Highlights
- Arras Grand'Place
- Arras Belfry (UNESCO)
- Wellington Tunnels
- Flemish Baroque architecture
Stage conditions
| Section | France |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Partial |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Arras is the first big rail hub since Calais. TGVs run to Paris-Nord, and TER Hauts-de-France services go to Lille via Douai, to Amiens, and along the local line to Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise; there are also TGV links towards Dunkerque and Valenciennes. The interurban bus station beside the railway station is where line 407 leaves for Bapaume, useful for planning the next stage. Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, at the start, has no station; the Liévin halt and Bully-Grenay station are each about 6 km away.
What the season does
April to October, partial shade. The farmland between the villages is open, windy and wet in the shoulder months. Arras is a regional city with a deep bed stock, but ring ahead in July and August, as the Confraternity advises for all of France. Hunting season, from mid-September, affects the field sections only.
Safety on this stage
Farm tracks and D-roads link the villages; walk facing traffic. Entering Arras means pavements, roundabouts and busy junctions; use the crossings. Arras itself is a well-kept city with ordinary urban care needed around the station and squares.
Water and food
The villages on the way, Carency, Mont-Saint-Éloi and Marœuil, are small, so leave with full bottles and top up whenever you pass a bar or shop. Arras has everything; the Grand'Place and Place des Héros are ringed with cafés.
Where pilgrims sleep
Arras is deep in beds. Our directory lists the Gîte Mamarras, a gîte d'étape, Les Francas du Pas-de-Calais hostel, and hotels from the Mercure Centre Gare and Hôtel Moderne to Ibis Styles Arras Centre, plus chambres d'hôtes such as Au Carré Saint-Éloi on rue Saint-Aubert, which the route itself follows and which offers gîte-style rooms with shared kitchen at Mamarras 150 m away. The FFVF lists the Maison Diocésaine Saint-Vaast as a spiritual halt for pilgrims with a credential. Camping Mamarras completes the list.
Sources: Wikipedia — Gare d'Arras · Communauté de communes du Sud-Artois — Ligne 407 Bapaume–Arras timetable (PDF) · Au Carré Saint-Éloi, Arras · La Via Francigena en France (FFVF) — Haltes Spiritualitas in Francigenam · Le Montagnard — Calendrier chasse France 2025-2026
Common questions
How long is the Ablain-Saint-Nazaire to Arras stage?
It is 21.6 km (13.4 mi) and takes about 5.5 hours of walking, from Ablain-Saint-Nazaire to Arras.
How hard is Ablain-Saint-Nazaire to Arras?
It is rated easy with 214 m of ascent and 243 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Ablain-Saint-Nazaire to Arras stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Ablain-Saint-Nazaire and away from Arras?
Arras is the first big rail hub since Calais. TGVs run to Paris-Nord, and TER Hauts-de-France services go to Lille via Douai, to Amiens, and along the local line to Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise; there are also TGV links towards Dunkerque and Valenciennes. The interurban bus station beside the railway station is where line 407 leaves for Bapaume, useful for planning the next stage.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Arras?
Arras is deep in beds. Our directory lists the Gîte Mamarras, a gîte d'étape, Les Francas du Pas-de-Calais hostel, and hotels from the Mercure Centre Gare and Hôtel Moderne to Ibis Styles Arras Centre, plus chambres d'hôtes such as Au Carré Saint-Éloi on rue Saint-Aubert, which the route itself follows and which offers gîte-style rooms with shared kitchen at Mamarras 150 m away. The FFVF lists the Maison Diocésaine Saint-Vaast as a spiritual halt for pilgrims with a credential.
Walk this stage
Open the full stage list to plan the legs either side, browse heritage along the route, or get the free Via Francigena Walk app for offline maps and GPS on the trail.