Way of St James Île-de-France · Centre and Loire Valley · Atlantic coast · South-West · Ways of St James
GR655GR655 Via Turonensis, Tours route
The route to Santiago that starts in the heart of Paris: Chartres or Orléans, Tours, Romanesque Poitou and Saintonge, the Gironde estuary, the Landes forest and the Basque Country.
1,107 km45 stages4,950 m ascentHigh point 263 mParis (tour Saint-Jacques) → Uhart-Mixe (Saint-Palais)
From Paris (tour Saint-Jacques) to Uhart-Mixe (Saint-Palais), over 1,107 km.
-100 m0 m100 m200 m300 m0 km200 km400 km600 km800 km1,000 km151015202530354045High point 263 m
Elevation profile: from -2 m to 231 m over 1,107.4 km.
The GR655 at a glance
The GR655 follows the via Turonensis, or Tours route, the northernmost of the great French routes to Santiago de Compostela. Its name comes from the shrine of St Martin in Tours, a major pilgrimage site in the early Middle Ages. The FFRandonnée starts the GR655 in Brussels, but the route traditionally begins in Paris, at the foot of the Tour Saint-Jacques, the former bell tower of the church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, which was sold off as a stone quarry in 1797. It leads to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, at the foot of the Pyrenees.
South of Paris, at Palaiseau, the path divides: the western branch goes via Chartres and the Loir valley, the eastern branch via Orléans and the Loire valley. The two meet again at Vouvray, just before Tours. Next come Poitiers, the Romanesque churches of Melle and Aulnay, Saint-Jean-d’Angély, Saintes and Pons, then the Gironde estuary, which the GR655 follows along the right bank and through the villages of the Blayais as far as Bordeaux.
Further south, the path heads deep into the Landes forest: long straight tracks and soft sand as far as Labouheyre, then Dax, the water meadows of the Adour and Sorde abbey, on the banks of the Gave d’Oloron. In the Basque Country, near Saint-Palais, it meets the Le Puy and Vézelay routes, and the GR65 takes it on to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
The height gain is low and the Agence des chemins de Compostelle classes the route as “suitable for everyone”. Its difficulty lies in its length: it lends itself well to being discovered in sections, especially as major stations line the way, from Chartres and Orléans to Tours, Poitiers, Bordeaux and Dax.
Highlights
The start at the foot of the Tour Saint-Jacques, in the heart of Paris, a World Heritage Site as part of the routes to Santiago de Compostela.
The choice between two branches, via Chartres and the Loir valley or via Orléans and the Loire.
Tours and the memory of St Martin, who gave the route its name.
The Romanesque art of Poitou and Saintonge, from Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand in Poitiers to Saint-Pierre d’Aulnay and Saint-Eutrope in Saintes.
Bordeaux and its three monuments listed by UNESCO as part of the routes to Santiago de Compostela: Saint-Seurin, Saint-Michel and Saint-André cathedral.
Crossing the Landes forest, then Sorde abbey on the banks of the Gave d’Oloron.
Practical information
Start
Paris (tour Saint-Jacques)
The Tour Saint-Jacques is a stone’s throw from Châtelet, served by metro lines 1, 4, 7 and 11 and RER A, B and D. The GR655 waymarks leave Paris southwards via the Porte de Vanves.
Finish
Uhart-Mixe (Saint-Palais)
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is linked by train to Bayonne, from where you can reach Bordeaux and the rest of the national network.
When to go
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The Agence des chemins de Compostelle and MonGR consider the route walkable all year round. In winter and spring, paths can be wet and muddy; in the Landes, the departmental committee advises keeping away from wood-pigeon shooting hides during the hunting season.
Difficulty
Moderate
A lowland route with very little height gain, classed as “suitable for everyone” by the Agence des chemins de Compostelle; the length, the succession of stages and the sand of the Landes tracks call for stamina.
The Agence des chemins de Compostelle keeps a directory of accommodation along the route (gîtes, B&Bs, hotels, campsites), including partner addresses and places with the “Accueil” label. In Île-de-France, the route is mostly walked as day walks, from station to station. In rural areas and the Landes forest, accommodation is more spread out: it is best to book in advance.
Rules to know
There are no regulations specific to the route. The pilgrim passport, recommended in France for access to accommodation reserved for pilgrims, confers no rights and does not replace an identity document. In summer, access to forest areas may be restricted by prefectoral order when there is a risk of fire.
Water and supplies
Follow the white-and-red waymarks of the GR655, then those of the GR65 after Saint-Palais. In the Gironde, do not confuse the right bank of the estuary, followed by the GR655, with the traditional variant on the left bank, via the Blaye ferry and the Médoc. In the Landes, the section from Saugnac-et-Muret to Labouheyre is the wildest: carry water and food for the day.
The GR655 on the map
The 45 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
GR655, western branch via Chartres: the Croc-Marbot section between Châteaudun and Marboué is closed. Follow the diversion published by the Eure-et-Loir hiking committee.
Choose your branch, Chartres or Orléans, before setting off, and get the corresponding documentation.
Order your pilgrim passport before setting off, from the Agence des chemins de Compostelle or a St James association, and have it stamped at every stop.
Before each section, check the trail alerts of the FFRandonnée departmental committees, which report diversions and works.
In the Landes forest, lighten your pack and go easy on your legs: the soft sand of the tracks is quickly tiring.
In summer, check with the prefectures for forest access restrictions, especially in the Gironde and the Landes.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Tours route start in Paris?
At the foot of the Tour Saint-Jacques, in the square of the same name, near Châtelet. The City of Paris presents it as one of the starting points of the routes to Santiago de Compostela. The FFRandonnée, for its part, starts the GR655 in Brussels: it enters Paris along the Canal Saint-Denis.
Should you go via Chartres or via Orléans?
The two branches separate at Palaiseau and meet again at Vouvray, near Tours. The western branch follows Chartres and the Loir valley, the eastern branch Orléans and the Loire valley; according to MonGR, their lengths are similar. The choice depends mainly on the towns and landscapes you prefer.
Does the GR655 go all the way to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port?
Not quite. According to the Agence des chemins de Compostelle, the route is officially approved as the GR655 as far as Saint-Palais, where it joins the Le Puy and Vézelay routes, then as the GR65 to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The waymarks remain white and red from start to finish.
Which World Heritage monuments can you see on the Tours route?
The Agence lists the Tour Saint-Jacques in Paris, Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand in Poitiers, Saint-Hilaire in Melle, Saint-Pierre d’Aulnay, the royal abbey of Saint-Jean-d’Angély, Saint-Eutrope in Saintes, the former pilgrims’ hospital in Pons, three monuments in Bordeaux, Sorde abbey and the Porte Saint-Jacques in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, inscribed in 1998 as part of the routes to Santiago de Compostela.
Where can you get the pilgrim passport to set off from Paris?
Online from the Agence des chemins de Compostelle, which offers a version valid in France and Spain, or from a St James association, often with membership. It is recommended in France and compulsory in Spain.
Can you do the Tours route by bike?
Yes: with its very gentle gradients, it is cyclists’ favourite route according to the Agence des chemins de Compostelle. The GR655 nevertheless remains a footpath; the Agence presents routes suited to cycling.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 12 November 2026.
Other GR trails: Île-de-France, Centre and Loire Valley
