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Cicerone

Cicerone: Via Podiensis Le Puy to the Pyrenees on the GR65

Cicerone: Via Podiensis Le Puy to the Pyrenees on the GR65

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This is the 2022 edition. 

Guidebook to the Via Podiensis (Chemin du Puy) pilgrim route along the GR65 through southern France to the Pyrenees. The 750km 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.

ISBN 9781786311023
Published 11 Jul 2022
Pages
296
Size 17.2 x 11.6 x 1.7cm
Weight 350g


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 Pyrenees

 

Overview

This 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.

Contents

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
Appendix A Useful sources of information
Appendix B English–Spanish–Euskera glossary
Appendix C Suggestions for further reading

 

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