To go to Santiago de Compostela, the Way of Tours (via Turonensis) is used by many pilgrims coming from northern France and Europe. This French route allows you to reach Roncevaux, on the border with Spain, by discovering the Loire Valley, Touraine, Poitou, Angoumois, Saintonge, Bordelais, Landes. Formerly, this route was very frequented by the many pilgrims who then went to Tours to bow to the tomb of Saint Martin, who died in 397.
This way is distinguished from other French ways by its slightly uneven terrain, easily passable by bicycle, by its remarkable architectural and cultural heritage (sites, churches, sanctuaries). It takes 71 days of walking to reach Santiago.
The Way of Tours symbolically begins at Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral and splits into two branches at Palaiseau, one going towards Chartres (GR®655 West), the other towards Orléans (GR®655 East and GR®3 ). These two routes meet in Tours. It stretches over four departments in the Centre-Val de Loire region. For pilgrims, the GR® is a possible route, however, it will sometimes be in their interest to take a different route, more suited to the philosophy of pilgrimage, shorter and well marked out by the local associations.
The Way of Tours in the Centre-Val de Loire region (CVL)
In the Centre-Val de Loire region, the Way of Tours successively crosses the departments of Eure-et-Loir (28), Loiret (45), Loir-et-Cher (41) and Indre-et-Loire (37) . Two routes are possible :
The Way of Tours through Chartres
The western branch of the Way of Tours passes through Chartres and Vendôme. Circulating in the Gâtines, rich in an impressive Jacobean heritage, it allows you to discover the magnificent landscapes of the Loir valley, passing through Chateaudun, Cloyes, Vendôme and Château-Renault.
The Way of Tours through Orléans
The eastern branch of the Way of Tours passes through Orléans and Blois. It is a fairly flat route, for both walkers and mountain bikers, which does not present any physical or technical difficulties. The path often runs along the banks of the Loire, a wild river bordered by the most beautiful royal castles, through Meung, Beaugency, Suèvres, Blois and Chaumont-sur-Loire.
For all information and information, click on the logos on the “Routes” page.
The Way of Tours out CVL
Upstream from the Centre-Val de Loire region, the route crosses the Ile de France region : For informations, see the communitie Compostelle2000.
Downstream from the Centre-Val de Loire region, the route enters the Nouvelle Aquitaine region : For informations, see the following communities : Les Amis des Chemins de Compostelle en Vienne and Les Amis de Saint Jacques in Aquitaine.
Others communities :
Association Saintaise des Chemins de Saint Jacques de la Charente Maritime : www.compostelle17.fr.
Société Landaise des Amis de Saint Jacques : www.compostelle-landes.org.
Les Amis du chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle en Pyrénées Atlantiques : www.aucoeurduchemin.org.
