The longest of the four French Routes of St. James: over 1,000 kilometers from Paris through the vast plains of northern France, past Tours and Bordeaux, to the foot of the Pyrenees.
The Via Turonensis is the northernmost and longest of the four historic Ways of St. James through France. It traditionally starts in Paris, at the Tour Saint-Jacques, and takes its name from the city of Tours, where the tomb of Saint Martin was one of the most important pilgrimage destinations of the Middle Ages. From Paris the route heads southwest: through the Loire valley, the Poitou, the wine country around Bordeaux and finally through the endless pine forests of the Landes to the foot of the Pyrenees.
It is a path of wide horizons and long stages. Those who walk it seek not the high mountains but the calm of the plains, old cities and the feeling of following a centuries-old road. The way ends in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where the French routes converge and the Camino Francés to Spain begins.
Depending on language and tradition, the route goes by several names:
The name points to Tours – not Paris – because the city with Saint Martin's tomb was the real landmark in the Middle Ages.
The Via Turonensis is ideal if you have time, stamina and a taste for long, even stages. If you love cities, history and the French way of life and don't mind flat terrain, you'll find a calm, dignified path far from the crowds.
It's less suitable if you're after mountain panoramas and dramatic scenery – large parts run through farmland, suburbs and the monotonous but meditative pine forests of the Landes. And if you're short on time, you'll hardly manage the whole route: at over 1,000 kilometers it's the longest of the four.
The way falls roughly into three parts. In the north it leads from Paris through fertile countryside, along the Loire and its châteaux, past Orléans, Tours and Poitiers – a string of old royal and episcopal cities.
In the west it crosses the Poitou and the Saintonge into the wine country around Bordeaux, past Romanesque churches and wide vineyards.
In the south the route finally crosses the Landes de Gascogne – a flat, almost endless pine forest – before the Pyrenees rise on the horizon and the path reaches Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
Technically the Via Turonensis is easy: it is mostly flat, and the elevation is spread over the whole, very long route. The real challenge is the distance and the mental stamina on the long, uniform stretches – especially in the Landes.
Most pilgrims need about 37 to 47 days for the full route; many walk it in sections over several years. Waymarking and infrastructure are not as dense as on the Chemin du Puy – a little more planning for accommodation is needed.
The route is named after Tours, and for good reason: this is where the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours lies, in the Middle Ages one of the most visited shrines in Europe. Today's Basilique Saint-Martin stands over his burial crypt and is still well worth a stop.
Martin – the Roman soldier who shared his cloak with a beggar – was France's most important saint for centuries. His cult made Tours a hub of the pilgrim routes long before Santiago.
The Via Turonensis is a complete journey in itself – from Paris to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. But you can also see it as a long run-up to an even bigger journey: in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port the Camino Francés begins seamlessly, carrying you over the Pyrenees and across northern Spain for about 800 more kilometers all the way to Santiago de Compostela. Whether you finish in Saint-Jean or walk on is entirely up to you.
The best time is May to September; in high summer the Landes and the area around Bordeaux can get hot. Accommodation ranges from municipal pilgrim hostels and gîtes to chambres d'hôtes – outside the big cities, booking ahead is wise, as the network is thinner than on the Spanish routes.
A little French is very helpful. Bring cash, and plan enough water and provisions for the long forest stretches in the Landes. As on all the Ways of St. James, you'll need a pilgrim's credential (créanciale).
France is more expensive than Spain. Budget roughly €40–60 per day. Beds in hostels and gîtes usually cost €12–25, plus food and – in the cities – higher prices for hotels and chambres d'hôtes. If you mostly self-cater and stay in municipal accommodation, you'll get by for considerably less.
The starting point is Paris – it could hardly be easier: the city is reachable by train and plane from all over Europe. If you only walk a section, Orléans, Tours, Poitiers and Bordeaux are all well connected by rail.
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Accueil chrétien chez le Bénédictines de Saint-Martin
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