Columbanus and the monks who followed him, who contributed to the evangelization of Europe in the seventh century, have not ceased to surprise us. Among these, Saint Philibert, a Gascon monk, born in Eauze in 616, founder of Jumièges, Noirmoutier, Pavilly and Montivilliers, occupies a decisive place.
His aristocratic origin, his education at the court of King Dagobert with Saint Eloï, Saint Wandrille and St Ouen and above all the large number of healings carried out after his death and during the translation of his relics following the invasion of the Vikings, make him an eminent religious personality who deserves better than the obscurity to which history has unjustly relegated him.
“Filiberto enjoyed such delicacy that he took all his care to put into practice first what he taught others. He was full of piety, inclined to mercy, endowed in preaching, of broad and profound intelligence, of easy contacts, firm of character, hospitable to all, having at heart the redemption of prisoners and the consolation of the afflicted, zealous for the construction of religious buildings, a disinterested man, leading a crowd of disciples on the path of detachment. He always had the name of Christ on his lips and always in his heart shone the lights and strength of the Holy Spirit. » (Ermentario).
The idea of following his path, of extending his notoriety far beyond the Vendée where he was revered and of doing him justice in some way, came to us during an afternoon spent at the Grand Parc du Puy del Matto. This superb achievement, due to Philippe de Villiers’ talent alone and his love for the Vendée, recreated the invasion of the Vikings that day.
In the midst of the shouts and fires lit on the Loire by the Normans, the image of some monks, piously carrying on their shoulders the sarcophagus of their holy founder Philibert, has imposed itself on our minds, arousing a myriad of questions and great emotion.
Back home and enriched by reading a solid bibliography, we were convinced that the holy monk founder of the order had something to tell us and we decided to follow in his footsteps.
Starting with the region where his father, bishop of Aire sur Adour, had raised him in Eauze. Then cross Aquitaine to reach the Vendée and the island of Noirmoutier. Finally, follow the route of his relics passing through Saint Philbert de Grand Lieu, Cunault, Messais, Saint Pourçain sur Sioule and Tournus. As usual, we would walk this road.
Robert Mestelan Prèsident de l’Association La Route de l’Europe chrétienne.

At the rate of 30-35 km per day, the 1360 km were covered in two months. A first south-north journey from Eauze to Noirmoutier, then a long west-east trajectory to reach Tournus on June 18, 2011. Compared to the 39 years of pilgrimage of the monks, these two months of travel for us at the speed of a comet.
Robert Mestelan
Président de l’Association La Route de l’Europe chrétienne.