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Stage 1 of 34

Arles – Saint-Gilles

Flat, open and just gentle enough to start with.

Distance
20.8 km
Ascent
↑ 20 m
Descent
↓ 33 m
Walking time
≈ 5 h 15 min
Difficulty
Easy
Highest
21 m
Weather in Saint-Gilles2 days and the sun

Forecast for the end of the stage · Open-Meteo

0 m50 m100 m0 km5101520

Your legs will hardly notice today. The terrain is almost completely flat, your breathing stays calm and your mind has time to settle into the rhythm of walking. That’s how the Via Tolosana begins: gently, without a climb to jolt you awake.

You leave Arles behind and head out into open countryside. This is a day for easing yourself in. The kilometres tick by, and after more than five hours you arrive in Saint-Gilles, with its famous abbey church. It’s a lovely place to spend your first evening. Keep your pace deliberately low. This is only the beginning of a long road to Somport. Take it easy, pilgrim.

Tips for this stage

  • It's flat: start slowly, as you'll only feel the kilometres in your feet later on.
  • First day: pay attention as you walk to whether your backpack is too heavy, and send on anything you don't need.
  • Break in your shoes and socks properly; blisters often start on a flat day.

Before you set off: where to sleep in Arles

8 places

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Where to sleep in Saint-Gilles

4 places

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