Overview: the Le Puy Route
The old Via Podensis, this is one of the four main pilgrim routes through France, used by French pilgrims but also by others coming through Switzerland and from points further back in Germany, Austria, Poland and the Czech and Slovak republics. It joins the routes from Paris and Vézelay on the French side of the Pyrenees.
Visit our gallery for pictures of the route.
The Route. 736km long, starting in Le Puy-en-Velay, passing
through Conques, Figeac, Cahors, Moissac, Aire-sur-l’Adour and Navarrenx
before it reaches the border town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Takes on average
4 - 5 weeks to walk the entire route.
Waymarking. Well-waymarked throughout (in both directions) as the GR65, with the red and white balises of the French Grande Randonée network.
Terrain. Very varied but fairly strenuous and rarely flat, starting in the volcanic Velay region, with constant ups and downs, passing through the mountainous Aubrac plateau (at 1300 metres) before descending to the abbey at Conques. Continues through the causse (hilly limestone scrubland) to Cahors and then through undulating farmland to Moissac and on to the Basque country in the foothills of the Pyrenees. For a height profile of the route (as well as a list of the stages), go to www.godesalco.com/iphp/perfil.php
Weather/When to go. The route is normally practicable (though not necessarily recommended) throughout the year. There is snow in the Aubrac and the Pyrenees in winter and early spring, the central part of the route is extremely hot in summer and it can rain torrentially in the Basque country in the spring. April-June and September-October are recommended.
What to see. Important cathedrals and abbeys in Le Puy, Conques, Figeac, Cahors, Moissac plus many interesting smaller churches and other historic monuments. Many pilgrim, St. James, St. Roch and other related references, art and architecture along the way.
Accommodation. Plentiful, at convenient walking distances along the way, and of all types: campsites, gîtes d’étape, chambres d’hote, hotels, plus one or two pilgrim-only facilities.
Distinctive features of the route/General. Once a fairly quiet route this is now becoming much more popular and accommodation may be problematic at busy times.
Guide books:
- Le Chemin de St-Jacques du Velay aux Pyrénées, by J-P Siréjol & Louis Laborde-Balen, Rando Editions/FFRP, 2004. Route description and historical material with details of accommodation and services.
- Sentier de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, a 3 volume set with text and b/w IGN maps on facing pages, in the FFRP’s Topo-Guides des Sentiers de Grande-Randonée series. Provides route-finding material, historical and other background information and a guide to accommodation and services. Note: be sure to obtain the latest edition.
- Miam-Miam-Dodo, by Jacques Clouteau, Editions du Vieux Crayon. Very comprehensive guide to accommodation and services, updated annually. Schematic presentation makes it easy to use for non-French speakers. Available in our Bookshop.
- Way of St. James: Le Puy to the Pyrenees - A Walkers’ Guide, by Alison Raju, Cicerone Press 2003, 186pp. ISBN: 1-85284-371-3. Covers the route with route finding description and both historical and practical information. Available in our Bookshop.
- Way of St. James: Le Puy to Santiago - A Cyclists’ Guide, by John Higginson, Cicerone Press 1999, 108pp. ISBN: 1-85284-274-1. Covers the entire route for touring cyclists, with route finding description and both historical and practical information. Available in our Bookshop.
- Le Puy to the Pyrenees, by Alison Raju (Pilgrim Guides to the Roads through France #3), Confraternity of St. James. Guide to accommodation and services, updated regularly. The guide is available in our Bookshop.
Other guidebooks also available in French.
Cyclists. The walkers’ route is NOT suitable for cyclists, even on mountain bikes, though cyclists can ride the route (2 weeks plus) using minor roads (see Guide Book section).
Language. Pilgrims without a reasonable command of French may find this route difficult at times.
Thanks to Alison Raju, January 2005