Best 7 to 14 days on the Chemin du Puy?

[andarapie]

It looks like I will have 5 to 7 weeks this summer to tackle my next camino, starting the first week in August. I have previously walked the Camino del Norte from Irun to Fisterre (via the Primitivo) and the Camino Portugues from Porto. I was thinking of doing the Frances, since it is only going to get more crowded in the future, and I should probably see what all the fuss is about. So I may have one to two weeks to walk before SJPdP.

I am considering the Voie de la Nive from Bayonne or the GR10 from Hendaye to SJPdP to start (this would be if I only have one extra week), or to walk a section (or sections) on the Chemin du Puy (not necessarily the section leading to SJPdP). So my question is, what are the most beautiful sections of the Chemin du Puy? If you only had a week or two weeks, what would you choose to walk?

Alternatively, I could be persuaded to walk the whole Chemin du Puy and then spend the extra week or two on the Frances. I have no great need to get to Santiago again, and I have no love of crowds (the stretch of the Frances I walked from Melide to Santiago was unpleasant, kind of like spring break at Daytona), but I am curious as to what the experience is like on the Frances.

 

[Pafayac]

2 Best weeks of Podiensis are Le Puy-Cahors (preferably through Voie du Célé), in my opinion.

 

[Mananath]

2 Best weeks of Podiensis are Le Puy-Cahors (preferably through Voie du Célé), in my opinion.

Yes, this absolutely. I just completed the VP and this was my favorite section, including the Cele valley.

Currently on the Frances (my second time) and am really enjoying it!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Yes, this absolutely. I just completed the VP and this was my favorite section, including the Cele valley.

I agree! I walked from Le Puy as far as Auvillar, just past Moissac, and enjoyed everything, including the Cele variant, which was spectacular!

 

[Bill905]

I agree with starting in Le Puy. And ... for an exceptional experience be sure to attend the 7:00 am mass in the cathedral and start your Chemin walking down the stairs that will appear before your eyes through a trap door at the end of the mass! And please, at every opportunity taste the cheeses along the way! Le Puy to Moissac remains my favorite Chemin for so many reasons! Bon Chemin!

 

[BlackRocker57]

Consider walking the full length of the Chemin du Puy from Le Puy-en-Velay to StJPP via tje magnificent vallée du Célé ... depending on how many kms you are comfortable walking each day, you should make it easily inside 6 weeks giving you a week [or more] to experience the Camino Frances ... you won’t regret it!

 

[andarapie]

Thanks for all your responses. I've decided to do all of the Chemin du Puy and then continue on the Frances to Burgos, which should be doable in a little over 6 weeks.

 

[katkins_in]

I agree with starting in Le Puy. And ... for an exceptional experience be sure to attend the 7:00 am mass in the cathedral and start your Chemin walking down the stairs that will appear before your eyes through a trap door at the end of the mass! And please, at every opportunity taste the cheeses along the way! Le Puy to Moissac remains my favorite Chemin for so many reasons! Bon Chemin!

View attachment 173892

Yes, definitely start with mass! Well worth it, even though you lose an hour or two to the mass, tour, and blessing...

 

[katkins_in]

It looks like I will have 5 to 7 weeks this summer to tackle my next camino, starting the first week in August. I have previously walked the Camino del Norte from Irun to Fisterre (via the Primitivo) and the Camino Portugues from Porto. I was thinking of doing the Frances, since it is only going to get more crowded in the future, and I should probably see what all the fuss is about. So I may have one to two weeks to walk before SJPdP.

I am considering the Voie de la Nive from Bayonne or the GR10 from Hendaye to SJPdP to start (this would be if I only have one extra week), or to walk a section (or sections) on the Chemin du Puy (not necessarily the section leading to SJPdP). So my question is, what are the most beautiful sections of the Chemin du Puy? If you only had a week or two weeks, what would you choose to walk?

Alternatively, I could be persuaded to walk the whole Chemin du Puy and then spend the extra week or two on the Frances. I have no great need to get to Santiago again, and I have no love of crowds (the stretch of the Frances I walked from Melide to Santiago was unpleasant, kind of like spring break at Daytona), but I am curious as to what the experience is like on the Frances.

I've loved almost all the Le Puy (except maybe a bit of hot dry cornfields which are just like home, a few days before SJPdP. Having walked that far, the walk up and over and down to Roncesvalles is not that hard -- I can't imagine how that would be for a pilgrim's first day! I only got as far as Pamplona before I had to stop.

We walked the Chemin Stevenson (also beautiful and varied) and the Chemin St Guilhem (branching off from GR65), also worthwhile.

All the routes I liked will be HOT in August/September, I think.

the Del Norte looks amazing... I hope to walk there this Fall.

I don't know the Voie de la Nive or GR10... I'll look at them, but... what are their attractions for you?

-Kevin

 

[andarapie]

the Del Norte looks amazing... I hope to walk there this Fall.

I don't know the Voie de la Nive or GR10... I'll look at them, but... what are their attractions for you?

-Kevin

The Del Norte was really beautiful, the first week from Irun to Bilbao especially.

The Voie de la Nive and GR10 both go from the French coast to St. Jean PdP, the former in the plain, the latter in the mountains. I was considering them because if I did the entire Frances, and had the time, I wanted to do some walking leading up to it.