Jaime Carrollo
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 2022
Norte/Primitivo 2023
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While I enjoyed every stage of this camino, the ones after Aire-sur-l'Adour weren't near the top.I am considering starting in Arles Sur-le-dur and heading towards St Jean. What do you think?
Having walked the Le Puy Route x 3, I think Michael's suggestions are really great.Welcome!
While I enjoyed every stage of this camino, the ones after Aire-sur-l'Adour weren't near the top.
Here are the number of days it would take, on average, to walk between towns with train stations. Three days will be challenging ... but if you can pull five there are many more options! I've bolded the ones I'd recommend you consider.
The first would be great for feeling like you are part of a pilgrimage journey. A lot of people start from Le Puy, and there's a nice sense of community. But you might feel as if you've only just begun, and then it's time to end.
- Le Puy to Aumont-Aubrac (4 days)
- Aumont-Aubrac to Decazeville (5 days to Conques, then taxi to Decazville)
- Figeac to Cahors (5 days via the Célé variant)
- Cahors to Moissac (3 days)
- Moissac to Aire sur l'Adour (5 days)
- Aire to SJPP (6 days)
The second passes through Conques, one of the most iconic stops on the Via Podiensis. You also pass through some nice medieval towns tucked away in the woods. You can end in Conques (five days) and take a taxi up the hill to Decazville, then train out.
The third, a variant through the Célé Valley, is a stunningly beautiful and magical walk through a medieval landscape. You would also begin and end in two towns with decent transport options, Figeac and Cahors.
But it is also a variant, and most pilgrims take the direct route. I only met one to three pilgrims a day. If you're looking for the groups like on the CF you won't find them. It might not feel like a camino in the same way ... though it very much is one. You and your wife will get an excellent feel for walking in France, however. It would be my personal choice if I could only do a short walk.
Walking into Conques was amazing. And the three days before it. Staying at the abbey there and hearing the organ concert is one of my life top memoriesHello fellow pilgrims
I am new to Ivars forum. Did CF earlier this year, planning Norte/Primitivo next year. But my big question regards Podiensis. I want to take my wife on a 3-4 day hike to give a feel for walking the Camino and I am looking for a pretty section, relatively easy to get to. I am considering starting in Arles Sur-le-dur and heading towards St Jean. What do you think?
Great! Do stay a couple of nights in Le Puy, there is a lot to see.Thanks to all for the fantastic feedback. My wife met me in Santiago at end of my CF so has a sense of the end of the Way and I realize it will be difficult to get the Camino family feeling in only a few days. She does speak French, so that is good, but she is a very sociable person so maybe a nice section of the CF would be good. But since it is only a few days I am leaning towards France, and after reading your replies, starting in Le Puy looks like a winner. I hope to do the entire Via Podiensis one day, maybe with my wife! Thanks again, my friends.
N.B. Note that there is also the La Malle Postale shuttle that will take hikers / pilgrims from Conques to Decazeville <https://www.lamallepostale.com/fr/services/navette-chemin-de-compostelle-voie-du-puy> AND a public bus [operated by Iio Occitanie 50 mins] as well as a shuttle taxi service to Rodez where it is possible to take the train to Paris or elsewhere ... another option out of Conques is to take the shuttle service/s back to Le Puy-en-Velay where there is also a train service.Welcome!
While I enjoyed every stage of this camino, the ones after Aire-sur-l'Adour weren't near the top.
Here are the number of days it would take, on average, to walk between towns with train stations. Three days will be challenging ... but if you can pull five there are many more options! I've bolded the ones I'd recommend you consider.
The first would be great for feeling like you are part of a pilgrimage journey. A lot of people start from Le Puy, and there's a nice sense of community. But you might feel as if you've only just begun, and then it's time to end.
- Le Puy to Aumont-Aubrac (4 days)
- Aumont-Aubrac to Decazeville (5 days to Conques, then taxi to Decazville)
- Figeac to Cahors (5 days via the Célé variant)
- Cahors to Moissac (3 days)
- Moissac to Aire sur l'Adour (5 days)
- Aire to SJPP (6 days)
The second passes through Conques, one of the most iconic stops on the Via Podiensis. You also pass through some nice medieval towns tucked away in the woods. You can end in Conques (five days) and take a taxi up the hill to Decazville, then train out.
The third, a variant through the Célé Valley, is a stunningly beautiful and magical walk through a medieval landscape. You would also begin and end in two towns with decent transport options, Figeac and Cahors.
But it is also a variant, and most pilgrims take the direct route. I only met one to three pilgrims a day. If you're looking for the groups like on the CF you won't find them. It might not feel like a camino in the same way ... though it very much is one. You and your wife will get an excellent feel for walking in France, however. It would be my personal choice if I could only do a short walk.
Yes, check out the details here : <https://www.lamallepostale.com/fr/itineraires/chemin-de-compostelle-voie-du-puy>Is baggage transfer services available in these stages?
Thanks,
- Le Puy to Aumont-Aubrac (4 days)
- Aumont-Aubrac to Decazeville (5 days to Conques, then taxi to Decazville)
- Figeac to Cahors (5 days via the Célé variant)
I had a head start! Last weekend I was talking with a friend, who dreams of a long Camino, on the best way to introduce his husband to the idea by starting with a shorter walk.@MichaelC A very well thought out response to a challenging query. I was still getting my head around best recommendations when your response came up.
I agree so strongly with this. To me Le Puy to Conques makes almost the perfect short-pilgrimage. You have an opening ritual (morning mass in Le Puy) and a closing ritual (the organ recital at night in Conques).I adored the Cele variant, but hardly met anyone.
It is hard to get a feel for a pilgrimage in a few days. To me the sense of departure and sense of arrival is really important.
Me too.I agree so strongly with this. To me Le Puy to Conques makes almost the perfect short-pilgrimage. You have an opening ritual (morning mass in Le Puy) and a closing ritual (the organ recital at night in Conques).
It indeed is a very special moment when you go to the morning mass and after the blessing the gates that close the stairs are opened. In my diary I wrote that it reminded me of the moment after the winter when the doors of the stable are opened and the cows can get out for the first time "they run and jump for joy in the meadow'Me too.
@Jaime Carrollo I am not a religious person but beginning the Le Puy Way with the morning mass - and pilgrims' blessing - at the Cathedral (where all are welcome) and then setting off down those long stairs is the most magical start to any Camino that I have walked. Even all these years later, I remember it as if it were yesterday. And Conques .... well ... it's such a special place.
I did take this way up - about 1.1 km to la Croix Magnealthough the hill out of Cahors is somewhat demanding
My suggestion is to start at Le Puy and walk to Nasbinals:I want to take my wife on a 3-4 day hike to give a feel for walking the Camino and I am looking for a pretty section, relatively easy to get to
My final suggestion is:
- 18 km - Navarrenx to Aroue
- 18 km - to Ostabat-Asme
- 18 km - to Saint Jean-pied-deport
Cele Valley all the wayHello fellow pilgrims
I am new to Ivars forum. Did CF earlier this year, planning Norte/Primitivo next year. But my big question regards Podiensis. I want to take my wife on a 3-4 day hike to give a feel for walking the Camino and I am looking for a pretty section, relatively easy to get to. I am considering starting in Arles Sur-le-dur and heading towards St Jean. What do you think?
I walked the Celevalley and did like it very much. If you want to walk only a few days and get a caminofeel I would not go for this option. I found the way through the Cele valley to be like a chain of pearls : beautifull highlights but the stretches in between were less impressive. There were not many people on this route. In general I liked the first half from Le Puy to Conques more. More difficult but after a climb I was always rewarded with beautifull views and mostly I could walk on the crest of the hill. Both in Le Puy and in Conques there are "pilgrimmoments". The mass in the cathedral of Le Puy with the blessing. Most of the people you will meet you will be there. In Conques also the mass and the illumination of the "timpanum" of the impressive church. You can stay in the convent. In 4 or 5 days you cannot walk from Le Puy to Conques though. Le Puy is probably easier to reach by public transport.Cele Valley all the way
I do agree “ camino feel” including Conques should be highly considered!!!!I walked the Celevalley and did like it very much. If you want to walk only a few days and get a caminofeel I would not go for this option. I found the way through the Cele valley to be like a chain of pearls : beautifull highlights but the stretches in between were less impressive. There were not many people on this route. In general I liked the first half from Le Puy to Conques more. More difficult but after a climb I was always rewarded with beautifull views and mostly I could walk on the crest of the hill. Both in Le Puy and in Conques there are "pilgrimmoments". The mass in the cathedral of Le Puy with the blessing. Most of the people you will meet you will be there. In Conques also the mass and the illumination of the "timpanum" of the impressive church. You can stay in the convent. In 4 or 5 days you cannot walk from Le Puy to Conques though. Le Puy is probably easier to reach by public transport.
Aroue has a fantastic gite, in the countryside, by the side of the Camino, and a couple of miles before the village of Aroue, Ferme Bohoteguia, the owners are very friendly, you have dinner by the meadows, and the place is purely bucolicI loved this portion of the trail. The walk to Ostabat-Asme is especially beautiful.
Suggested tweaks to your stops...
Aroue is really small and only has one gite, as I recall. A wonderful alternative is after arriving in Aroue, catch a bus or cab to Saint-Palais. It's about 15 minutes away and has many lodging and restaurant options. Then walk from there the next day. Stages would look like...
18 km - Navarrenx to Aroue (then bus ride or taxi to Saint-Palais)
16 km - Saint-Palais to Larceveau (or Ostabat which is about 2km shorter)
16 km - Larceveau to SJPDP
It's also possible to walk to Saint-Palais rather and drive, but that creates about a 30km stage from Navarrenx, I believe. Personally, I was done with 30km stages by then, and was happy to ride to Saint-Palais. In fact, the local gite owner in Aroue volunteered to give us a ride. That was nice of him.
FWIW... I think starting the Camino Frances in Navarrenx is an interesting idea. It gives you several days to warm up for the Pyrenees, and there is a significant climb before Ostabat which is a nice warm up for the mountains.
I agree. Loved that place.Aroue has a fantastic gite, in the countryside, by the side of the Camino, and a couple of miles before the village of Aroue, Ferme Bohoteguia, the owners are very friendly, you have dinner by the meadows, and the place is purely bucolic
Oui. Je suis d’accord.Aroue has a fantastic gite, in the countryside, by the side of the Camino, and a couple of miles before the village of Aroue, Ferme Bohoteguia, the owners are very friendly, you have dinner by the meadows, and the place is purely bucolic
a big hug from the other end of the world, amiga, good to hear from you!!!I agree. Loved that place.
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