Waldensian Trail of Faith

One Day Pilgrimage to Valdese, NC

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

You will witness an adventure in faith as the Waldensians journeyed from the Alpine Valleys of Italy to America more than a century ago. Relive their experience on a tour of the Waldensian Trail of Faith, which brings their struggles to life, commemorates their sacrifices and celebrates their triumphs. Our group also will visit the Waldensian Heritage Museum, which houses the largest collection of Waldensian artifacts in the United States.

On this pilgrimage, you can immerse yourself in the rich history of a people whose faith was as constant as the ancient Alps. In 1893, twenty-nine Waldenses arrived in Burke County, NC to prepare a place for several hundred more immigrants. In 1897, the settlers began work on a Romanesque church resembling those found in the valleys of Italy. Two years later, the church sanctuary, which you will have the opportunity to see, was completed and dedicated on July 4, 1899. This will be your chance to learn about Christian pilgrims who refused religious authority in their homeland in order to follow Jesus as they were led.

We understand that not everyone can manage or afford an overseas pilgrimage experience. This is the Center's second domestic pilgrimage since our founding, and the first single-day pilgrimage. It will be led by CSW staff member Joni Pavlik, who proposed it after making her own journey to Valdese and seeing for herself the power of the Waldensians' story.