Saint-Jacques by bike Two Jacobean routes passing through Tours!

Rambouillet, Chartres, Châteaudun, Vendôme, Tours: the Way of St James (V41) crosses Touraine, in particular the Vouvray vineyards, and joins up with the Scandibérique (EuroVélo 3) at Tours, one of the 4 historic departure points for Santiago de Compostela. Whether you go via Chartres or Orléans, one thing’s for sure: the low gradient is a great way to see the sights without having to put your thighs and calves to the test!

Cycling to Santiago via Tours

I’m sure you’re familiar with the Chinese proverb: “The important thing is not the goal, but the path”. It takes on its full meaning on the roads to Santiago de Compostela. Encounters, landscapes, but also introspection… a great programme in prospect during your journey in Touraine, between Paris and Bordeaux.

If one of the four major routes to Compostela passes through the town of Tours, it’s no accident. A few centuries ago, many pilgrims took this route to honour Saint-Martin, evangeliser of Gaul in the 4th century, and made famous by sharing his cloak with a man who was freezing cold.

Stop off at the pretty basilica with its neo-Byzantine architecture that still houses his remains. Beyond the historical and religious dimensions, this stopover in the capital of Touraine will introduce you to a city where life is decidedly good: a dynamic city centre, old quarters with a host of restaurants, a guinguette on the banks of the Loire, a contemporary art centre…

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Cycling tours — ©Bike tours|ADT Touraine - Jean-Christophe COUTAND-MEHEUT

Map of the Saint Jacques à Vélo V41 itinerary

To see which isthe route of Santiago de Compostela by bike on a dynamic map, visit the France Vélo Tourisme website: Saint Jacques à Vélo between Rambouillet and Tours.

In Vendôme and Châtellerault, railway stations make it easy to get on and off the route. So it’s easy to plan a 2 or 4-day trip, depending on the daily distance you want to cover:

Between Vendôme and Tours: 94 km (possible stopover at Château-Renault);
Between Tours and Châtellerault: 84 km (possible stopover at Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine)

Note thatalthough they are identical from Tours to Châtellerault, the V41 Saint Jacques à Vélo cycle route and the Scandibérique (EuroVélo 3) route split again from the Vienne sub-prefecture.

And if you need to hire a bike, remember that there are several hire shops in Tours.

Download

Download brochures for Saint-Jacques à Vélo from Rambouillet to Châtellerault (380 km):

The essential stages

Château de Valmer - Vins et Jardins

Walk or cycle the route?

Saint-Jacques à Vélo now presents you with a cruel dilemma: walk or cycle the route? Everyone will find their answer according to their own desires, but also based on very concrete elements.

The advantages of walking: you stay in the original spirit of the pilgrimage, you let your mind wander more, it makes it easier to meet people, and you’re not hampered by cycling to visit.
Advantages of cycling the route: you go faster and further (handy when you don’t have many days off), it’s physically more accessible, especially with children, it makes transporting luggage easier, and it’s easier to get back to your accommodation.

©Cycling in Chinon forest|ADT Touraine - JC COUTAND

Note that…

La Compostela, the official certificate of the pilgrimage, is issued to cyclists who have covered at least the last 200 kilometres. A route book will enable you to have your stages stamped in the accommodation.

How long does it take to cycle to Compostela?

For beginners or electric-assist bike enthusiasts, opt for stages of 40 to 50 kilometres a day. This pace will give you time to appreciate the world heritage along your route, from the Pyrénées-Atlantiques to Galicia.