Walk with Saint Francis

Below you will find useful information to guide you along the Saint Francis Walk no matter how you decide to make it.


• Practical Tips for the Walk on Foot
• Practical Tips for the Walk by Mountain Bike
• Practical Tips for the Walk on Horseback

Practical Tips for Making the Walk on Foot

· Travel lightly , bring only the essentials and choose light-weight materials.

· Wear hiking shoes that are comfortable and suitable to the land but do not wear new shoes.

· Wear socks that keep your feet free of perspiration and that are correctly padded.

· Choose an ergonomic backpack that is in proportion to your height.

· Drink! Prepare for the Walk by drinking at least two litres of water before your departure and continue drinking during the walk every 20 minutes or so. A diet rich in minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates is the correct nourishment for walkers.
Always bring a canteen of water with you. You will be able to refill it with fresh water along the walk.

Practical Tips for Making the Walk by Mountain Bike

• Riding stables and mountain-bike rentals (.pdf, 52 Kb, October 2006)
List of riding stables and bicycle and mountain bike rental facilities

· Stretch your muscles! Do a little stretching after a section on mountain bike in order to avoid pulled muscles and cramps.

· Choose your bike frame carefully. Make sure that it will hold your weight and the weight of the bags you want to bring.

· Bags: few and well balanced. Balance the weight of your bags well on your mountain bike.  

· Safety first : always wear a helmet and wear reflecting material at night.

· Always bring a canteen of water with you. You will be able to refill it with fresh water along the walk.

• Riding stables and mountain-bike rentals (.pdf, 52 Kb - October 2006)
List of riding stables and bicycle and mountain bike rental facilities

· Your bags should not bother the horse. Make sure the weight is balanced well on the sides of the saddle and move the weight towards the front of the horse as much as possible.

· Position the bags so that they will not rub against the horse's mantle.

· Always carry a flashlight, a water flask and a Swiss army knife with you.

· Safety first : wear a helmet or hard riding cap.

· During stops, loosen the harness on the horse.

· Horse flies are a pain! An effective remedy is to mix a litre of water with a cup of dishwashing liquid. Use a sponge to spread the mixture on the horse's mantle especially where the flies like to nest. Follow this by spreading lubricating oil in order to maintain the effect.