Via Monastica
The place
The Via Monastica links Metz (Lorraine) to Rome by following the great Benedictine monasteries of Europe over some 1,800 km through France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. Inspired by the Rule of Saint Benedict and the motto Ora et Labora, it is both a spiritual pilgrimage route and a journey through the finest abbeys of Western Europe. Open to pilgrims of any tradition, it is waymarked as it moves through the monastic seasons.
Why go
Gorze Abbey (FR). Grande Chartreuse (FR). Einsiedeln (CH). Montserrat (IT). Monte Cassino / Montecassino (IT). St. Peter's in Rome. A uniquely contemplative atmosphere and monastic hospitality.
A bit of history
The Via Monastica was launched in the 2010s by a Franco-Italian initiative to connect the great Benedictine abbeys along the Lorraine–Rome axis. It follows in the tradition of the medieval monastic routes that linked scriptoria and centres of Christian learning.
Getting there
Metz: TGV station (Paris, 1h20). Rome: major international air and rail hub. Crosses 4 countries.
Recommended gear
Light pilgrim gear. Appropriate attire for monasteries. Credential (pilgrim's passport).
Best season
April to October. Monasteries open year-round but accommodation varies.