The Practical Guide to Following the Tours Way to Compostela
The Tours Way, or Via Turonensis, is one of the major historical routes to Santiago de Compostela.
Also known as the "Great Way of St. James," it connects Paris to the foothills of the Pyrenees, passing through several major cities emblematic of French heritage: Orléans, Tours, Poitiers, Saintes, Bordeaux, and finally Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
This guide from Éditions Lepère suggests starting at the Saint-Jacques Tower in Paris and ending in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, covering a distance of approximately 900 km.
Less marked by steep terrain than other Camino routes, the Tours Way is accessible to walkers who wish to progress step by step, while discovering a wide variety of landscapes, historic towns, and sites linked to the Compostela tradition.
A complete guide to prepare for each stage
Designed for pilgrims and long-distance hikers, this guide gathers all the information you need to plan your walk on the Camino de Santiago (Way of Tours). You'll find precise route descriptions, 1:50,000 scale topographic maps, maps of the main towns and cities you'll pass through, historical and cultural notes, and verified accommodations.
The guide also includes GPS tracks, a valuable asset for planning your route and navigating more easily. The itinerary is divided into 39 stages, allowing you to organize your journey according to your pace, accommodations, and fitness level.
Why choose a Lepère guide?
Lepère guides are renowned among pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago for their practical approach. The routes are verified, walked, and designed to meet the specific needs of pilgrims: finding your way, anticipating distances, locating accommodations, and understanding the towns and regions you'll be traversing.
This guide is particularly suitable if you wish to plan a departure from Paris, follow the Via Turonensis, reach Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, or then continue on to the Camino Francés towards Santiago de Compostela.
Key features of the guide:
- Guide dedicated to the Tours Way / Via Turonensis
- Route from Paris to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
- Approximately 900 km to the foothills of the Pyrenees
- Route divided into 39 stages
- Detailed route descriptions
- Topographic maps at 1:50,000 scale
- Maps of the main towns along the route
- Verified accommodations
- Historical and cultural information
- GPS tracks included
- New 2026 edition
