GR655 (Paris Camino Route)

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GR655 (Paris Camino Route): Via Turonensis Guide

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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HikeList Score

GR655 (Paris Camino Route) scored 78/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 52
Balanced challenge 90
Scenery & wildness 66
Varied terrain 94
Accommodation 92
Food & support 88
Path quality 80
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The GR655 is the waymarked Via Turonensis, or Way of Tours: a long-distance pilgrim trail across France from the Tour Saint-Jacques in central Paris to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port at the foot of the Pyrenees. This Paris-to-Pyrenees section is about 1,000 km and typically takes around 40 days. It is a moderate thru-hike overall: the walking is mostly flat and straightforward, but the distance, daily repetition and logistics make it a serious multi-week commitment.

Route Overview

The route is a point-to-point walk heading south-west from Paris through the plains and river country of Île-de-France, Centre-Val de Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. South of Paris it divides into two branches: the western GR655 Ouest via Chartres and the eastern GR655 Est via Orléans, both rejoining at Tours. This listing follows the western Chartres branch, then continues through Poitiers, Saintes, Bordeaux, Dax and the Landes towards Saint-Palais, Ostabat and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Near the Loire, compare the Châteaux of the Loire Circuit; around Bordeaux, the Bordeaux to Arcachon Trail is a shorter regional option.

History of the Via Turonensis

The Via Turonensis is the northern and westernmost of the four great medieval French roads to Santiago de Compostela described in the 12th-century Codex Calixtinus. It drew pilgrims from the Low Countries, Paris and Britain, and takes its name from Tours and the shrine of Saint Martin. The route was revived in the 20th century and is now waymarked as the GR655 by the FFRandonnée. The wider Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France were inscribed by UNESCO in 1998.

Notable highlights

Tour Saint-Jacques, Paris: The flamboyant Gothic tower is the historic departure point for pilgrims on this route and a UNESCO-listed component of the Santiago routes in France.
Chartres Cathedral: On the western branch, this UNESCO World Heritage Gothic cathedral is known for its medieval stained glass and labyrinth, and has long been a major pilgrim stop.
Basilica of Saint-Martin, Tours: Tours gives the Via Turonensis its name. The basilica holds the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours, a key medieval pilgrimage focus.
Poitiers: A historic Poitou city with important Romanesque architecture, including Notre-Dame-la-Grande with its sculpted west front.
Saintes: A former Roman town in Saintonge with ancient monuments, the Romanesque Abbaye aux Dames and a long place on the pilgrim road.
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: The walled Basque town at the foot of the Pyrenees, reached just after the French pilgrim routes converge near Ostabat; it is the classic launch point for the Camino Francés over the mountains into Spain.

Challenges to expect

The GR655 is low and mostly gentle, but the challenge is endurance: about 40 walking days and long stretches of farmland, lanes and plains. Expect mixed dirt, gravel and paved surfaces, with tarmac near towns. Winter and early spring can be wet and muddy, especially on clay plains. Waymarking is good, but use navigation help on city edges and remote rural sections. Plan accommodation ahead where villages are sparse; canal walkers may also compare the Berry Canal Walk or Canal du Midi Towpath.

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Ranked #609 of 974

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