From L’Isle-Jourdain to Gimont via the Way of St James

Start from L’Isle-Jourdain station. Accessible by train or car (in which case, park in the station car park).

(S) Walk away from the station towards Avenue de Verdun. Turn right onto this avenue, staying on the pavement, and continue to the traffic lights in the town centre.

(1) Then turn right onto Avenue du Commandant Parisot, then onto the D924; pass the swimming pool, then the tourist information centre and the pilgrims’ lodge, and walk along the lakeside on the footpath as it begins.

(2) Take the^first path on the left which follows the banks of the Save (^GR® 653) and carry on to the small footbridge.

(3) Do not cross the bridge but take the path on the right, which you should leave immediately afterwards to take the footpath on the left. The footpath runs alongside the N124. Continue along this footpath until you reach the road emerging from a tunnel beneath the N124.

(4) Turn right and follow the road to the junction just ahead. Turn into the^first road on the left and carry on until you reach the N114. Cross with care and follow the dirt track opposite, which runs alongside the railway line to the level crossing.

(5) Leave the level crossing behind you and turn onto the track on the left which climbs towards the hamlet of En Trigoli. The track becomes a tarmac road, which you should follow until it ends at a junction. Take the path opposite, which continues along the road you have just been following. The path runs alongside the RN 124 and ends where it meets a path coming from the right.

(6) Carefully cross the N124 at the end of the path and take the tree-lined path opposite, which veers slightly to the right. Continue along this path, which descends then climbs, until it joins a tarmac road at the entrance to Monferran-Savès. Turn right onto the Route de Marestaing and head down towards the village.

(7) At the corner by the church, turn left. At the next Fork in the road, turn right onto Boulevard du Sud. Then take the^first left to head down towards the cemetery.

(8) Stay on the Route du Lac de Saint-Clément, leaving the cemetery on your left and continuing straight ahead, ignoring the road branching off to the right. Continue along this road, which climbs and then descends towards the Ruisseau de Frégouville.

(9) Just before reaching the stream, take the path on the right which climbs gently to a hamlet where a bench awaits pilgrims. Carry on to a small copse on the right.

(10) Just before the copse, take the path branching off to the right. At the top of the climb, the path becomes the Chemin du Petit Savès, which you should leave when the path bends slightly to the right.

(11) At the bottom of the descent, take the path on the left, which becomes the Chemin de Saint-Jacques and then turns into a tarmac road as it enters the village of Giscaro.

(12) Walk past the church and then the silos, and carry on along the Chemin de Bordeneuve (ignore the road branching off to the left). Continue along this path until you reach a tarmac road near Combes.

(13) Turn left at the junction and, at the T-junction that follows, turn right.

(14) At a place called En Bouzigot, turn left onto a downhill track. Pass under a power line and continue downhill. You will reach Route de Maurens.

(15) Then turn right and follow the D160 Route de Maurens uphill until you reach the first housing estate on the left.

(16) Turn onto the footpath on the left, just after the road leading to the housing estate, and follow it until you reach a dead-end road. Turn left to exit the dead end and join the Route de Samatan.

(17) At the junction, continue straight ahead on this road, then take the^first left onto Chemin du Moulias, which runs past the foot of the water tower. Head down towards La Grassette.

(18) Just before the end of the road, turn right onto Chemin du Moulias. Follow this track, go round the recycling centre and you’ll reach Chemin de Montiron, which continues to the right.

(19) Leave this path and take the^first left onto Chemin du Pont au Lait; leave this path after crossing the River Gimone and take the footpath that branches off to the right, running alongside the river and then the small lake.

(20) At the end of the lake, turn right, go under the bridge and head back up to follow Avenue de Cahuzac to the right. Continue up to the roundabout at the town’s exit, heading towards Auch.

(21) At the roundabout, take the^first left onto Route de Mauvezin, then immediately afterwards take the^first left onto Avenue de la Gare, which ends at Gimont station – the end of the route (E).

There is a drinking fountain and public toilets on Boulevard du Sud in Monferran-Savès, as well as a small supermarket which is closed on Mondays.
There is also a water point and public toilets in Giscaro, next to the school.

The European Museum of Bell Art in L’Isle-Jourdain
The church at L’Isle-Jourdain
The Isle-Jourdain leisure centre with its ski lift on the lake
The market hall in Gimont, the old town and the church
The superb panoramic views throughout the walk