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. Bruay-la-Buissière itself has no station; Béthune, about ten kilometres away, is the nearest, with trains to Lille, Arras and Lens.
What the season does
April to October, partial shade. At 30 km with 534 m of ascent the stage data suggests splitting the stage, and the mining towns along the way make that easy. Summer heat builds on the tarmac of the pit villages; in the shoulder months the open farmland between them is windy and wet. 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
The stage notes warn of urban walking through mining towns and of length. Town sections mean pavements, roundabouts and busy junctions rather than paths; use crossings and be visible at dusk if you finish late. On the rural sections you are on farm tracks and D-roads; walk facing traffic. Arras itself is a well-kept city with ordinary urban care needed around the station and squares. The distance is the real challenge, not the ground.
Water and food
Water is abundant thanks to the string of towns: bars, bakeries and supermarkets appear regularly in the coal-basin villages, and Arras has everything. The gaps are the open farmland stretches between towns, so top up whenever you pass a shop. If you split the stage, any of the mining towns has a bakery for the morning. In Arras the Grand'Place and Place des Héros are ringed with cafés.
Where pilgrims sleep
Arras is deep in beds. Our directory lists the Gîte du Pèlerin Arras and the Gîte Mamarras, both gîtes 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 · Wikipedia — Bruay-la-Buissière · 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 Bruay-la-Buissière to Arras stage?
It is 30.0 km (18.6 mi) and takes about 8 hours of walking, from Bruay-la-Buissière to Arras.
How hard is Bruay-la-Buissière to Arras?
It is rated moderate with 250 m of ascent and 260 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Bruay-la-Buissière to Arras stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Bruay-la-Buissière 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 du Pèlerin Arras and the Gîte Mamarras, both gîtes 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.