Highlights
- Birthplace of Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre
- Artois farmland
- Village churches
Stage conditions
| Section | France |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Moderate |
| Shade | Partial |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
No trains. Thérouanne and Amettes are both villages off the railway; Amettes is about 18 km west of Béthune, the nearest large station, on TER lines to Lille and Arras. The LightFoot guide notes a bus stop in Amettes beside the route, but we could not confirm a current timetable, so check locally. Hosts at the Ferme des 2 Tilleuls offer baggage transport, which is the practical option if you need to shorten days here. Otherwise the realistic exits are Béthune by taxi, or walking on to Bruay-la-Buissière.
What the season does
April to October, partial shade. The route follows farm tracks paralleling the old Chaussée Brunehaut across open Artois farmland, so it is exposed to sun in summer and to wind and rain in the shoulder months. The gîte at the Ferme des 2 Tilleuls is open year round, which makes Amettes one of the few winter-safe stops on this section. Hunting is open from mid-September to the end of February over these fields; weekends see the most activity. The village celebrates its pilgrim saint, Benoît-Joseph Labre, so expect occasional pilgrim groups around his birthplace.
Safety on this stage
An easy day on farm tracks and lanes. The stage data's warning is not about terrain but about few water points between villages. Road sections are short, but the D-roads here are straight and fast, so walk on the left facing traffic. The GR145 and GR127 briefly share the way into Amettes; follow the GR145 flash at the split by the church. In hunting season keep to the tracks and wear something bright. Nothing technical.
Water and food
Few water points between villages, says the stage data, and it is right: Thérouanne is the last town with supermarkets, so buy lunch there. The LightFoot guide records refreshment at Auchy-au-Bois along the way; treat it as a possibility rather than a certainty. Amettes is a village of under 500 people with no supermarket, so an evening meal is what your host provides. The Ferme des 2 Tilleuls offers a pilgrim meal and a guest kitchen, and homemade jams at breakfast.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory holds nothing at Amettes, but the village has a well-established pilgrim stop. The Ferme des 2 Tilleuls, a 16th-century white-stone farmhouse at 2 rue de l'Église, is an official Via Francigena stage stop with a gîte d'étape and two chambres d'hôtes, a kitchen, closed courtyard, bike garage and pilgrim meals, open all year to walkers and groups. It stands beside the house of Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre, patron of pilgrims, which you can visit. Book ahead by phone.
Sources: Wikipedia — Amettes · Ferme des 2 Tilleuls, Amettes — gîte d'étape · LightFoot Guide to the Via Francigena, Canterbury to Besançon (PDF, 2014 edition) · Le Montagnard — Calendrier chasse France 2025-2026
Common questions
How long is the Thérouanne to Amettes stage?
It is 20.0 km (12.4 mi) and takes about 5.5 hours of walking, from Thérouanne to Amettes.
How hard is Thérouanne to Amettes?
It is rated easy with 200 m of ascent and 190 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Thérouanne to Amettes stage?
There is a moderate amount of water along this stage — carry enough between resupply points.
How do I get to Thérouanne and away from Amettes?
No trains. Thérouanne and Amettes are both villages off the railway; Amettes is about 18 km west of Béthune, the nearest large station, on TER lines to Lille and Arras. The LightFoot guide notes a bus stop in Amettes beside the route, but we could not confirm a current timetable, so check locally.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Amettes?
Our directory holds nothing at Amettes, but the village has a well-established pilgrim stop. The Ferme des 2 Tilleuls, a 16th-century white-stone farmhouse at 2 rue de l'Église, is an official Via Francigena stage stop with a gîte d'étape and two chambres d'hôtes, a kitchen, closed courtyard, bike garage and pilgrim meals, open all year to walkers and groups. It stands beside the house of Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre, patron of pilgrims, which you can visit.
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.