Dialogue between institutions, associations and individuals. In Champlitte, in the region of Bourgogne Franche Comté, Haute Saône, the president of the European Association of the Vie Francigene (EAVF), Massimo Tedeschi, raised the key words for the future of the European route.
The occasion was offered by the conference dedicated to the Via Francigena which preceded the EAVF General Assembly which took place for the first time on French soil. In front of an international audience, representatives of territories and institutions of the 4 countries crossed by the route, President Tedeschi underlined the importance of collaboration for the success of the European project.
“This audience is the photograph of the Via Francigena, an international audience that speaks English, French and Italian. We are happy to be here in Champlitte, a small but key village for the route. Our hope is to build an even stronger Via Francigena – recalled Tedeschi – The key to success is the harmony between institutions, associations and individuals. The purpose of our association is to favour this dialogue“.
He makes an appeal to the collaboration that also includes the UNESCO application. In a video message the vice-president of the region of Tuscany, Monica Barni, called those present to support this path. “We have to build an even wider team, we started with the Italian section but we need other countries. We are building a path with institutions, and we ask you to help us to sensitise your institutions to welcome this project and the Via Francigena, so it can become the heritage of humanity“.
The European route walks as one and the EAVF association meeting in Champlitte confirms the great commitment put in place by small municipalities. “Without passion you cannot make the Francigena – added Andrea Carubi of the region of Tuscany – Each of us is a link in the chain that forms the Francigena. This path is like an adolescent and we are the parents. We must help him grow with the right values”. The Francigena is a “chain” without borders, symbolically strengthened today by a donation from the region of Tuscany to the mayor of Champlitte, Gilles Teuscher.
“It is small towns like Champlitte that make a great Via Francigena. In France it is an important moment for the development of the Francigena, a completely European route, certified by the Council of Europe in 1994. It is also of great importance to promote a culture of quality, sustainable, slow tourism along a route of great impact on the rural aspect of the regions it traverses, “added Stefano Dominioni, director of the European Institute for Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
