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...oh, and my question is - is the le puy really predominantly a seniors' scene?I was going to walk the Le Puy but the videos I am seeing on youtube make me think that its 99% seniors. Not that there's anything wrong with seniors but being the token 'young person' gets old after a while.
... and perhaps "Seniors ?" are more interested in just enjoying the walk, being in the moment, rather than having their headspace occupied with making YouTube videos.videos I am seeing on youtube
Hang on, maybe best not to generalise or stereotype - and that goes as much for talking about young people on Camino as about older people.... and perhaps "Seniors ?" are more interested in just enjoying the walk, being in the moment, rather than having their headspace occupied with making YouTube videos.
Just curious: Did you observe (or participate) in what is so omnipresent on the Camino Francés in particular: the forming of casual spontaneous groups sometimes labelled as "Camino family"? (Not groups that are already established and know each other when they travel to Le Puy or another starting point and stay that way). FWIW, I tend to regard the road from Le Puy more as a GR than a Camino.I just walked this last month. Definitely an older crowd (I am 45), esp to Conques. Most of the people I met were older than me. Apparently if you walk in the summer there are more younger people when school is out of session.
I think a bigger concern for socializing would be if you don't speak French.
When I first walked the Camino Frances peak pilgrim season was July and August and the majority of pilgrims were in their 20's. Mainly students walking in vacation times. Now the peak periods for the Caminos have shifted along with the average age of pilgrims. If you want to find a younger demographic then your timing is probably going to be important.I just walked this last month. Definitely an older crowd (I am 45), esp to Conques. Most of the people I met were older than me. Apparently if you walk in the summer there are more younger people when school is out of session.
But this is about the GR65 from Le Puy. My experience is fairly limited so far but it definitely had a very different vibe from the Camino Francés in Spain. Some Le Puy walkers had the intention of walking to Santiago - the majority of those I met and chatted with didn't.the Caminos
I understand that. But I think the same issues will apply - younger people are likely to have more work/education restrictions on their vacation time and so may time their walking for specific vacation periods while those of us less encumbered with commitments can spread ourselves over the entire year.But this is about the GR65 from Le Puy. My experience is fairly limited so far but it definitely had a very different vibe from the Camino Francés in Spain.
I tend to regard the road from Le Puy more as a GR than a Camino.
Perhaps not, at 40. That said, for whatever reason most of the people in my life are quite a bit younger than me and I don't feel much of an appetite to be meeting a whole bunch of seniors. But yes, I should update my mental idea of how old I am to my physical age... one day.
@Tortilla, perhaps you would like to share your personal experience and impressions on the Le Puy with us and with the OP? The "younger demographics" that I encountered were as happy to chat with me as anyone else was. And they were remarkably polite, too.And why do you expect that "younger demographics" have an appetite to be meeting you?
I had the exact same impression in France this year, from people on the Arles and Piémont Ways, as well as a few from the Le Puy route who had deviated via Lourdes.Some Le Puy walkers had the intention of walking to Santiago - the majority of those I met and chatted with didn't.
Actually, an awful lot of the YouTube videos of the VP I've come across lately are made by Seniors! At 60 I'm verging on that group myself, and we have other long term forum members/YouTubers in this age range. Whilst a YouTuber I do it for my own memory/satisfaction, not money - much like some of you collect stamps (in your Credencial), Compostelas, or souvenirs. There's very little difference for me in stopping to take a photo or making a video as I walk - I certainly don't "occupy my headspace" with it!... and perhaps "Seniors ?" are more interested in just enjoying the walk, being in the moment, rather than having their headspace occupied with making YouTube videos.
I guess it comes down to the intent of the individual walking it.FWIW, I tend to regard the road from Le Puy more as a GR than a Camino.
You've not walked from Le Puy, though? What I meant is a certain "subculture" that I noticed along the Camino Frances, which is the only Camino in Spain that I know from own experience, and that I did not detect as present on the GR 65.From my perspective the VP is very much a Camino
I was under the impression that there are a considerable number of Gite de etapes? (It certainly appears true of the VG, which of course feeds into the VP).There are no gîtes (or barely any if they exist) that have been created and are maintained by a local town or by the regional administration or by something like a Friends of the Camino association. They are mostly privately owned, more expensive than a comparable place in Spain and you can stay for more than one night and you don't need a pilgrim passport although they nearly all have stamps. In general, the more mature amongst us are more affluent than the very young, hence ...
Fair enough, I misunderstood you.You've not walked from Le Puy, though? What I meant is a certain "subculture" that I noticed along the Camino Frances, which is the only Camino in Spain that I know from own experience, and that I did not detect as present on the GR 65.
I am not aiming for a discussion of whether the GR 65 is a "Camino" or a "Camino pilgrimage" for an individual walker nor for a discussion of the historic background to the extent that there even is one. My comment was more meant as an alert - don't expect to find what you know from the Spanish Caminos.
@Camino Chrissy's post matches my own recent experience nearly point for point.
Sadly people still attempt it though. No idea how often someone has told me that route X is "not as good as the Camino Frances" because it does not have the same infrastructure or is too expensive or is too quiet or.... So many people seem to think that the current Camino Frances (and more recently the Portugues too) is the template for walking pilgrimages rather than the admittedly remarkably popular exception in those respects!As regards the experience that would be like comparing my recent Jakobsweg's to my Spanish Camino's - you can't!
No, not in my experience, and I’ve done it twice in 3 years....oh, and my question is - is the le puy really predominantly a seniors' scene?
I know exactly how you feel, the mirror says 68 but my mind says « 40 »…one dayBut yes, I should update my mental idea of how old I am to my physical age... one day.
Apparently I was an especially solemn and pompous child. My mother once told me that I was born aged 40 and got even older every day from then on....I know exactly how you feel, the mirror says 68 but my mind says « 40 »…one day![]()
I was looking forward to reading your reply Camino Chrissy, you always have something worthwhile and interesting to sayI walked the Le Puy in June 2018 with two friends. We were youngish seniors and none of us spoke French. The vast majority were French walkers and a few French Canadians. We met no walkers at the nightly dinners where English was their spoken first language, although we met one American in a cafe who overheard us chatting.
There were very few young people that I recall, but what makes the OP think we "seniors" have nothing interesting to say, or have lost our sense of humor or adventure?
Considering this also a GR trail and possibly more for hiking, it was really a nice surprise that nearly all churches were open; both large and small.
In the first week we were in a bubble of about 5-8 walking with a guide who was pointing out and discussing plants, so I assumed it was a special type of walk they were on. Other than that we rarely saw others that I recall except at the communal dinners. Thankfully I had my friends to sit with as the French all talked and laughed among themselves. The meals were remarkable, btw.
We ended our walk in Auvillar, then walked back one day to Moissac before taking the train back to Paris.
Thank goodness for that! Surely it is about attitude, not age, gender, nationality or religion. Have a great time whatever you decide to doThanks for the answers folks. I realize that my question was pretty insensitively phrased - I wrote it in a stressful moment and I apologize.
I walked it last summer to Switzerland and didn't see to many seniors,older folks yeah.But remember it is one of the more expensive caminos out there in term of accommodations.I'm not saying young people are broke but I do rememberwhen I was younger I was less willing to spend more.hope this helps...oh, and my question is - is the le puy really predominantly a seniors' scene?
"a whole bunch of seniors." If I was a senior, which I am, I would not think highly of this remark or of the person who said it. Perhaps when you walk the Camino you can reflect not only this categorization but what lies behind it. A bunch of carrots, OK. A bunch of seniors, no. Thank goodness Jesus did not categorize this group as such. In addition, perhaps you ought to walk with seniors so you can learn to value, value more than what you do now. ChuckPerhaps not, at 40. That said, for whatever reason most of the people in my life are quite a bit younger than me and I don't feel much of an appetite to be meeting a whole bunch of seniors. But yes, I should update my mental idea of how old I am to my physical age... one day.
I walked it last summer to Switzerland and didn't see to many seniors,older folks yeah.But remember it is one of the more expensive caminos out there in term of accommodations.I'm not saying young people are broke but I do remember when I was younger I was less willing to spend more.hope this helps
None at all. A lot of the people on it were preexisting friend groups. There were a few solo walkers who I would occasionally run into but never really walked with anyone. This is vastly different than the Frances, of course.Just curious: Did you observe (or participate) in what is so omnipresent on the Camino Francés in particular: the forming of casual spontaneous groups sometimes labelled as "Camino family"? (Not groups that are already established and know each other when they travel to Le Puy or another starting point and stay that way). FWIW, I tend to regard the road from Le Puy more as a GR than a Camino.![]()
I have read in several locations that 70 is considered the new 50, 60 the new 40, etc. I can see this in people that I know. Personally, I now find myself staring at 71, and I subscribe to this opinion. Now, if I could only get my physical self to pay attention... I think younger, a lot younger. But, my aging body stil has not gotten the memo.I know exactly how you feel, the mirror says 68 but my mind says « 40 »…one day![]()
@acrah has apologized for the tone in their original post:"a whole bunch of seniors." If I was a senior, which I am, I would not think highly of this remark or of the person who said it. Perhaps when you walk the Camino you can reflect not only this categorization but what lies behind it. A bunch of carrots, OK. A bunch of seniors, no. Thank goodness Jesus did not categorize this group as such. In addition, perhaps you ought to walk with seniors so you can learn to value, value more than what you do now. Chuck
Thanks for the answers folks. I realize that my question was pretty insensitively phrased - I wrote it in a stressful moment and I apologize.
I just walked Le Puy to Conques last month. I’m similar in age to you, and I encountered people of a broad range of ages, both older and younger than myself. The bigger challenge for me was that most pilgrims on this route are (understandably) French-speaking, which made it slightly harder to connect. But it was a spectacular walk that I would recommend to anyone.I was going to walk the Le Puy but the videos I am seeing on youtube make me think that its 99% seniors. Not that there's anything wrong with seniors but being the token 'young person' gets old after a while.
The poster has already apologised. And your post lacks kindness."a whole bunch of seniors." If I was a senior, which I am, I would not think highly of this remark or of the person who said it. Perhaps when you walk the Camino you can reflect not only this categorization but what lies behind it. A bunch of carrots, OK. A bunch of seniors, no. Thank goodness Jesus did not categorize this group as such. In addition, perhaps you ought to walk with seniors so you can learn to value, value more than what you do now. Chuck
I had the exact opposite experience. I left Le Puy in the morning after mass, and though I chose not to walk with people during the day, I fell in with the same people over and over in the evenings, at local bars, coffee shops or gites. At least until Figeac, where I left the VP on the Rocamadour variant. That put me two-ish days behind the group that left Le Puy with me. Similar groups formed after, but it was never as intense. That said I still knew people when I arrived in Roncesvalles. Many of them remain listed on my WhatsApp as Sylvie du Chemin or Nathalie du Chemin. It's my du Chemin family. But perhaps if you don't begin in Le Puy, don't speak a lot of French, or are walking with a companion it doesn't happen so much.None at all. A lot of the people on it were preexisting friend groups. There were a few solo walkers who I would occasionally run into but never really walked with anyone. This is vastly different than the Frances, of course.
I am sure it happens occasionally but during the month I was on it I didn't really notice it.
Hi, from personal experience of walking the Le Puy in 2022 and 2023, at 40 you’ll be one of the’seniors’! Bon Chemin. PS Tthe Le Puy route is beyond beautiful, just do it.Perhaps not, at 40. That said, for whatever reason most of the people in my life are quite a bit younger than me and I don't feel much of an appetite to be meeting a whole bunch of seniors. But yes, I should update my mental idea of how old I am to my physical age... one day.
Actually we have stayed in several « gîtes communals » along the VP, in Lascabanes, Lauzerte, Auvillar, Castet-Arrouy, Limogne-en-Quercy. All well-run, the first two offered demi-pension, the others didn’t. With Demi-pension costing between €35-45 euros it is more expensive than in Spain but the meals are super delicious.Another reason for a somewhat different demographic may be the cost. There are no gîtes (or barely any if they exist) that have been created and are maintained by a local town or by the regional administration or by something like a Friends of the Camino association. They are mostly privately
Out of curiosity, I had a look at Gronze for these five gîtes communals on the GR 65. Only one of them - Auvillar - is listed as "exclusively for pilgrims", they others are "not exclusive but oriented towards pilgrims". That's what I meant, it is different from Spanish caminos, a different vibe, a different "subculture". At least my impression.Actually we have stayed in several « gîtes communals » along the VP, in Lascabanes, Lauzerte, Auvillar, Castet-Arrouy, Limogne-en-Quercy. All well-run, the first two offered demi-pension, the others didn’t. With Demi-pension costing between €35-45 euros it is more expensive than in Spain but the meals are super delicious.
This is true, but the two times I walked the VP there were only pilgrims staying in these gîtes. All were walking the Chemin du Puy.Out of curiosity, I had a look at Gronze for these five gîtes communals on the GR 65. Only one of them - Auvillar - is listed as "exclusively for pilgrims", they others are "not exclusive but oriented towards pilgrims". That's what I meant, it is different from Spanish caminos, a different vibe, a different "subculture". At least my impression.
That is my experience too. And one can debate whether or not one qualifies as a 'pilgrim' or 'just a hiker'' if that's a distinction someone is making. Who cares? What you would care about is whether or not a gite is open to tourists who are not hikers - and I never encountered that. In fact I stayed in a gite that turned people away because they weren't hiking despite being mostly empty. But I never asked people why they were walking, and 99.9% were walking in the same direction, so, whether they defined themselves as hikers or pilgrims didn't really make any difference to me. Another element is that many French walk the Le Puy in stages, a week at a time, some taking a few years to complete. A chacun son Chemin.This is true, but the two times I walked the VP there were only pilgrims staying in these gîtes. All were walking the Chemin du Puy.
I did.What you would care about is whether or not a gite is open to tourists who are not hikers - and I never encountered that.
It gets old only if you choose to let it get old. Valuing and appreciating everyone is what one ought to be learning in life, plus it enables you to come out of this shell you are currently in. You will have plenty of time to engage with your own age groups and to lose the opportunity to pick up some wisdom that few in your age group have and give is an opportunity, not a burden. You, perhaps in this case, are being presenting an opportunity to grow--whether you choose this opportunity says a lot about you and is particularly reflective of you, and not in a positive way. Not criticizing; merely providing a perspective that varies from your own perception, narrow as it is. Welcome to life. You can't always have what you want nor should you. ChuckI was going to walk the Le Puy but the videos I am seeing on youtube make me think that its 99% seniors. Not that there's anything wrong with seniors but being the token 'young person' gets old after a while.
in a word ... no...oh, and my question is - is the le puy really predominantly a seniors' scene?
bon chemin @thepacman ... depending on the number of kms you are proposing to walk each day, you might be surprised at how physically demanding the GR65 Via Podiensis [aka the Le Puy route] is ...@acrah thanks for your clarification about halfway through the thread, as some elements of the tone and direction of the conversations had been bothering me. Generalisations and stereotypes about most things can be misleading, be they about age or not.
Oh, and in less than two months, and about a week after my 72nd birthday I'll be setting out on the Le Puy, to SJPdP, my fourth camino. I'm expecting a beautiful walk, challenging only because as poor as my Spanish is, my French is considerably worse, but not nearly as physically (and therefore mentally) demanding as the VDLP which I walked at about the same time last year.
Thanks @BlackRocker57 - as the years have gone by I've planned slightly lower daily limits. This one will be an average of just under 20klms/day, with very few over 25. And I love having the time to "smell the roses" along the way.bon chemin @thepacman ... depending on the number of kms you are proposing to walk each day, you might be surprised at how physically demanding the GR65 Via Podiensis [aka the Le Puy route] is ...
not so much ... but that may be due to the numbers walking the Voie du Puy [approx. one tenth of the numbers walking the Camino Francés] ... every year I have made casual acquaintances and walked with them for two, three, four or more days ... also the nature of the accommodation perhaps impacts on this phenomenon ...Just curious: Did you observe (or participate) in what is so omnipresent on the Camino Francés in particular: the forming of casual spontaneous groups sometimes labelled as "Camino family"? (Not groups that are already established and know each other when they travel to Le Puy or another starting point and stay that way). FWIW, I tend to regard the road from Le Puy more as a GR than a Camino.![]()
20kms a day or less should work well for you ... and you will have loads of time to enjoy the rest stops [petites pauses], trackside buvettes and to «smell the roses» ... absolutely one of the highlights of the Via Podiensis ... bon cheminThanks @BlackRocker57 - as the years have gone by I've planned slightly lower daily limits. This one will be an average of just under 20klms/day, with very few over 25. And I love having the time to "smell the roses" along the way.