The Way of Arles - Via Tolosana

From the Roman arena of Arles, where the Rhône meets the Mediterranean world, begins the southernmost route to Santiago. The Via Tolosana passes through Toulouse - the city that gives it its Latin name - before crossing the Pyrenees at the Col du Somport, entering Spain through Aragon rather than Navarra.

📜 History & Significance

The Via Tolosana served pilgrims arriving from Italy and the Mediterranean, connecting the ancient Roman road network to the shrine of St James. The route passed through lands rich in early Christian heritage - Provence, with its traditions of Mary Magdalene and the saints of Arles, and Languedoc, scarred by the Albigensian Crusade.

This southern route offered a distinct crossing of the Pyrenees at the Col du Somport (1,632m), used since Roman times. Pilgrims descended into Aragon, joining the Camino Aragonés to reach the main route at Puente la Reina.

🥾 Route Overview

The Via Tolosana stretches approximately 750 km from Arles to the Somport Pass, typically completed in 28-32 days of walking. The route follows the GR 653 through Provence and Languedoc before climbing into the Pyrenees.

From Arles, the path passes through Montpellier and Toulouse, then follows the Garonne valley toward the mountains. The final stages climb through the Aspe valley to the Col du Somport, descending to Jaca in Spain where the Camino Aragonés leads to Puente la Reina.

☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites

The Church of Saint-Trophime in Arles, with its celebrated Romanesque portal, sets pilgrims on their way. The route passes the shrine of Saint-Gilles, whose abbey was one of the great pilgrimage destinations of medieval France.

In Toulouse, the Basilica of Saint-Sernin - largest surviving Romanesque church in Europe - houses relics of countless saints gathered over centuries. The mountainous final stages offer the stark beauty of Romanesque churches built to serve pilgrims crossing the high passes.