Two major pilgrimage footpaths cross the Pays Voironnais: the road to Santiago de Compostela and the Via Sancti Martini, here is an opportunity to rediscover the territory in a different way!
The road to Santiago de Compostela in the Pays Voironnais
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GR65 Saint James of Compostela
Thousands of pilgrims embark on the journey each year way to Compostela with the aim of reaching the famous cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The devout Catholics of the time came to pray over the relics attributed to the apostle Saint James; today this pilgrimage is also a time for exchange, sharing, a spiritual journey to recharge.
The itinerary
From Geneva, the section of the Way of St. James that joins the Le Puy-en-Velay Route (GR65) is 360 km long and can be covered in 18 days. Part of This route crosses the Voiron region from north to south over 24km crisscrossing the hills between the municipalities of Abrets and Oyeu and passing near Lake Paladru.
The Via Sancti Martini in the Pays Voironnais
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In the footsteps of Saint Martin
The Via Sancti Martini connects the European cities that shared the life of Saint Martin of Tours in the 4th century. Several routes recount episodes from the life of Saint Martin of Tours, who was a great traveler and a universal figure of sharing. Szombathely path which traverses Europe from east to west, is the 2500 km route, linking the birthplace of Saint Martin in Hungary (Szombathely) to Tours where his tomb is located.
A journey from station to station, 2 days & 1 night
The Voironnais region and the Vals du Dauphiné offer a two-day route from train station to train station (Pont-de-Beauvoisin to Val-de-Virieu). You'll travel along paths and enjoy landscapes offering numerous panoramic views of the Prealps and Mont Blanc, small hamlets, fortified houses and castles with the characteristic rammed earth architecture of the Lower Dauphiné, lush green countryside, rolling meadows, and the lagoon-blue waters of Lake Paladru.
The itinerary based on values of sharing and exchange is an opportunity to discover the heritage, local products, and know-how of the territory, while encouraging rich and friendly encounters.
Looking for a longer route?
You will find on the website viasanctimartini.org, all the paths of Saint-Martin, including the one that passes through the Isère which is called “Chemin de Zsombathely”
