Via Tolosana Part I: Arles - Castres

“Via Tolosana”, “Voie du Sud” or “Le Chemin d’Arles”

These names refer to one of the most important historical pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela.
The first means Toulouse route.

It is a beautiful bike route from Arles in the Camargue via Toulouse to the Col du Somport on the French-Spanish border. Total distance: approximately 700 km.
This journey follows as much as possible the old pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela and goes over paved and mostly quiet roads.
A bike with small gears is recommended, as the route has some steep climbs and a few longer Cols.

Historical starting point: Arles in southern France

The route is divided into four sections, all of which begin and end in a place with a train station, so that the journey can be interrupted along the way.

Via Tolosana Part I: from Arles to Castres (286 km)

1. Arles - D37 Les Passerons – Gimeaux - Saliers - D6572 St.Gilles

2. St.Gilles - D14 La Margue keep left twice - D6572 (at Gallician D779 right) Vauvert – Aimargues - D265 Marsillargues - D34 Lunel - D24c1 Lansargues - D189 Mudaison. (From here we follow a departmental ring road north of Montpellier, as it is very busy in this city and everything is very poorly signposted) - via Baillargues on D26 to Castries - left D610 to Vendargues - then keep right on D65 until Chateau D’O - here switch to D127 towards Grabels.

3. Grabels - D102 Bel Air - D27E1 Montarnaud - D111 La Boissière - D27 Aniane – St.Guilhem-le-Désert

4. St.Guilhem-le-Désert - St Jean de Fos - D141 Montpeyroux - D 9 Arboras - D153E les Salces (at the Col turn left, then right) - D153 St Privat-Lodève along Prieuré St.Michel de Grandmont

5. Lodève - D35 Lunas - Le Bousquet - Le Ruffas - D35E over Orb - right 23E4 under railway and tunnel left through steep village Boussagues, crossing left towards St.Gervais-s-Mare. Then at T-junction right via St.Etienne, Estréchoux to St.Gervais-s-Mare

6. St.Gervais - Murat-s-Vèbre

7. Murat-s-Vèbre - D162 Condamines - D162C Villelongue - D150 La Salvetat-sur-Agout

8. Along the lake D14E1 just before the dam - D52 Anglès

9. Anglès - D68 Plaisance over col de Fauredon - D68 Cambournés – Boissezon - Pont du Grel – Noailhac – Pouzencarie – Valdurenque - Pioch-de-Gaix – Mirava - Castres

You can download the GPX track of the route below (middle button).

And here you can find Part II.