St. Cirq Detour on Voie Cele

[John Saxon]

Will be walking Le Puy in May and taking the Voie Cele between Figeac and Cahors.

Would really like to make a detour to visit St. Cirq on the day that I would walk between Cabrerets and Pasturat (before continuing next day to Cahors).

If I walk down the GR 36 from Bouzies to St. Cirq and retrace my steps back to Bouzies and on to Pasturat, that would make it a 25.9 km day.

Wondering, though, if I can walk along some back roads that parallel the D8 from St. Cirq and intersect with the D8 not far from where the GR 36 intersects the D8 and then continue on GR 36 to Pasturat, which would be 20.4 km and save myself 5.5 km.

Has anyone walked this GR 36 shortcut from St. Cirq toward Cahors (avoiding the Bouzies loop)? Pros/cons?

 

[TMcA]

I am almost hesitant to reply to you question because I don't have the answer. And my memory is a little muddled because I have taken variants from the GR65 twice. Once to visit Saint-Cirq and the second time to visit Rocamadour. What I do remember is that one of these charming villages was mobbed with visitors on the weekend. Busloads of tourists. And I think it was Saint-Cirq. This was a little disappointing after the tranquility of the GR65.

Bon chemin.

 

[mspath]

For more re the route through the valley of the Cele River have you seen these earlier threads?

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/valley-cele-information-please.23736/

and

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/cele-route-option.20850/

Happy planning and Bon chemin!

 

[Dave]

Has anyone walked this GR 36 shortcut from St. Cirq toward Cahors (avoiding the Bouzies loop)? Pros/cons?

I think that would be totally workable, just keep in mind that those roads tend to be windy with little-to-no-shoulder. If you're comfortable with that, it would probably serve your purposes.

The more common ways to trim a little distance in this stretch involve retired train bridges. For example, it's possible to split onto a train bridge just after Conduché, bypass Bouzies, and save 1.2km. You can also save a chunk of kms by following the train bridge that leads eventually into Saint-Géry, near Pasturat. Those options aren't for everyone; they involve short, sharp ascents and descents to/from the old train bridges, and overgrown thornbushes can be a problem on the latter. So, trickier footing in places than your road option, but no cars.

 

[Glenshiro]

Are these the back roads you had in mind? Via Mas de Girval and Lapeyre? Looks perfectly doable to me, and would save a lot of time. I advise a good map though, those French country roads all look the same after a while! If you can, get hold of the IGN (Institut Geographique National) 1:25000 map, 2138 OT, Cahors, St-Cirq-Lapopie, Vallees du Lot et du Cele

I second Dave's comments on the old railway bridges - the approaches are steep and very overgrown.

 

[John Saxon]

View attachment 122790

Are these the back roads you had in mind? Via Mas de Girval and Lapeyre? Looks perfectly doable to me, and would save a lot of time. I advise a good map though, those French country roads all look the same after a while! If you can, get hold of the IGN (Institut Geographique National) 1:25000 map, 2138 OT, Cahors, St-Cirq-Lapopie, Vallees du Lot et du Cele

I second Dave's comments on the old railway bridges - the approaches are steep and very overgrown.

Yes. That's pretty much what I have in mind. I have a good on-line GPS map of the area (used to be known as Windy Maps).

 

[gittiharre]

Will be walking Le Puy in May and taking the Voie Cele between Figeac and Cahors.

Would really like to make a detour to visit St. Cirq on the day that I would walk between Cabrerets and Pasturat (before continuing next day to Cahors).

If I walk down the GR 36 from Bouzies to St. Cirq and retrace my steps back to Bouzies and on to Pasturat, that would make it a 25.9 km day.

Wondering, though, if I can walk along some back roads that parallel the D8 from St. Cirq and intersect with the D8 not far from where the GR 36 intersects the D8 and then continue on GR 36 to Pasturat, which would be 20.4 km and save myself 5.5 km.

Has anyone walked this GR 36 shortcut from St. Cirq toward Cahors (avoiding the Bouzies loop)? Pros/cons?

I did walk it. Stayed in the gite in St Cirq which was lovely. St Cirq itself is pretty.
It was quiet when we passed through during the week, but full of tourist shops and at the weekend it is heaving with hordes of tourists. It is not my kind of place...I can't remember the route I took the next day....sorry...

 

[gittiharre]

Will be walking Le Puy in May and taking the Voie Cele between Figeac and Cahors.

Would really like to make a detour to visit St. Cirq on the day that I would walk between Cabrerets and Pasturat (before continuing next day to Cahors).

If I walk down the GR 36 from Bouzies to St. Cirq and retrace my steps back to Bouzies and on to Pasturat, that would make it a 25.9 km day.

Wondering, though, if I can walk along some back roads that parallel the D8 from St. Cirq and intersect with the D8 not far from where the GR 36 intersects the D8 and then continue on GR 36 to Pasturat, which would be 20.4 km and save myself 5.5 km.

Has anyone walked this GR 36 shortcut from St. Cirq toward Cahors (avoiding the Bouzies loop)? Pros/cons?

Definitely recommend Pech Merle Cave visit on way. Absolutely fabulous. Book well ahead as nos limited.
I just checked my planner. I walked St Cirq to Pasturat 15.5 km ( via chemin de halage) and then 18 km to Cahors.

 

[beliperegrina]

I walked from Saint Cirq to Bouzies via the beautifull chemin de halage, on the River side, and than to Pasturat. Very wonderful walk and highly recomendable!
By the way, you can see the trail on the maps https://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/
Buen camino!

 

[julie]

Apologies for not answering your specific question but can you add an extra day? I took the GR36 from Bouzies to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie where I stayed the night. As with a lot of touristy places, it was lovely to wander around after the day-trippers had left. It was not voted one of the prettiest villages in France for no reason!
Rather than backtracking, I followed the trail until it met up with the GR65 just before Bach, stayed at the convent in Vaylats (22km) then on to Cahors (24km) the next day.

 

[John Saxon]

Apologies for not answering your specific question but can you add an extra day? I took the GR36 from Bouzies to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie where I stayed the night. As with a lot of touristy places, it was lovely to wander around after the day-trippers had left. It was not voted one of the prettiest villages in France for no reason!
Rather than backtracking, I followed the trail until it met up with the GR65 just before Bach, stayed at the convent in Vaylats (22km) then on to Cahors (24km) the next day.

Thanks, Julie. Would rather not continue to Bach with extra day or two. Looks like I can go on the GR 36 toward Bach and then swing west on back roads to pick up the GR 36 when it runs alongside the D8. Adds only a few km vs walking from Cabrerets to Pasturat without St. Cirq.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Hi John,
We walked the lovely Cele variant from Figeac, spending two nights there first to enjoy a day train trip to Rocamadour. Next our overnights included staying in d'Espagnac, then on to Marcilhac for the night with its awesome abbey ruins; Cabrerets the next night. The following morning we walked on to the delightful Saint Cirq for lunch and exploring for a few hours before continuing on to Arcambel(near Pasturat) for the night, ending the variant in Cahors. I do not have a memory of taking any shortcuts on roads.
You will love the Cele and we saw very few people walking it in mid-June.

 

[nanamelita]

hello everyone,
I jump in to ask about Cele way.
I am planning to walk from Saint Cirq Lapopie to Figueac.
I would like to know if the signalisation is clear enough when walking on the opposite direction.
Any recommendation?
thank you!
Natalia

 

[beliperegrina]

That should be the hiking trail GR 651. Normally the GR are well marked in both directions with red an white bars. Buen camino.

 

[nanamelita]

That should be the hiking trail GR 651. Normally the GR are well marked in both directions with red an white bars. Buen camino.

Thanks for this answer.
Would you recommend getting maps for the area or with the signalisation is it good enough?
My experience with the camino was in Portugal-Spain and I could rely on the compostelanas and fellow caminantes. Trying to learn how to prepare for this nice walk in France.
Gracias!

 

[beliperegrina]

I didn't take this way, but the GR 65. But you will easily find the way. These sites might be helpfull:
https://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/carte the trails are numbered

https://www.gr-infos.com/gr651.htm if you start in Saint Cirq, don't miss the wonderfull way next to the river to Bouziers, called "chemin de halage".

Even without knowing french you could find the guide MiamMiamDoDo helpfull: good maps(3,5cm=1km), many accomodations, every year a New Edition, pictograms easy to understand, explanations in english. See here:

Miam Miam Dodo Variantes GR®65 : Voies du Célé et Rocamadour - Édition 2024

La version e-book de ce guide est aussi disponible.

www.levieuxcrayon.com

Buen camino

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Thanks for this answer.
Would you recommend getting maps for the area or with the signalisation is it good enough?
My experience with the camino was in Portugal-Spain and I could rely on the compostelanas and fellow caminantes. Trying to learn how to prepare for this nice walk in France.
Gracias!

If you’ve downloaded the relevant map, in many app’s (Mapy.cz for example) you can use them offline, even in airplane mode. Save’s your battery too

 

[Pafayac]

even in airplane mode.

Mmh.... not sure doing the Camino in airplane qualifies for a Compostela...

Seriously, after walking "voie du Célé", and the detour by St Cirq Lapopie, you have 2 choices:
- either going back down to Bouziès, walking the chemin de halage and then following the Lot toward Cahors.
- or keeping southward to Concots, then Varaire (or Bach if you want a shortcut), when you will reach the standard Podiensis way, which will reach Cahors through the plateau du Quercy.

Mapy.cz

NejpoužÃvanÄjÅ¡Ã mapový portál v ÄR s celou Åadou tématických map - základnÃ, turistickou, cyklistickou, dopravnà a plno dalÅ¡Ãch. NabÃzà možnost reálného leteckého, panoramatického nebo 3D pohledu. Rozsáhlé množstvà obsahu, firem a turistických bodů zájmu. UmožÅuje...

en.mapy.cz

I walk the first option (July 2021), but now I think it was not the best choice because following the Lot was quite boring.
I recommend the other, despite the fact I cannot insure that it is well marked between St Cirq and Varaire, where you will find again GR65...