On the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela
The printing of the Codex Calixtinus in 1882 popularised the notion of pilgrimage routes. This work, written in the 12th century, begins with the words"Four roads lead to Santiago". One of the 4 roads to Santiago de Compostela, the Via Podiensis (GR65) takes pilgrims from Le Puy-en-Velay to Santiago de Compostela. It is the most popular route for walkers today.
Moissac and its abbey are a must for GR65 pilgrims, but it's also an opportunity to discover the landscapes of Terres des Confluences and the panoramic view from Boudou of the confluence of the Tarn and Garonne rivers.
The Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela: an international experience
The European dimension of the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela was recognised in 1987 by the Council of Europe as the first European cultural route.
Although the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago has been part of our collective imagination for centuries, it wasn't until 1998 that it was included on UNESCO's World HeritageList...
When you think of paths, you think first and foremost of walkers. So this will be an opportunity to take an interest in the men and women who walk these paths: their motivations, their routes, their projects... The material heritage will also be given pride of place: engineering structures, buildings... because there are so many witnesses and monuments along these paths. A selection of 71 monuments and 7 sections of footpath bear witness to the spiritual and material aspects of the pilgrimage.
The title of Grand Site d'Occitanie (Great Site of Occitania ) has been awarded to the trio of successive stages along the route: Auvillar, Moissac and Lauzerte. The Way of St James is the thread that links these 3 stages.
The GR65, a walking experience in Moissac - Terres des Confluences
Walking the Camino de Santiago
Moissac - Terres des Confluences is on the Via Podiensis, today's most popular route to Santiago de Compostela. During the stage between Lauzerte and Auvillar, pilgrims pass through Terres des Confluences via Durfort-Lacapelette, Moissac and Boudou.
There is an alternative route along the Canal des Deux Mers via the "voie verte", which passes close to the Saint Nicolas de la Grave leisure centre and its bird sanctuary, the largest in the south-west. It is bordered to the north by Lauzerte, 24 km away, and to the west by Auvillar, 21 km away.
Moissac, a must on the GR65 Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela
Thanks to its heritage, its facilities for pilgrims and its accessibility by train, Moissac is a major stop-off point on the Pilgrim's Way in south-west France.
The cloister and tympanum of Saint-Pierre de Moissac abbey are listed byUNESCO as part of the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela. This is an unmissable stop on the route.
If you're preparing your stopover in Moissac, here you'll find all the practical information you need: gîtes, maps, guides, visits, etc.
