For hundreds of years, these tracks have been used by pilgrims and walkers. Following these footpaths which are steeped in history and visit so many different places, you will be captivated by both the variety and interest of the countryside you pass through. This long-distance walk may be the world’s oldest, following as it does the Roman road known as the “Via Agrippa” which linked Lyon and Toulouse. Question about this trip ? Travel diary Day 01 Aire sur Adour ou Barcelonne du Guers Arrive at the hotel at the end of the afternoon; have dinner and pass the night in Aire or in Barcelonne du Gers. Day 02 AIRE SUR ADOUR - MIRAMONT SENSACQ From Aire, an ancient roman town with a cathedral, at the end of the town, you will walk close to the lac du Brousseau among cultures for arrive at Pontet which is 12 km away. After that, go to Pimbo. On the way you will pass the church of Sensacq, which is built in a Romanesque style and dates from the 11th century. 18 km about 5 hours You can choose the departure from Barcelone du Gers + km Or AIRE SUR ADOUR - ARZACQ ARRAZIGUET From Aire, an ancient roman town with a cathedral, at the end of the town, you will walk close to the lac du Brousseau among cultures for arrive at Pontet which is 12 km away. After that, go to Pimbo. On the way you will pass the church of Sensacq, which is built in a Romanesque style and dates from the 11th century. The road will get more rolling when joining Pimbo, on of the oldest farmhouses in the Landes. Then you will arrive in Arzacq where you definetely should stop to admire church, Peich Tour and Louis XIII Tour - 33 km Day 03 MIRAMONT SENSACQ - LARREULE After Pimbo, carry on until you reach ARZACQ. After leaving ARZACQ, head for the church of St Martin de Louvigny. Then follow the road along the ridge until you get to Fichous-Riumayou. Keep going until you reach Larreule. You will pass the night at Casteide Candau Morlane. When you reach Larreule, you can call the hotel keeper so that he can come and find you. km about 5 hours 30 minutes Or ARZACQ ARRAZIGUET - POMPS From louvigny to Larreule, landscapes and belltowers will lead you to Pomps. When arrived, you can call the hotelier who will come and get you to join your accomodation in Hagetaubin. - 21 km about 5 hours Day 04 CASTEIDE CANDAU - MASLACQ At the start of the morning’s walk, the hotel keeper will be able to drive you to to Pomps. See him about this when you are at the hotel. In any event, go to Pomps, passing first through Uzan, there is a 17th century château with an octagonal tower at Pomps. Next, go through Castillon, before arriving at the chapel of Caubin. Then go to Arthez de Béarn, before continuing to MASLACQ. Very little uphill walking. 23 km about 5 hours OR Or POMPS - SAUVELADE From Pomps, you will come accross small towns Casillon, Arthez de Béarn, old middle age tracks, you will walk near the Labarthe farm which is a private property but it is allowed for walkers only. Once you have crossed the ford, take the direction of Navarrenx Biggest uphill climb 130m- km about 5 hours and 30 minutes Day 05 MASLACQ - NAVARRENX Leave MASLACQ take the way leading to Sauvelade which is 8km further on. There is a bar and you can get a snack at Sauvelade. Next we go past the farm of Labarthe which is private property, but walkers are allowed to pass through it. After crossing the ford, follow the way to NAVARRENX. Biggest uphill climb 130m - 22 km about 5 hours Or SAUVELADE - NAVARRENX Walk near the Labarthe farm which is a private property but it is allowed for walkers only. Once you have crossed the ford, take the direction of Navarrenx biggest uphill climb 130 m - 14 km about 4 hours Day 06 NAVARRENX - AROUE After leaving the fortified town of NAVARRENX, go to Castetnau-Camblong. Pass through the old part of the village and then make your way to the Château de Montgaston which is 12km away. Next you pass the Château de Joantho which is private. Accomodation with bathrooms and restrooms in the corridor in Aroue, small accomodation, possible to plan a transfert with extra fees 20 km about 4 hours 30 minutes Day 07 AROUE - ST PALAIS Aroué, which is off the GR main footpath marks the boundary between the area called the Béarn and the Basque country. At way-point 86 on the topo-guide map take the alternative route which leads you to ST PALAIS. Little uphill walking. 21 km about 4 hours 30 minutes Day 08 ST PALAIS - LARCEVEAU ST PALAIS is off the GR. Follow the directions in the topo guide to get back on to the GR 65. You can then make for Hiriburia, go past the chapelle de Soyarza from where there is a wonderful view; then go to Ostabat- Asme, a meeting point for large numbers of pilgrims. After this you arrive at LARCEVAU. Biggest uphill walk 210m 160m 19 km about 4 hours Day 09 LARCEVEAU - ST JEAN PIED DE PORT This is the last stage, which takes you to ST JEAN PIED DE PORT. Before getting there you first pass through Ainhice Mongelos, Bustince which has an ancient chapel, well worth seeing; then you go through St Jean le Vieux and finish up at St Jean Pied de Port. Biggest uphill climb 120m. 19 km about 4 hours 30 minutes Day 10 The walking holiday ends after breakfast. WEATHERTelephone number for weather forecasts in French 32 50WHICH TIME OF YEAR IS BEST?The normal period for doing this walking tour is from May to October. From mid-October to mid-April, weather conditions can be difficult, with fog or snow, especially when crossing the Margeride and the plateau of the Aubrac. The winter season from November to March and the midsummer period of July and August are best avoided. The best times of all are in late spring or early autumn May-June and AND VEGETATIONMuch of the route goes through countryside with many small valleys containing farmland, grassland and you enter foothills and medium-sized mountains with summer pastures for sheep, and woods of oak and beech in the areas you pass through are called the Béarn and the Basque country le Pays Basque.CLIMATELow altitude and the nearness to the sea means the climate is mild and often wet in spring and sutumn. It is fairly hot in the the last two stages the climate changes; since you are entering the mountains it becomes cooler, even in WAS ST JAMES St Jacques?A bit of historyThe Gospels tell us that St James was one of Christ’s twelve disciples. He was the son of Zebedee and Mary Salome. He was also the brother of Saint John and related to Christ himself through his mother. He was put to the sword – executed - by Church gives this Saint James the name of St James the Greater to distinguish him from another disciple, James the Lesser, who became head of the Jerusalem Church after the death of tells us that after Pentecost, Saint James travelled as a missionary to Spain. He disembarked in Andalusia on Spain’s Mediterranean coast and then journeyed to Galicia, in the far north-west corner of the Iberian Peninsula. After several years spreading the Gospel, he returned to Jerusalem where he was of his followers, Theodore and Athenasius, laid his body in a boat and took to sea. Propelled by wind and wave, the boat finally made landfall in a Galician estuary. It was here at this estuary that the ancient town of Iria Flavia was built a town which now bears the name of El two followers buried the apostle’s body some way inland at the spot where, later, the town of Santiago de Compostela Saint Jacques de Compostelle was about eight centuries that was the end of the St James story, because it was not until the beginning of the 9th century that a hermit called Pelagius experienced some visions. These prompted him to contact Theodomir, the bishop of Iria Flavia. Then they discovered three tombs which they identified as those of St James and his two followers. On the ground where this discovery was made the kings of Galicia ordered a rustic church to be a second and more magnificent church was built – which attracted the first second church, which had become raised to the status of a cathedral, was taken and destroyed by Moorish invaders. In its place was built the Romanesque cathedral which we admire to this day, though it is now embedded in the heart of the present-day cathedral which is built in a flamboyant gothic style. Saint James became the patron saint of Spain and the symbol of that country’s triumph over the 18th century, through fear of English invasions, the tombs of Saint James and his two followers were walled up in the cathedral crypt, and for the time being they were lost to view. It was not until the 19th century that the three tombs saw once more the light of pilgrimage of St James of Compostela is one of the three great Christian pilgrimages, together with those of Rome and Jerusalem. It owes its origin to the resistance against Muslim invaders. After the 9th century, Saint James became the patron saint of Spain and the symbol of that country’s conquest of Islam. The pilgrimage reaches its highest importance in the 12th and 13th centuries. This was also the time of the Romanesque renaissance. With the vigorous support of the Popes and of the Order of Cluny, the Catholic kingdoms of northern Europe and of various chivalric orders, the pilgrimage became a powerful means of communication. In Medieval Europe it acted as a highway for people, ideas, cultures and technological this high point, factors including the Hundred Years’ War between France and England, Protestantism, the emergence of absolute monarchies and the French Revolution have all progressively reduced the importance of the just before the end of the second millennium, and since then, there has been a revival of interest in the St James pilgrimage. The Way of Saint James in Spain was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998 also gave World Heritage status to 69 monuments marking the St James Way in France, including seven sections of ancient pathway in Le Puy en Spain, the town of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia has itself become a World Heritage pilgrimage is one of the most widely followed in western Europe. The scallop shell has become the emblem of those who made the journey those thousands of people of all conditions who, by road and track, trekked on foot to pay their homage to Saint James of etcCredencial la CrédentialeFollowing the tradition of pilgrimages to Compostela, this document is made available to those embarking on the journey, to bear witness to their spiritual determination. It acts as a kind of pilgrim’s passport, making it easier for pilgrims to approach other people, show respect to a host, and serves as a recommendation of the pilgrim towards anyone they may meet in the course of their pilgrimage. It doesn’t confer any special rights but it does allow access to Spanish gîtes on the pilgrim route. A stamp is required to show passage through each section of the pilgrim’s way, put there by a priest, a town hall, the tourist office or someone offering accommodation to the this document has to be ordered from an organisation as close as possible to the pilgrim’s home. In practice you can obtain the credencial by filling in an order form on the following website and including a cheque for 8€ payable to the ACIR. This must be done at least ten days before your departure ORDERThe credencial can also be ordered from the address belowAssociation de Coopération Inter-Régionale"Les chemins de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle"4, rue Clémence Isaure - FR-31000 TOULOUSE métro EsquirolTél. +3305 62 27 00 05 - Fax +3305 62 27 12 40mail CréantialeThis is a similar document, but available without charge. It can be obtained from a church after an interview, taking the form of a fraternal dialogue’. It is a sign of trusting and reciprocal welcome’. It is not necessary to be a Christian to obtain this a priest or contact the bishopric in your diocese. They vary in their level of interest and information on this subject.A Créantiale is a document to confirm that a pilgrim is indeed a pilgrim. It confers an obligation on those who give out the document as well as on those who show it to their hosts along the Pilgrim’s Way. It signifies that the bearer belongs to the class of people who are pilgrims and it also is a sign of a trusting and reciprocal welcome between the pilgrim, Christian or not, and the Church. This is because the Créantiale must be handed back personally to the bearer, following an interview with a representative of the Catholic Church on the Christian meaning of the associations of the friends of St James associations des amis de St Jacques have the right to issue the CompostellaThe certificate of having completed the pilgrimage the Compostella is given out at Compostela itself, on presentation of a Créantiale which has been properly stamped at daily halts for all, or a large part, of St James’ can be seen as a sort of diploma issued by the cathedral to those who have covered the last 100km of the Way on foot, or the last 200km by bicycle or on horseback. Question about this trip ? Day 01 Aire sur Adour ou Barcelonne du GuersArrive at the hotel at the end of the afternoon; have dinner and pass the night in Aire or in Barcelonne du Gers. Day 02AIRE SUR ADOUR - MIRAMONT SENSACQ From Aire, an ancient roman town with a cathedral, at the end of the town, you will walk close to the lac du Brousseau among cultures for arrive at Pontet which is 12 km away. After that, go to Pimbo. On the way you will pass the church of Sensacq, which is built in a Romanesque style and dates from the 11th century. 18 km about 5 hours You can choose the departure from Barcelone du Gers + km Or AIRE SUR ADOUR - ARZACQ ARRAZIGUET From Aire, an ancient roman town with a cathedral, at the end of the town, you will walk close to the lac du Brousseau among cultures for arrive at Pontet which is 12 km away. After that, go to Pimbo. On the way you will pass the church of Sensacq, which is built in a Romanesque style and dates from the 11th century. The road will get more rolling when joining Pimbo, on of the oldest farmhouses in the Landes. Then you will arrive in Arzacq where you definetely should stop to admire church, Peich Tour and Louis XIII Tour - 33 km Day 03MIRAMONT SENSACQ - LARREULE After Pimbo, carry on until you reach ARZACQ. After leaving ARZACQ, head for the church of St Martin de Louvigny. Then follow the road along the ridge until you get to Fichous-Riumayou. Keep going until you reach Larreule. You will pass the night at Casteide Candau Morlane. When you reach Larreule, you can call the hotel keeper so that he can come and find you. km about 5 hours 30 minutes Or ARZACQ ARRAZIGUET - POMPS From louvigny to Larreule, landscapes and belltowers will lead you to Pomps. When arrived, you can call the hotelier who will come and get you to join your accomodation in Hagetaubin. - 21 km about 5 hours Day 04CASTEIDE CANDAU - MASLACQ At the start of the morning’s walk, the hotel keeper will be able to drive you to to Pomps. See him about this when you are at the hotel. In any event, go to Pomps, passing first through Uzan, there is a 17th century château with an octagonal tower at Pomps. Next, go through Castillon, before arriving at the chapel of Caubin. Then go to Arthez de Béarn, before continuing to MASLACQ. Very little uphill walking. 23 km about 5 hours OR Or POMPS - SAUVELADE From Pomps, you will come accross small towns Casillon, Arthez de Béarn, old middle age tracks, you will walk near the Labarthe farm which is a private property but it is allowed for walkers only. Once you have crossed the ford, take the direction of Navarrenx Biggest uphill climb 130m- km about 5 hours and 30 minutes Day 05MASLACQ - NAVARRENX Leave MASLACQ take the way leading to Sauvelade which is 8km further on. There is a bar and you can get a snack at Sauvelade. Next we go past the farm of Labarthe which is private property, but walkers are allowed to pass through it. After crossing the ford, follow the way to NAVARRENX. Biggest uphill climb 130m - 22 km about 5 hours Or SAUVELADE - NAVARRENX Walk near the Labarthe farm which is a private property but it is allowed for walkers only. Once you have crossed the ford, take the direction of Navarrenx biggest uphill climb 130 m - 14 km about 4 hours Day 06NAVARRENX - AROUE After leaving the fortified town of NAVARRENX, go to Castetnau-Camblong. Pass through the old part of the village and then make your way to the Château de Montgaston which is 12km away. Next you pass the Château de Joantho which is private. Accomodation with bathrooms and restrooms in the corridor in Aroue, small accomodation, possible to plan a transfert with extra fees 20 km about 4 hours 30 minutes Day 07AROUE - ST PALAIS Aroué, which is off the GR main footpath marks the boundary between the area called the Béarn and the Basque country. At way-point 86 on the topo-guide map take the alternative route which leads you to ST PALAIS. Little uphill walking. 21 km about 4 hours 30 minutes Day 08ST PALAIS - LARCEVEAU ST PALAIS is off the GR. Follow the directions in the topo guide to get back on to the GR 65. You can then make for Hiriburia, go past the chapelle de Soyarza from where there is a wonderful view; then go to Ostabat- Asme, a meeting point for large numbers of pilgrims. After this you arrive at LARCEVAU. Biggest uphill walk 210m 160m 19 km about 4 hours Day 09LARCEVEAU - ST JEAN PIED DE PORT This is the last stage, which takes you to ST JEAN PIED DE PORT. Before getting there you first pass through Ainhice Mongelos, Bustince which has an ancient chapel, well worth seeing; then you go through St Jean le Vieux and finish up at St Jean Pied de Port. Biggest uphill climb 120m. 19 km about 4 hours 30 minutes Day 10The walking holiday ends after breakfast. WEATHERTelephone number for weather forecasts in French 32 50WHICH TIME OF YEAR IS BEST?The normal period for doing this walking tour is from May to October. From mid-October to mid-April, weather conditions can be difficult, with fog or snow, especially when crossing the Margeride and the plateau of the Aubrac. The winter season from November to March and the midsummer period of July and August are best avoided. The best times of all are in late spring or early autumn May-June and AND VEGETATIONMuch of the route goes through countryside with many small valleys containing farmland, grassland and you enter foothills and medium-sized mountains with summer pastures for sheep, and woods of oak and beech in the areas you pass through are called the Béarn and the Basque country le Pays Basque.CLIMATELow altitude and the nearness to the sea means the climate is mild and often wet in spring and sutumn. It is fairly hot in the the last two stages the climate changes; since you are entering the mountains it becomes cooler, even in WAS ST JAMES St Jacques?A bit of historyThe Gospels tell us that St James was one of Christ’s twelve disciples. He was the son of Zebedee and Mary Salome. He was also the brother of Saint John and related to Christ himself through his mother. He was put to the sword – executed - by Church gives this Saint James the name of St James the Greater to distinguish him from another disciple, James the Lesser, who became head of the Jerusalem Church after the death of tells us that after Pentecost, Saint James travelled as a missionary to Spain. He disembarked in Andalusia on Spain’s Mediterranean coast and then journeyed to Galicia, in the far north-west corner of the Iberian Peninsula. After several years spreading the Gospel, he returned to Jerusalem where he was of his followers, Theodore and Athenasius, laid his body in a boat and took to sea. Propelled by wind and wave, the boat finally made landfall in a Galician estuary. It was here at this estuary that the ancient town of Iria Flavia was built a town which now bears the name of El two followers buried the apostle’s body some way inland at the spot where, later, the town of Santiago de Compostela Saint Jacques de Compostelle was about eight centuries that was the end of the St James story, because it was not until the beginning of the 9th century that a hermit called Pelagius experienced some visions. These prompted him to contact Theodomir, the bishop of Iria Flavia. Then they discovered three tombs which they identified as those of St James and his two followers. On the ground where this discovery was made the kings of Galicia ordered a rustic church to be a second and more magnificent church was built – which attracted the first second church, which had become raised to the status of a cathedral, was taken and destroyed by Moorish invaders. In its place was built the Romanesque cathedral which we admire to this day, though it is now embedded in the heart of the present-day cathedral which is built in a flamboyant gothic style. Saint James became the patron saint of Spain and the symbol of that country’s triumph over the 18th century, through fear of English invasions, the tombs of Saint James and his two followers were walled up in the cathedral crypt, and for the time being they were lost to view. It was not until the 19th century that the three tombs saw once more the light of pilgrimage of St James of Compostela is one of the three great Christian pilgrimages, together with those of Rome and Jerusalem. It owes its origin to the resistance against Muslim invaders. After the 9th century, Saint James became the patron saint of Spain and the symbol of that country’s conquest of Islam. The pilgrimage reaches its highest importance in the 12th and 13th centuries. This was also the time of the Romanesque renaissance. With the vigorous support of the Popes and of the Order of Cluny, the Catholic kingdoms of northern Europe and of various chivalric orders, the pilgrimage became a powerful means of communication. In Medieval Europe it acted as a highway for people, ideas, cultures and technological this high point, factors including the Hundred Years’ War between France and England, Protestantism, the emergence of absolute monarchies and the French Revolution have all progressively reduced the importance of the just before the end of the second millennium, and since then, there has been a revival of interest in the St James pilgrimage. The Way of Saint James in Spain was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998 also gave World Heritage status to 69 monuments marking the St James Way in France, including seven sections of ancient pathway in Le Puy en Spain, the town of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia has itself become a World Heritage pilgrimage is one of the most widely followed in western Europe. The scallop shell has become the emblem of those who made the journey those thousands of people of all conditions who, by road and track, trekked on foot to pay their homage to Saint James of etcCredencial la CrédentialeFollowing the tradition of pilgrimages to Compostela, this document is made available to those embarking on the journey, to bear witness to their spiritual determination. It acts as a kind of pilgrim’s passport, making it easier for pilgrims to approach other people, show respect to a host, and serves as a recommendation of the pilgrim towards anyone they may meet in the course of their pilgrimage. It doesn’t confer any special rights but it does allow access to Spanish gîtes on the pilgrim route. A stamp is required to show passage through each section of the pilgrim’s way, put there by a priest, a town hall, the tourist office or someone offering accommodation to the this document has to be ordered from an organisation as close as possible to the pilgrim’s home. In practice you can obtain the credencial by filling in an order form on the following website and including a cheque for 8€ payable to the ACIR. This must be done at least ten days before your departure ORDERThe credencial can also be ordered from the address belowAssociation de Coopération Inter-Régionale"Les chemins de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle"4, rue Clémence Isaure - FR-31000 TOULOUSE métro EsquirolTél. +3305 62 27 00 05 - Fax +3305 62 27 12 40mail CréantialeThis is a similar document, but available without charge. It can be obtained from a church after an interview, taking the form of a fraternal dialogue’. It is a sign of trusting and reciprocal welcome’. It is not necessary to be a Christian to obtain this a priest or contact the bishopric in your diocese. They vary in their level of interest and information on this subject.A Créantiale is a document to confirm that a pilgrim is indeed a pilgrim. It confers an obligation on those who give out the document as well as on those who show it to their hosts along the Pilgrim’s Way. It signifies that the bearer belongs to the class of people who are pilgrims and it also is a sign of a trusting and reciprocal welcome between the pilgrim, Christian or not, and the Church. This is because the Créantiale must be handed back personally to the bearer, following an interview with a representative of the Catholic Church on the Christian meaning of the associations of the friends of St James associations des amis de St Jacques have the right to issue the CompostellaThe certificate of having completed the pilgrimage the Compostella is given out at Compostela itself, on presentation of a Créantiale which has been properly stamped at daily halts for all, or a large part, of St James’ can be seen as a sort of diploma issued by the cathedral to those who have covered the last 100km of the Way on foot, or the last 200km by bicycle or on horseback. Question about this trip ?

Carcassonneest une étape importante du chemin de grande randonnée, le GR 78, dénommé chemin du Piémont-Pyrénéen vers Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. Cet itinéraire relie la Méditerranée à l'Atlantique, les Alpes aux Pyrénées. Méconnu, il est considéré par l’ ACIR comme un des itinéraires historique principaux en France.

Je suis ravie de te partager aujourd’hui mon expérience sur la voie d’Arles. Je suis partie deux fois sur le chemin d’Arles et j’ai eu un véritable coup de cœur pour cet itinéraire. Le chemin de Compostelle Comme je te le disais, l’un des intérêts du chemin de Compostelle c’est de proposer une multitude de points de départ. Situés sur différentes voies aux noms sympathiques, les quatre routes françaises principales étant historiquement les suivantes • la via Turonensis, au départ de Paris, en passant par Tours• la via Lemovicensis, au départ de Vézelay, en passant par Limoges• la via Podiensis, au départ du Puy-en-Velay, en passant par Cahors• la via Tolosana, voie d’Arles, au départ d’Arles, en passant par Toulouse Soit tu es un vrai de vrai, et tu pars de chez toi. Puisque historiquement le vrai pèlerin faisait son petit paquetage, claquait la porte et allait directement sur le chemin. Pas de bol s’il habitait dans le fin fond du Nord de la France, ça lui rajoutait un peu plus de défis par rapport aux petits copains du Sud ! Soit, tu n’es pas encore à la retraite. Et comme le commun des mortels tu n’as malheureusement pas 2 mois de congés voir plus sous le coude. Si tu le fais en une ou plusieurs fois, tu choisis donc ta voie. Et là le doute s’installe. Quelle voie prendre, pourquoi, comment ? Il y a bien sûr celle de Puy-en-Velay qui est la plus connue et majoritairement empruntée. Mais d’autres voies, plus intimistes, permettent aussi de voir du pays et de profiter de jolis paysages. C’est pourquoi aujourd’hui je vais te parler de la voie d’Arles, qui fut l’élue de nos deux dernières pérégrinations sur Compostelle – en 2011 lorsque nous avions fait l’étape Arles jusqu’à Lodève– Et cette année où nous avons randonné de Montpellier jusqu’à Toulouse Si toi aussi tu hésites ou souhaites simplement en savoir un peu plus sur cette voie qui gagne à être un peu plus connue viens par là. Attention je ne dis pas que la voie d’Arles est mieux qu’une autre, simplement qu’elle vaut son pesant de kilomètres. La voie d’Arles ou via Tolosana Pour te perdre un peu plus cette voie a plusieurs noms. Passons sur les noms historiques “Via Aegidiana”, “Via Arelatensis” que tu ne verras jamais. On l’appelle communément la via Tolosana ou voie toulousaine et la voie d’Arles. Jusqu’ici rien de trop compliqué puisqu’elle passe par Toulouse et commence à Arles. Un peu d’histoire ? C’était la voie empruntée par les pèlerins provenant de Rome à l’époque pour rejoindre Compostelle. Elle fait partie des voies historiques ! La voie d’Arles, en bref La voie d’Arles, ou via Tolosana est balisée en tant que sentier de grande randonnée n° 653 GR 653. Inauguré en 1990 il est bien balisé, et facilement praticable. Sur certaines portions un peu moins mais globalement c’est une voie assez agréable qui ne perd pas trop son pèlerin. Voie historique, on y compte pas mal d’hébergements, beaucoup moins que sur d’autres beaucoup plus touristiques » mais c’est déjà plutôt pas mal ! Grosso modo on compte 1590 km soit 740 km jusqu’à la frontière d’Espagne et 850 km de la frontière à Compostelle. Elle rejoint l’Espagne après avoir franchi les Pyrénées au col du Somport. Elle retrouve d’ailleurs les autres voies à Puente la Reina, en territoire espagnol pour rejoindre l’itinéraire menant à Saint-Jacques de Compostelle appelé le Camino francés. Elle compte quelques monuments inscrits au Patrimoine Mondial de l’Unesco dont la ville d’Arles, la basilique Saint Sernin et l’hôtel-Dieu à Toulouse, la cathédrale Sainte Marie à Auch ou encore l’’église Sainte Marie à Oloron Sainte Marie. De quoi ravir les férus d’histoire et de beaux monuments !Outre ces points d’intérêts elle traverse notamment les villages et villes de Saint Guilhem le Désert, Lodève, Castres, Toulouse, Auc, Pau et Urdos Pourquoi choisir la voie d’Arles pour rejoindre Compostelle? 1. La voie d’Arles, facilement accessible ! Cette année nous l’avons choisi pour plusieurs raisons. La première était peu glamour et très logistique puisque nous avions besoin d’un itinéraire assez simple à faire sur deux semaines avec un départ et une arrivée idéales en termes de transport. Quoi de mieux que Montpellier et Toulouse pour rejoindre ensuite Paris. La voie d’Arles présente en effet pas mal de points de chute assez faciles à rejoindre, Arles étant aussi bien desservi. Mieux que Puy en Velay par exemple. 2. Des villages coup de cœur et de magnifiques paysages Je te rassure même si cela a joué dans la balance, nous n’avons pas choisi cet itinéraire simplement pour du pratico pratique. Pour avoir déjà fait un petit bout de cette voie nous connaissions déjà quelques étapes. Et avions eu un coup de cœur pour Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert notamment. Reprendre le chemin à Montpellier était l’occasion parfaite pour y retourner 6 ans après. Même si Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert a été clairement à la hauteur de nos souvenirs, nous avons aussi traversé de très jolis lieux, comme le charmant Castanet-le-Haut, Castres, Sorèze, Toulouse… Des villages oui mais surtout de magnifiques paysages. Qui ne nous laisse pas le temps de nous ennuyer puisque à chaque jour suffit son joli paysage et ses découvertes. De la montagne, des forêts, le canal du midi… plusieurs fois par jour parfois nous changions totalement d’environnement ce qui permet de se concentrer un peu moins sur ses pieds et un peu plus sur le paysage. 3. Le chemin d’Arles, un balisage agréable dans l’ensemble Ce n’est pas l’un des éléments qui nous y a poussés, puisque c’est souvent la surprise du chef à l’arrivée. Mais le balisage est plutôt bien fait, dans l’ensemble, et permet de suivre agréablement le guide GR sans avoir le nez toujours fourré dans son topoguide ! Les petits bémols sur la voie d’Arles La via Tolosana étant beaucoup moins empruntée que celle du Puy en Velay… le nombre de pèlerins au m2 est beaucoup moins important. Moins de rencontres donc même si nous avons eu notre lot de jolis échanges avec quelques pèlerins et d’hébergements aussi, même si cela n’a jamais été foncièrement handicapant cela demande un peu plus d’ petit bémol dû surtout à la période, c’est une voie plus agréable au printemps ou en automne. La chaleur estivale et le manque de points d’eau ne nous ayant pas desséché comme des pruneaux nous avons tout de même eu quelques traversées du désert ! Les étapes de la voie d’Arles étape 1 Arles – Saint-Gilles-du-Gard 20,5 kmétape 2 Saint-Gilles-du-Gard – Vauvert 17 kmétape 3 Vauvert – Gallargues-le-Montueux 13,5 kmétape 4 Gallargues-le-Montueux – Montpellier 36 kmétape 5 Montpellier – Montarnaud 23 kmétape 5 Montarnaud – Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert 22 Kmétape 6 St-Guilhem-le-Désert – St-Jean-de-la-Blaquière 24 kmétape 7 Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquière à Soumont – Lodève 15 kmétape 8 Lodève – Lunas 28 kmétape 9 Lunas – Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare 28,5 kmétape 10 St-Gervais-sur-Mare – Murat-sur-Vèbre 23 kmétape 11 Murat-sur-Vèbre – La Salvetat-sur-Agout 22 kmétape 12 La Salvetat-sur-Agout – Anglès 20,5 Kmétape 13 Anglès – Boissezon 21 kmétape 14 Boissezon – Castres 16 kmétape 15 Castres – Dourgne 22 kmétape 16 Dourgne – Revel 19 kmétape 17 Revel – Les Cassès 17 kmétape 18 Les Cassès – Montferrand 22 kmétape 19 Montferrand – Baziège 25 kmétape 20 Baziège –Toulouse 34 kmétape 21 Toulouse – Léguevin 23étape 22 Léguevin – L’Isle-Jourdain 14,5étape 23 L’Isle-Jourdain – L’Isle-Arné / La Motte 33 kmétape 24 L’Isle-Arné / La Motte – Auch 26,5 kmétape 25 Auch – Barran 17 Kmétape 26 Barran – Montesquiou 15 kmétape 27 Montesquiou – Marciac 24 kmétape 28 Marciac – Maubourguet 17 Kmétape 29 Maubourguet – Anoye 23,5 Kmétape 30 Anoye – Morlaàs 15 kmétape 31 Morlaàs – Lescar 20kmétape 32 Lescar – Oloron-Sainte-Marie 33 kmétape 33 Oloron-Sainte-Marie – Sarrance 22 kmétape 34 Sarrance –Borce 22 kmétape 35 Borce – Col du Somport 18 Km cumul = 768,5 Kmétape 36 Col du Somport- Jaca 22kmétape 37 Jaca – Arrès 25kmétape 38 voie d’Arles Arrès – Ruesta 27étape 39 voie d’Arles Ruesta – Sanguesa 23étape 40 voie d’Arles Sanguesa- Monreal 31,5kmétape 41 voie d’Arles Monrea – Puente-la-Reina 31,5km Profil topographique de la voie d’Arles Profil – voie Arles chemin de compostelle Et pour tout préparer, rendez-vous sur le Topoguide de la voie d’Arles

Ville de St Jean Pied de PortEtape 39 St Palais - St Jean Pied de PortGPX GPS eXchange Format est un format de fichier permettant l'échange de coordonnées formats sur demandeI Phone / I Padacessible par TrailRunner - ici gratuit application iPhone qui propose d’enregistrer un parcours à l’aide du GPS de l’iPhone, d’en visualiser les différentes caractéristiques et de l’exporter au format de fichier permettant de visionner toutes les informations de la trace route sur GPS TwoNav site internet ici Format de fichier permettant de visionner la trace route sur Google Earth site internet ici GPS Partage de DonnéesGPX GPS eXchange Format est un format de fichier permettant l'échange de coordonnées Earth

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chemin de compostelle arles saint jean pied de port