le Mont. The trail then continues through more open countryside and woodland as far as La Sarraz. Here, the route crosses the watershed between the Rhône and the Rhine. In Eclépens, it passes Château d’Eclépens, a manor house and winery dating from the late 18th century.
The final section leads through woodland and open farmland to Cossonay-Ville. After just under seven hours, the hike ends near the Cossonay-Ville, centre bus stop.
02/ Along the route
What's along the way
Where the route climbs and where it descends. Hover the profile to find the spot on the map.
03/ Conditions
Current conditions
What to know before you set off. Closures and snow are re-checked every day.
Place de la gare - Orbe
From 12 Dec 2025 – Until 4 Nov 2026
Rives de la Venoge
From 7 Sept 2026 – Until 24 Dec 2026
Aufgrund von Bauarbeiten sind die Wege entlang der Venoge für Fussgänger gesperrt. Bitte nutzen Sie die ausgeschilderte Umleitung.
How we check: Every night we match the route against the official closures and detours from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). Any reported closure that touches the route shows up here.
How we check: We look up a live public transport connection from your starting point to the stop closest to the trailhead. If it ends further away, the nearest stop may be a cable car or bus that isn't running right now.
How we check: Snow depth estimated daily at the lowest and the highest point of the route. Estimates: check the situation on site.
04/ Getting there
Getting there
From your door to the trailhead and home again, by train and bus or by car. Computed live from the timetable.
Or from
Outbound
Return
05/ Weather
Weather on the way
Forecast for the lowest and the highest point of the route.
Weather
06/ Trail & landscape
Trail & landscape
Which paths you walk on and the landscape they lead through.
07/ Snow
Snow on the route
Snow depths, new snow and forecast. Estimates: check the situation on site before you set off.
Snow Info
Comparative snow depth is only available from November 1 to June 30.
08/ Export
Take the route with you
Load the track onto your GPS device, print a route sheet for the trail or send the route to your hiking group.
Share
Send the link to friends or your hiking group.
Export GPX File
For hiking apps, GPS watches and navigation devices.
Print Route Sheet
A4 with map, elevation profile, waypoints and emergency numbers.
