FRANCE.
Via Turonensis - I.
Along the GR655 pilgrimage road from Tours to Bordeaux.
15/Apr/2024 to 25/Apr/2024 (from Tours to Saintes, 11 days),
Along the GR655 pilgrimage road from Tours to Bordeaux.
15/Apr/2024 to 25/Apr/2024 (from Tours to Saintes, 11 days),
25/Jul/2024 to 31/Jul/2024 (from Saintes to Bordeaux, 6 days).
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| An eleven day hike from Tours on the Loire river, towards Saintes on the Charente river, 253km. |
Sunday 14/Apr/2024.
Home to Tours Journey.
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| Ghent train station. |
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| Tourcoing train station. |
---- City bus P4.
---- NMBS train from Ghent (B) to Tourcoing (F), 9€.
|---| Hotel Quai Central, Tourcoing, 75€ incl breakfast.
Monday 15/Apr/2024.
Monday 15/Apr/2024.
Home to Tours journey (ctd) & HIKE 1.
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| Tours, along the Loire river (picture taken from the internet). |
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| Tours, train station. |
HIKE 1 (hike #30 since Antwerp, Belgium).
Tours to Sorigny, 26.1km, 6h40.
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| Tours, cathedral towers. |
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| Tours, cathedral organ. |
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| Tours, City Hall. |
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| Chāteau de Cangé. |
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| Leaving Tour's urban area. |
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| Bois au Chantre forest. |
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| Bois des Hâtes forest. |
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| Water mill along the river L'Indre. |
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| A refreshing Picon-bierre at Veigné. |
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| Bois de Varennes forest, between Veigné and Montbazon. |
Sorigny.
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| The local supermarket. |
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| The pilgrim housing for tonight. |
Transportation:
---- Ouigo train from Tourcoing to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, 6:02-9:03, 3h01, 25€.
---- Transit 0:33.
---- TER train from Saint-Pierre-des-Corps to Tours, 9h36-9:40, 0h04, 1.40€.
---- TER train from Saint-Pierre-des-Corps to Tours, 9h36-9:40, 0h04, 1.40€.
|---| Gîte Jacquaire, Sorigny, 12€/p.
Tuesday 16/Apr/2024.
HIKE 2 (#31).
From Sorigny to Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, 20.7km.
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| Picnic. |
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| Vallée de Courtineau. |
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| The hotel for tonight. |
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| Wine-marinated pears, dinner desert at the hotel. |
|---| Hostellerie du Cheval Blanc, Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, 80€/2p.
Wednesday 17/Apr/2024.
HIKE 3 (#32).
From Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine to Dangé-Saint-Romain, ~30km.
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| Dangé-Saint-Romain. |
Thursday 18/Apr/2024.
HIKE 4 (#33).
From Dangé-Saint-Romain to Châtellerault, 18.3km.
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| Leaving the hostel. |
|---| Hôtel l'Univers, Saint Vincent, Châtellerault, 81€/2p.
Friday 19/Apr/2024.
HIKE 5 (#34).
From Châtellerault to Poitiers, 34.5km.
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| Leaving the hotel. |
Poitiers.
|---| Airbnb, 81€.
Saturday 20/Apr/2024.
HIKE 6 (#35).
From Poitiers to Lusignan, bus + 27.0km.
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| Picnic spot. |
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| Lusignan. |
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| Lusignan. |
Transportation:
---- City bus towards Poitiers-Sud, 2€/p.
|---| Halte Pèlerin, Lusignan, 10.33€/p.
Sunday 21/Apr/2024.
|---| Halte Pèlerin, Lusignan, 10.33€/p.
Sunday 21/Apr/2024.
HIKE 7 (#36).
From Lusignan to Sepvret, 28km.
|---| Le logis de Brégion, Sepvret, 35€/p half board.
Monday 22/Apr/2024.
HIKE 8 (#37).
From Sepvret to Gennebrie, 26.8km.
|---| Le moulin de Gennebrie, Sepvret, 40€/p half board.
Tuesday 23/Apr/2024.
Tuesday 23/Apr/2024.
HIKE 9 (#38).
From Gennebrie to Aulnay-de-Saintonge, ~27km.
(Movie)
|---| Les Noyers d'Aulnay, Aulnay, 82€/2p incl breakfast.
Wednesday 24/Apr/2024.
HIKE 10 (#39).
From Aulnay to Saint-Jean-d'Angély, 23.4km.
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| Leaving the B&B. |
Saint-Jean-d'Angély.
|---| Abbaye Royale, Saint-Jean-d'Angély, 12€/p.
Thursday 25/Apr/2024.
HIKE 11 (#40 since Antwerp).
From Saint-Jean-d'Angély to Saintes, 35.5km.
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| The hostel of last night. |
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| Eglise Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, Fenioux. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eglise_Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption_de_Fenioux |
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| Eglise Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, Fenioux. Christ surrounded by five wise virgins and five foolish virgins. |
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| Fenioux, lanterne des morts. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanterne_des_morts_de_Fenioux |
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| Picnic table. |
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| Eglise Saint-Hilaire de la Frédière. |
Saintes.
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| The hotel. |
|---| Les Chambres de l'Abbaye des Dames, Saintes, 86€/2p.
Friday 26/Apr/2024.
Return Home journey.
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| Status of the Credential. |
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| Awaiting the train for Angouleme. |
Transportation:
---- TER train from Saintes to Angouleme, 10:06-11-04, 0h58.
---- TER train from Saintes to Angouleme, 10:06-11-04, 0h58.
---- TGV Inoui train 8486 from Angouleme to Paris-Montparnasse, 11:27-13:43, 2h15.
---- Metro ride between Paris-Montparnasse and Paris-Nord train stations.
---- TGV Inoui train 7403 from Paris-Nord to Lille-Flandres, 14:44-15:48, 1h04.
---- NMBS train from Lille-Flandres to Ghent-Sint-Pieters, 16:09-17:23, 1h14, late.
---- City bus P4.
|---| Home, Gent.
|---| Chambre face au Donjon, Pons, 50€.
Saturday 27/Jul/2024.
|---| +5.5km, Le Relais de l'Estuaire, Etauliers.
|---| Home, Gent.
Home to Saintes Journey.
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| Intermediate stop at Narbonne to change train (due to vandalism). |
Transportation:
---- SNCF train from Montpellier-Saint-Roch to Bordeaux-Saint-Jean, 9:05-13:34, 4h29, 46€. Due to vandalism 2h15 delayed arrival in Bordeaux (15:49).
---- TER train from Bordeaux-Saint-Jean to Saintes, 15:55-17:37, 1h42, 17.40€.
|---| Les Chambres de l'Abbaye, Saintes, 84€.
Friday 26/Jul/2024.
HIKE 12 (#41 since Antwerp).
From Saintes to Pons, 22.6km, 6h20.
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| Saintes, along the river Charente. |
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| Leaving Saintes. |
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| Gallo-Roman theatre of Thénac. |
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| Clear directions. |
Pons.
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| The Keep of Pons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_of_Pons |
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| Town Hall and tourist office. |
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| Roundabout with pilgrim statues. |
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| The hotel for tonight. |
Saturday 27/Jul/2024.
HIKE 13 (#42 since Antwerp).
From Pons to Mirambeau, 29.5km, 6h30.
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| Abbaye de la Tenaille, ruins. |
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| Château de la Tenaille ruins. |
Mirambeau.
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| B&B for tonight. |
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| B&B garden. |
|---| La Miremboise, Mirambeau, 69€ incl breakfast.
Sunday 28/Jul/2024.
HIKE 14 (#43 since Antwerp).
From Mirambeau to Etauliers, 22.2km, 5h30.
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| Mirambeau. |
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| The hotel for tonight. |
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| Hotel garden. |
Monday 29/Jul/2024.
HIKE 15 (#44 since Antwerp).
From Etauliers to Margaux, ~20km, 5h30.
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| Early morning start, 5:30. Sure to get the Gironde crossing ferry. |
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| Blaye, Vauban-designed citadel (1689). https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citadelle_de_Blaye |
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| Awaiting the ferry, there are just six daily crossings. |
Ferry-crossing of the Gironde river estuary.
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| Gironde river estuary and the Ile Paté. |
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| Ferry landing. |
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| Picnic. |
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| Vignoble des Quatre Vents. |
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| Vignoble des Quatre Vents. |
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| Château Marquis d'Alesme. |
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| Château Marquis d'Alesme. |
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| The hotel for tonight. |
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| Hotel room dinner. |
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| Sunset. |
Transportation:
---- Ferry crossing from Blaye to Lamarque, 0h30, 4.50€.
Tuesday 30/Jul/2024.
HIKE 16 (#45 since Antwerp).
From Margaux to Bouscat, 31.3km, 7h30.
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| Parc Naturel des Grunières. |
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| La Barde lake. |
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| Parc Naturel du Pian-Médoc. |
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| Taking the tram to Bordeaux-downtown. |
Bordeaux.
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| Palais Gallien, Roman Amphitheater (II-century). |
Wednesday 31/Jul/2024.
Bordeaux.
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| Rue Condilac, fountain. |
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| Tour Pey Berland. |
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| Cathedrale Saint André. |
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| Tour de l'horloge. Grosse Cloche de Bordeaux. |
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| Grosse Cloche de Bordeaux, South side. |
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| Saint Michael basilica, Saint James statue (the original is in Musée d'Aquitaine). |
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| Pavillon de Vendôme. |
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| The Venus of Laussel, ~25000 BC. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Laussel |
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| Detail from the Bulls Room in the Lascaux cave, ~20000 BC. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascaux |
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| Facade of the house Espagnet. |
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| XV-century statue of Saint James the Pilgrim. (the one in the Saint Michael basilica is a copy). |
Thursday 01/Aug/2024.
Return-home journey.
Transportation:
---- SNCF train from Bordeaux-Saint-Jean to Marseille-Saint-Charles, 8:28-14:38, 5h10, 63€.
---- Bus from Marseille-Saint-Charles to Aix-en-Provence.
|---| Home
LATER : From Bordeaux to Santiago-de-Compostela.
