Description
Book SynopsisThis guidebook describes in full the 735km Via Podiensis (GR65), a historic pilgrimage route through southern France from Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where the trail meets the famous Camino Francés to Santiago de Compostela (Spain). Also detailed are 2 major variants: the Célé Valley (GR651) and Rocamadour (GR6 and GR46). Split into 28 stages, the full route takes 4 to 6 weeks to complete but can be divided into shorter sections - Figeac and Condom are well positioned to break the walk into three 2-week chunks. It can be adapted to suit all abilities, with regularly spaced accommodation and baggage transport available, and is best walked in spring and autumn, with May and September the most popular months. Abundant accommodation options offer a warm welcome to walkers and pilgrims and a chance to enjoy delicious home-cooked meals made with local ingredients.
Walking directions are accompanied by 1;100,000 maps showing the route line and the facilities available at different locations. Accommodation listings provide invaluable information on where to stay. There are useful town maps for Cahors, Condom, Figeac, Le Puy, Moissac and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, and a stage planning table listing intermediate distances between accommodation means the schedule can be easily customised to individual requirements.
The Via Podiensis leads pilgrims and walkers through the best of French village life, offering a unique combination of pleasant trails, quaint historic communities and cultural delights. It passes through charming Estaing, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Lauzerte, and visits pilgrim shrines including Conques and Rocamadour. Pilgrims carrying on to Santiago can either proceed directly from Saint-Jean on the Camino Francés or transition (via the GR10) over to the Camino del Norte - a skeletal outline of the routes linking Saint-Jean and Irún, Spain, is included in the guidebook.
Table of ContentsOverview 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-B#xe9;arn Stage 25 Arthez-de-B#xe9;arn to Navarrenx Stage 26 Navarrenx to Aroue Stage 27 Aroue to Ostabat-Asme Stage 28 Ostabat-Asme to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port C#xe9;l#xe9; Valley variant Stage C1 Figeac to Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie Stage C2 Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie to Marcilhac-sur-C#xe9;l#xe9; Stage C3 Marcilhac-sur-C#xe9;l#xe9; 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
