To reach Santiago de Compostela, several main routes are available to the many pilgrims and hikers who attempt the adventure. The Puy route, the Arles route or the Tours route are among the best known, but other equally remarkable routes complete the map. This is the case of the route from Conques to Toulouse which crosses Occitan Tuscany from North to South. Are you passing through there for your journey? Here is something to help you prepare for it or convince you to choose this route!
From Saint-Martin-LaguÉpie to Saint-Sulpice
On the road on the Cami Toulze
The route begins in Saint-Martin Laguépie, in the far north of the Tarn, where the ruins of a medieval castle overlook the precise point where the course of the Viaur joins that of the Aveyron. Alone or with your travel companion, you are wandering across the causse heading south. Before, well before reaching the obligatory passage of Saint-Jean Pied de Port, the Spanish border and then Santiago de Compostela, your ultimate goal, one of the most beautiful villages in France stands on your route a few steps from the path.
This is the medieval city of Cordes sur Ciel which is well worth a stop, before setting off again, backpack on your back, on the trails and their changing landscapes over the 3 days or more of walking. We meet other walkers who are doing the opposite route or just a small section. One step after another, the richness of the heritage is revealed: castles, churches, without forgetting the wine estates, we walk serenely to Gaillac, where the vineyards are the most hilly. Past Gaillac, the hills give way to the plain, we come across donkeys and horses here and there. We advance following the Tarn which crisscrosses the countryside a little further. Between vineyards and fields of sunflowers in bloom in summer, the ochre of the bricks has replaced the white stone. Just a little more effort, Saint-Sulpice is approaching and Toulouse is no longer so far away. We end one stage to start another.
In 3 days
- Saint-Martin-Laguépie – Cahuzac-sur-Vère: 26.7 km
- Cahuzac-sur-Vere – Lisle-sur-Tarn: 31.3 km
- Lisle-sur-Tarn – Saint-Sulpice: 25.3 km
This is the option for the most athletic… or the most impatient! Nothing insurmountable, but it is better to set off to hit the trails early in the morning. To enjoy the scenery or to treat a few blisters, stop off in our villages or at the foot of a beautiful tree.
In 4 days
- Saint-Martin-Laguépie – Cahuzac-sur-Vère: 26.7 km
- Cahuzac-sur-Vere – Gaillac 15.8 km
- Gaillac – Rabastens: 25 km
- Rabastens – Saint-Sulpice: 15.8 km
The in-between that alternates between long and short stages. The best for those who want to take their time, but not too much either!
In 6 days
- Saint-Martin-Laguépie – Les Cabannes: 11.2 km
- The Cabannes – Cahuzac-sur-Vère: 15.5 km
- Cahuzac-sur-Vere – Gaillac 15.8 km
- Gaillac – Lisle-sur-Tarn: 15.5 km
- Lisle-sur-Tarn – Rabastens: 9.5 km
- Rabastens – Saint-Sulpice: 15.8 km
By choosing this option, you can walk quietly and take the opportunity to visit the buildings and producers that line the path. Slow mode, ideal for discovering and daydreaming!
Accommodation 500m from the path
The essentials on the Camino
Monuments, vineyards, wine estates, medieval villages… Your path is lined with treasures! Push open their doors or take the time to admire them along the way. That’s also the charm of the Way of Saint James!
Cordes sur Ciel
Founded almost 800 years ago by the Count of Toulouse Raymond VII, Cordes sur Ciel still shines with its medieval allure, its fortified gates and its Gothic facades, but also with the artists and artisans who populate its alleys.
In the city, you will find provisions to start your long journey or to rest if you are roaming.
Cahuzac-sur-Vere
In the heart of the Gaillac vineyards, Cahuzac-sur-Vère is the starting point for several hiking trails. Around it, the vines stretch as far as the eye can see and undulate on the hills. Don't be fooled by its small size! This village grouped around its Saint-Thomas church has everything you need to recharge your batteries. Shops, restaurants and accommodation welcome you for a yum yum break and sleep.
Gaillac
You are still far from Galicia… but here you are in the middle of your crossing of Occitan Tuscany. In Gaillac, put down your backpack and enjoy a visit to the Saint-Michel abbey where the Maison des Vins is located. A few steps away stands the abbey church all clad in brick and the old district of Portanelle which leads to the Parc de Foucaud. A small green setting ideal for stopping for a moment. Around, you will easily find what you need to stock up on supplies, as well as accommodation and food.
Lisle-sur-tarn
Head for the bastide of Lisle-sur-Tarn! As you enter the village, Lake Bellevue and its shaded banks will be the perfect place to relax peacefully in the shade! Since its foundation at 13ᵉ century, it has seen hikers and pilgrims pass through on the Way of St. James. On your way, you can't miss the characteristic octagonal bell tower of the Notre-Dame de la Jonquière church, a stone's throw from the covered square.
Rabastens
Courage! You are approaching the end of the road! Rabastens, your pilgrimage on foot takes you to the foot of the imposing Notre-Dame du Bourg church, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela! Moving away from the markings a little, you enter the old village where the Saint-Jacques hospital once stood, recognizable by its shell sculpted on the wall. At the end of the street, a quick visit to the Musée du Pays Rabastinois to admire the polychrome statue of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur.
Come on, let’s set off again for the last few kilometers before reaching Saint-Sulpice.
The app to get some fresh air without getting lost
