Santiago de Compostela & Unesco

The longest road, known as 'La Via Turonensis', spans 1743 km (71 days of walking) from Paris through Orléans, Tours, Poitiers, Saintes and Mirambeau.

This itinerary is likewise frequented by bicycle riders, who appreciate its evenness.  In olden times, the road to Tours welcomed countless pilgrims from northern France and Europe.

When they took the main road from Paris, pilgrims would consequently stop in Poitou-Charentes at Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand in Poitiers, Saint-Jean-d'Angély, Saint-Eutrope in Saintes, and Pons.

Traveling on secondary roads, they would stop in Parthenay, Niort, Charroux, Angoulême, and Aubeterre…

Three clearly delineated pedestrian itineraries retrace the paths taken by centuries of pilgrims: 

the 'main road' from Tours to Mirambeau (GR655)

the 'eastern secondary road' from Angles-sur-l'Anglin to Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (essentially following GR48)

the 'western secondary road' from Thouars to la Villedieu (GR36)

The main historic road, 'La Via Turonensis', is listed in UNESCO's world heritage.  

Six monuments have been distinguished:

The Saint-Hilaire churches of Poitiers and Melle, Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay, the royal abbey of Saint-Jean d'Angély [see below], Saint-Eutrope church in Saintes and the hospital of Pons.

Royal abbey of Saint-Jean d'Angély

Reconstructed over the 17th and 18th centuries, the Abbey provides a handsome example of classical architecture. Inside the abbey, you may discover its salon, the monks' cells, and the overall architectural framework.  

Two other monuments in Poitou-Charentes are also registered on UNESCO's World Heritage list: 

• Saint-Savin
  
• The ramparts of Saint-Martin de Ré

The network of the major Vauban sites officially selected by UNESCO was to be included as of early July 2008 in the organization's World Heritage. 

Within this network bringing together 9 remarkable sites, we may find, in the isle of Ré, the old citadel known as Saint-Martin de Ré. Now registered as a historic monument and serving as a penitentiary, for many years the citadel was a gathering point bringing together convicts about to be shipped to the notorious penal colony of Cayenne, French Guyana.