The Via Turonensis is the Camino for those who like it quiet and French. It is the northernmost of the four great routes, waymarked as the GR 655. You set off from Paris at the Tour Saint-Jacques and leave the bustle behind fairly quickly. This is a route for anyone who wants to walk in silence and has the time to really see the countryside.
First you follow the Loire, via Orléans to the châteaux of Blois and Amboise and on to Tours, the city of Saint Martin. After that you continue to Poitiers, Saintes, Blaye and Bordeaux. After Bordeaux the Landes begin: long, straight stretches through the forest, where the kilometres simply slip by. You won’t find real mountains. The highest point stays below 300 metres. It’s the days themselves that count.
The routes come together in Ostabat. In Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port you join the Camino Francés, which continues to Santiago. From Paris you can also walk via Chartres. This route follows the way via Orléans.
September is the best month. From January to March and in November it is cool and often rainy. That makes for a wet journey.