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Camino de Santiago - Via Podiensis
Le Puy to the Pyrenees on the GR65
ISBN
9781786311023
Availability
Published
Published
11 Jul 2022
Reprinted
6 Feb 2024
Edition
First
Pages
296
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.70cm
Weight
340g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
Guidebook to the Via Podiensis (Chemin du Puy) pilgrim route along the GR65 through southern France to the Pyrenees. The 735km route links Le Puy-en-Velay with Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and the start of the Camino Francés to Santiago. Includes Célé Valley and Rocamadour variants.
Seasons
Spring and autumn are ideal: pleasant temperatures and reasonable precipitation. Summer can be hot but it's less crowded and many businesses/attractions have extended opening hours. The route is technically feasible in winter but sees few walkers, and many services close.Centres
There are very few towns exceeding (or even approaching) a population of 10,000. The major population centres are Le-Puy-en-Velay, Figeac, Cahors, Moissac, Condom and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Notable smaller places include Conques, Espalion, Rocamadour, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Lauzerte and Navarrenx.Difficulty
No special equipment is required and the route is navigable by all walkers. It is easily scalable to ability, with regularly spaced accommodation and baggage transport available. Most days involve tiring ups and downs on uneven terrain but nothing technical.Must See
The Aubrac plateau, a stunningly rugged high-level region; the Lot Valley, containing a series of 'the most beautiful villages in France', perched on the winding river; the Célé River Valley, featuring limestone cliffs, prehistoric cave paintings and more idyllic villages; the pilgrimage centres of Rocamadour and Conques; the Western PyreneesISBN
9781786311023
Availability
Published
Published
11 Jul 2022
Reprinted
6 Feb 2024
Edition
First
Pages
296
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.70cm
Weight
340g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
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Overview
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A guidebook to walking the Via Podiensis (GR65) pilgrimage route, the major French variant of the Camino de Santiago or Way of St James. The route covers 735km (457 miles) through southern France from Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where walkers can connect to the Camino Frances to continue to Santiago de Compostela. The trail takes 4–6 weeks to hike and is suitable for any reasonably fit walker.
The route is described from north to south in 28 stages, each between 16 and 35km (10–22 miles) in length. Two major variants, the Célé Valley (GR651) and Rocamadour (GR6 and GR46), are also detailed as well as routes connecting to the Camino del Norte.
- 1:100,000 mapping plus larger-scale urban maps for key locations
- GPX files available to download
- Handy stage planning tables and pilgrim lodging listings help you plan your itinerary
- Detailed information about refreshments and facilities along the route
- Advice on planning and preparation
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Table of Contents
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Overview map of the Via Podiensis
Route summary tables
Map key
Introduction
The stories of St James and St Roch
The Via Podiensis: yesterday and today
Regions encountered along the route
A turbulent history
Planning your walk
Choosing your route
When to go
Preparation and planning
Being a pilgrim
Getting there and back
Where to stay
Tips for making the most of your walk
What to pack
Food and drink
Postal services and baggage transportation
Telephones and internet
Other local facilities
How to use this guide
Route descriptions
Route summary information
Walking directions and waymarking
Municipality information headings
Accommodation listings
Elevation profiles
Maps
GPX tracks
Planning tools
The Via Podiensis
Stage 1 Le Puy-en-Velay to Montbonnet
Stage 2 Montbonnet to Saugues
Stage 3 Saugues to Domaine du Sauvage
Stage 4 Domaine du Sauvage to Aumont-Aubrac
Stage 5 Aumont-Aubrac to Nasbinals
Stage 6 Nasbinals to Saint-Côme-d’Olt
Stage 7 Saint-Come-d’Ôlt to Estaing
Stage 8 Estaing to Conques
Stage 9 Conques to Livinhac-le-Haut
Stage 10 Livinhac-le-Haut to Figeac
Stage 11 Figeac to Cajarc
Stage 12 Cajarc to Varaire
Stage 13 Varaire to Cahors
Stage 14 Cahors to Lascabanes
Stage 15 Lascabanes to Lauzerte
Stage 16 Lauzerte to Moissac
Stage 17 Moissac to Auvillar
Stage 18 Auvillar to Lectoure
Stage 19 Lectoure to Condom
Stage 20 Condom to Éauze
Stage 21 Éauze to Nogaro
Stage 22 Nogaro to Aire-sur-l’Adour
Stage 23 Aire-sur-l’Adour to Arzacq-Arraziguet
Stage 24 Arzacq-Arraziguet to Arthez-de-Béarn
Stage 25 Arthez-de-Béarn to Navarrenx
Stage 26 Navarrenx to Aroue
Stage 27 Aroue to Ostabat-Asme
Stage 28 Ostabat-Asme to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Célé Valley variant
Stage C1 Figeac to Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie
Stage C2 Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie to Marcilhac-sur-Célé
Stage C3 Marcilhac-sur-Célé to Cabrerets
Stage C4 Cabrerets to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
Stage C5 Saint-Cirq-Lapopie to Cahors
Rocamadour variant
Stage R1 Figeac to Lacapelle-Marival
Stage R2 Lacapelle-Marival to Gramat
Stage R3 Gramat to Rocamadour
Stage R4 Rocamadour to Labastide-Murat
Stage R5 Labastide-Murat to Vers
Stage R6 Vers to Cahors
Connecting to the Camino del Norte
The GR10
The Voie Nive Bidassoa
Appendix A Stage planning tables
Appendix B Useful sources of information
Appendix C English–French glossary
Appendix D Suggestions for further reading
Appendix E Major festivals along the way
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Updates
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June 2025
Page 268
Unfortunately, the train bridge on the short-cut that proceeds northward from Vers on the east side of the Lot is currently (June 2025) closed for repairs, making this short-cut impracticable. Updates from other walkers are most welcome!December 2022
Author updates
Note: For more detailed information on accommodation options and services on the Via Podiensis, click here for our Via Podiensis Accommodations and Services spreadsheets!
- Page 53 - The food truck after Montaure has moved on
- Page 57 - Le Clauze should be La Clauze
- Page 58 - L'Auberge des 2 Pèlerins in Le Villeret d'Apchier now has a small snack bar, including homemade crepes
- Page 61 - While the owners of L'Oustal de Parent had announced the opening of a new food truck at Chapelle Saint-Roch this year (2022), there has been no sign of it
- Page 70 - Both accommodations listed in Finieyrols (Auberge Les Gentianes and La Rose de l’Aubrac) have closed
- Page 70 - All of the food options in Finieyrols have shut down, but Domaine du Barena, just before and only slightly off route, is a good new option for snacks and accommodation
- Page 93 - Along the GR65 between Estaing and Massp, you can count on two water fountains and a WC
- Page 107 - Gite/CDH La Mariotte in Montredon has new contact info: contact@gitelamariotte.com and 0)768539646
- Also in Montredon, the centrally-located Gite Bien et Toit also offers snacks, right across from the church
- Page 111 - Two gites in Figeac (Gîte Chez Celia and Le Repos du Célé) have closed
- Page 122 - Gîte Dalat’Etape no longer offers pilgrim accommodation
- Page 137 - The chemin now bypasses Les Mathieux, trimming a few meters along the way. Those hoping to stay at Domaine des Mathieux can still count on signage to get you there
- Page 139 - Similarly, the route through the center of Lascabanes is now slightly more direct to the church, trimming a few more meters
- Page 147 - Hotel Aube Nouvelle has closed
- Page 153 - Chambres d’hôtes Pugnal has closed
- Page 166 - Gîte Le Couvent de La Romieu has closed
- Page 178 - Gîte La Hargue has closed
- Page 185 - Hospitalet Saint-Jacques has closed
- Page 194 - Gîte Chez Darribère has closed
- Page 199 - Gîte Nadette has closed
- Page 204 - Gîte Aux 2 Ânes and Eco-Accueil Le Jardin des Rêves have closed
- Page 205 - Chambre d'Hôte Christiane Jaury has closed
- Page 208 - Gîte Terra Sylva has closed
- Page 209 - The good news is that the waymarking for the Saint-Palais detour is now refreshed and easy to follow. The bad news is that, for some reason, it now spends considerably more time on highways. It's not an enjoyable walk, which is too bad, given that Saint-Palais is already a harder sell since it adds 6km to the stage
- Page 221 - Camping Pech Ibert has closed
- Page 230 - Chambre d'Hôtes de Geniès has closed
- Page 249 - New gite in Lacapelle-Marival! Le Cèdre Bleu
- Page 251 - A water fountain is available on route in L'Hôpital
- Page 257 - Thanks to reader feedback that it is best not to rely on finding a taxi at the Rocamadour train station to make it into the sanctuary. Instead, the bus -line 876- offers a quick connection
- Page 261 - New gite in Couzou! Les 7 Pèlerins
- Page 261 - Also of note in Couzou: A WC with water is available in the village, though it's a bit of a detour, following D32 south for 400m
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By Dave Whitson
Dave Whitson is a high school History teacher in Portland, Oregon and a graduate of the University of Washington. He made his first pilgrimage in 2002 on the Camino Francés and was inspired to return with a group of his high school students, which he did in 2004. He has made long-distance treks in Norway on the Pilgrim Road to Nidaros, in England on the North Downs Way to Canterbury, and in Turkey on the Lycian Way, all told walking roughly 10,000 kilometers on pilgrim roads in Europe.
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