Walking the Camino somewhere in the future, have some questions

Hello Gytha,

indeed plenty of questions...

The way you are looking for is the "Tours Route", you can find some specific information in the sub-board on this site.
In general, the ways in France are waymarked:
- either as GR (little white and red marks)
- or as Camino de Santiago (little yellow - often plastic - arrows, in Paris you might see some bronze scallops as well

The "booklet" is the 'créanciale' ( in French), you should get it either from a Jacobean organisation or from a typical starting point. (a church very often, or a specific "pilgrims office")

The best: buy a guide book in your language (or one you speak perfectly) - have a look and if you still have specific questions, ask them.
(f.i. where to start etc should be found in a guide book - I mean, they won't tell you where to start, but if you choose the town of XXX, in the guidebook you will find where the camino passes along to join it)

The Tours Route is the less frequented one, be prepared to be alone for many days!
If you prefer to find some company (especially of you age), start in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, most people begin their camino there and continue on the Camino Frances (situated in Spain!)
On this camino, you won't need a tent: plenty of abordable pilgrims hostals.
On the Camino Frances, there will be plenty of people, but it might be reassuring to walk first with plenty of others than to be alone for weeks - especially if it is your first "big walk".

Your backbag should not be too heavy, so don't take too much stuff. But this alone might fill pages...
Oh, another important thing: good shoes!

http://www.compostelle.asso.fr/

Gytha

A link to the Societe des Amis de Saint Jacques de Compostelle which may be a help with many of your questions.

Gytha said:

... I saw that someone started in Paris, that is the place where I want to start too, because it is close to where I live and simple to come. But how do I start? How do I know how I have to walk? Is there some kind of map or do you have to find the route on your own?

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Oh !!!

That is absolutely wonderful !!!

You are in for the experience of a lifetime with the perfect attitude that you have already mastered even before your first step along the Way.

The totally "purist" starting point would be the altar of your local parish church, with a pilgrim's blessing from your parish priest.

Fact is though, you can start from your own front door.

I'm not sure how far from Paris nor in which direction you live, but I would personally suggest walking first towards either Chevreuse or Saint-Rémy lès Chevreuse, then making your Way from there towards Chartres and etc.

Of course, if you are north of Paris, then your first destination from home should be la Tour Saint-Jacques La Boucherie, then from there Notre Dame de Paris, and so on towards Chartres as above.

The Orléans route has the advantage of that lovely walk along the Loire, with the sheer disadvantage of about two-three days worth of suburbia out from Paris -- but of course, if that's more or less where you live in the first place, then that's the route you should follow.

Buen Camino !!!!

Gytha said:

What are the most important things you have to carry with you on the road?

And how long are you walking the Camino from Paris to Santiago de Compostella?

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I'll try to answer these.

The things to carry are the items you will need to look after your health and nothing more. A change of clothes, a light sleeping bag (or bedding), toiletries, a water bottle, raingear, a hat, and a warm jacket. The most important item is a good pair of shoes that fit ... try on hundreds if needs be. Just think through the items you use every day. You'll need a backpack with frame 50 -60 liters to carry it all.

I would suggest planning on 20km per day. The distance from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago is 800 km. I don't know the distance from Paris.

If you do a google search for Via Turonensis or Voie de Tours, you'll find a fair amount of helpful information. Some helpful sites:

http://viaturonensis.pagesperso-orange.fr/index.htm

http://idf.ffrandonnee.fr/708/html/le-gr-655.aspx

http://www.compostelle-tours.org/index.html

http://www.compostelle2000.org

http://www.compostelle28.org (very useful for the western route via Chartres)

http://chemincompostelle.over-blog.com

There are far fewer pilgrim facilities on this route, especially in the early stages, so you don't always have so many options for stopping when you like, and it's generally more expensive than, say, the Camino Frances or the Le Puy route.

This thread has some very useful info:

http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/starting-from-paris-in-december.18311/

EDIT A forum member did Paris to St. Jean via Orleans last year in 44 days, with a couple of rest days, but he walked some very long stages, too. His blog:

http://www.carolusperegrinator.blogspot.com/2013/05/le-chemin-de-tours.html