Vezelay Camino October 2020 - Recommendation Request

[Sara_Dhooma]

Hello!

I've had a number of hiccups with flight cancels & reschedules from Toronto, but it looks like I will finally be arriving in Paris on Thursday Oct 1st at 1:00pm! After some hiking pole shopping and taking a few trains/buses, I hope to arrive in Vezelay before the Centre Sainte-Madeleine closes registration for a bed at 9pm.

On Friday morning I'll be super tired and jet-lagged but I don't want to miss morning mass in the Basilica. The first stage is normally to Athien (25 km). I'm really out of shape and was wondering how strenous the path will be. If it is tough would it be better to break up the first stage into two days? There is a gite open at km7.5 and maybe an option for home hospitality at km11
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Also, if anyone other recommended 'don't miss' places like restaurants, historical sites, accomodations, amazing places to tent etc. on the way to Spain - please let me know to add to my list!

 

[LesBrass]

Saint Astier Market in a Thursday morning... and me

There are two ways from Perigueux (one goes through St Astier) ... but whichever route you take I would love to meet up... you'd be very welcome to stay... I can collect you from whereever you finish and drop you back in the same spot (I'm only a few kms from the trail)

 

[Mournes]

Hello!

I've had a number of hiccups with flight cancels & reschedules from Toronto, but it looks like I will finally be arriving in Paris on Thursday Oct 1st at 1:00pm! After some hiking pole shopping and taking a few trains/buses, I hope to arrive in Vezelay before the Centre Sainte-Madeleine closes registration for a bed at 9pm.

On Friday morning I'll be super tired and jet-lagged but I don't want to miss morning mass in the Basilica. The first stage is normally to Athien (25 km). I'm really out of shape and was wondering how strenous the path will be. If it is tough would it be better to break up the first stage into two days? There is a gite open at km7.5 and maybe an option for home hospitality at km11
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Also, if anyone other recommended 'don't miss' places like restaurants, historical sites, accomodations, amazing places to tent etc. on the way to Spain - please let me know to add to my list!

Hi Sara
L'esprit du chemin in Athien have a great website under that name which gives excellent information on this Camino .The owners used to have a gîte of the same name in St Jean Pied de Port.
I have stayed in their fabulous gîte in Athien.Their website includes information on accommodation along this route during the
current situation.I am sure if you emailed them they would , perhaps be able to give you the most up to date information.

 

[Pinker to]

Glad to know you are out there once again, and looking forward to your youtubes. Are you walking up to the spanish border? Hoping to cross it? Best wishes and buen camino all along your journey, Sara.

 

[Mournes]

Hi Sara
L'esprit du chemin in Athien have a great website under that name which gives excellent information on this Camino .The owners used to have a gîte of the same name in St Jean Pied de Port.
I have stayed in their fabulous gîte in Athien.Their website includes information on accommodation along this route during the
current situation.I am sure if you emailed them they would , perhaps be able to give you the most up to date information.

Sara ,a girl of your capabilities should have no difficulty with this first stage or any other on the Vézelay route.You may not meet many pilgrims as it is less frequented than for example the way from Le Puy en Velay.
I have always enjoyed keeping up to date with your many adventures on the Camino.

 

[jdpiguet]

Hi Sara,

L'Esprit-Du-Chemin in Anthien is a very nice place with very kind hosts.
If you are not too much in hurry, stay one day in Vézelay: it is small but very nice and there is a lot to look at and see in the basilica and around.

Buen Camino, Jacques-D.

 

[BlackRocker57]

Hello!

I've had a number of hiccups with flight cancels & reschedules from Toronto, but it looks like I will finally be arriving in Paris on Thursday Oct 1st at 1:00pm! After some hiking pole shopping and taking a few trains/buses, I hope to arrive in Vezelay before the Centre Sainte-Madeleine closes registration for a bed at 9pm.

On Friday morning I'll be super tired and jet-lagged but I don't want to miss morning mass in the Basilica. The first stage is normally to Athien (25 km). I'm really out of shape and was wondering how strenous the path will be. If it is tough would it be better to break up the first stage into two days? There is a gite open at km7.5 and maybe an option for home hospitality at km11
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Also, if anyone other recommended 'don't miss' places like restaurants, historical sites, accomodations, amazing places to tent etc. on the way to Spain - please let me know to add to my list!

Looking forward to following your adventures on the «Voie de Vezelay» ... bon chemin et ultreïa

 

[hollinhead]

Hello!

I've had a number of hiccups with flight cancels & reschedules from Toronto, but it looks like I will finally be arriving in Paris on Thursday Oct 1st at 1:00pm! After some hiking pole shopping and taking a few trains/buses, I hope to arrive in Vezelay before the Centre Sainte-Madeleine closes registration for a bed at 9pm.

On Friday morning I'll be super tired and jet-lagged but I don't want to miss morning mass in the Basilica. The first stage is normally to Athien (25 km). I'm really out of shape and was wondering how strenous the path will be. If it is tough would it be better to break up the first stage into two days? There is a gite open at km7.5 and maybe an option for home hospitality at km11
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Also, if anyone other recommended 'don't miss' places like restaurants, historical sites, accomodations, amazing places to tent etc. on the way to Spain - please let me know to add to my list!

Hello sara
I stayed at l’esprit du Chemin (Anthiers) back in June 2017 and it’s great. Recommend it. Dutch owners I think, lovely garden, very friendly. That was my second night after setting out on 21st after blessing in Basilica and catching the Chemin de lumiere in the afternoon. I stayed at an auberge in Bazoches on my first night after that, about 10-12k from Vezelay if I remember well, and I was suffering from heat exhaustion, so it was a welcome stopover. I couldn’t have managed 25k on my first day and I now know that it’s worth building up to a longer stretch unless you’re quite fit. Take your time and allow the route to get under your skin, not wreck your feet. It’s not a race, after all. Bon Chemin! William

 

[Rozenn]

Hello!

I've had a number of hiccups with flight cancels & reschedules from Toronto, but it looks like I will finally be arriving in Paris on Thursday Oct 1st at 1:00pm! After some hiking pole shopping and taking a few trains/buses, I hope to arrive in Vezelay before the Centre Sainte-Madeleine closes registration for a bed at 9pm.

On Friday morning I'll be super tired and jet-lagged but I don't want to miss morning mass in the Basilica. The first stage is normally to Athien (25 km). I'm really out of shape and was wondering how strenous the path will be. If it is tough would it be better to break up the first stage into two days? There is a gite open at km7.5 and maybe an option for home hospitality at km11
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Also, if anyone other recommended 'don't miss' places like restaurants, historical sites, accomodations, amazing places to tent etc. on the way to Spain - please let me know to add to my list!

Bon chemin, Sara!!!

 

[jdpiguet]

If you like beer, as your avatar suggest it, there is a local brewery in St-Père: Brasserie de Vézelay
You will find their products in the stores in the village of Vézelay.
If you are lucky, you may find the brewery open when you walk by, on the way to Anthien

Buen Camino, Jacques-D.

 

[jdpiguet]

In Vézelay, don't miss to go to the pilgrim office of the Association des Amis de la Voie de Vézelay, you will find good information on the way and a warm welcome...

Buen Camino, Jacques-D.

 

[lovingkindness]

Bon courage, Sara! Happy trails!
...if you are in need of a diversion or wish to avoid bigger towns along le Voie de Vézelay, there is a pleasant variant-trail (GR 654E) running from Bergerac to Montréal-du-Gers through Le Lot-et-Garonne (one heads towards Bergerac after Perigeux). Some of the gîtes de pélerin along the GR 654E were open this summer and in most villages I found a friendly helper at la pharmacie, le presbytère or la Mairie .

Cheers
Lovingkindness

Itineraires | Agence française des chemins de Compostelle

www.chemins-compostelle.com

 

[Sara_Dhooma]

Saint Astier Market in a Thursday morning... and me

There are two ways from Perigueux (one goes through St Astier) ... but whichever route you take I would love to meet up... you'd be very welcome to stay... I can collect you from whereever you finish and drop you back in the same spot (I'm only a few kms from the trail)

You are the best!!!! Thank you for your hospitality and I'm sure we are going to have fun!

 

[Sara_Dhooma]

Glad to know you are out there once again, and looking forward to your youtubes. Are you walking up to the spanish border? Hoping to cross it? Best wishes and buen camino all along your journey, Sara.

Yes, I am hoping that the path will be clear all the way to Santiago. When I arrive in St. Jean-Pied-de-Port I will assess the best route to bring me into Galicia.

I am walking on behalf of my dear friend David Xiao who passed away this summer during a climbing accident. It is my wish to obtain a Compostela in his memory to send to his parents. An Article about David Xiao's Passing

Cheers!

 

[LesBrass]

You are the best!!!! Thank you for your hospitality and I'm sure we are going to have fun!

I know of a few artisan breweries locally... I'll have to get a few in so you can try

 

[Sanman]

Hello!

I've had a number of hiccups with flight cancels & reschedules from Toronto, but it looks like I will finally be arriving in Paris on Thursday Oct 1st at 1:00pm! After some hiking pole shopping and taking a few trains/buses, I hope to arrive in Vezelay before the Centre Sainte-Madeleine closes registration for a bed at 9pm.

On Friday morning I'll be super tired and jet-lagged but I don't want to miss morning mass in the Basilica. The first stage is normally to Athien (25 km). I'm really out of shape and was wondering how strenous the path will be. If it is tough would it be better to break up the first stage into two days? There is a gite open at km7.5 and maybe an option for home hospitality at km11
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Also, if anyone other recommended 'don't miss' places like restaurants, historical sites, accomodations, amazing places to tent etc. on the way to Spain - please let me know to add to my list!

So jealous we also live in Toronto and we were planning to walk from Cluny to Le Puys, Le Puys to SJPP April past, hopefully 2021. We looked at the Vezelay route having visited the town - it was so beautiful...i believe the church there is where Richard the Lionheart started his crusade. Anyway enjoy should be spectacular!!

 

[Canche]

Hello!

I've had a number of hiccups with flight cancels & reschedules from Toronto, but it looks like I will finally be arriving in Paris on Thursday Oct 1st at 1:00pm! After some hiking pole shopping and taking a few trains/buses, I hope to arrive in Vezelay before the Centre Sainte-Madeleine closes registration for a bed at 9pm.

On Friday morning I'll be super tired and jet-lagged but I don't want to miss morning mass in the Basilica. The first stage is normally to Athien (25 km). I'm really out of shape and was wondering how strenous the path will be. If it is tough would it be better to break up the first stage into two days? There is a gite open at km7.5 and maybe an option for home hospitality at km11
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Also, if anyone other recommended 'don't miss' places like restaurants, historical sites, accomodations, amazing places to tent etc. on the way to Spain - please let me know to add to my list!

Hope to see you on the Tuesday Zoom

 

[john newman]

Hi Sara
There wasn’t a mass when we went last year, but a Laudes service, a singing service. Afterwards one of the priests gave us a blessing to start our Chemin.
Go to the Pilgrim office for your first stamp, it is staffed by a dedicated pilgrim who is referred to in the village as The German.
There’s also a small wine display shop where you can sample (for free) the local wines.
We got a good evening meal at the Chevalier Blanc restaurant, next door to the Le Compostelle hotel. We stayed at the Le Compostelle and they did a panier picnique, which was essential. The walk to Anthien was great, not to strenuous.
Lastly, when you leave in the morning, the departure point for northern or southern variant is just outside the village, make sure you take the correct one!
Bon Chemin
John

 

[cathietherese]

Kia Kaha Sara, your journey sounds fantastic. Definitely let the road set the pace, if you can relax the time.I hope it's not too long before I can trace your footsteps out there. Ultreia et Suseia.xo

 

[filly]

Hello!

I've had a number of hiccups with flight cancels & reschedules from Toronto, but it looks like I will finally be arriving in Paris on Thursday Oct 1st at 1:00pm! After some hiking pole shopping and taking a few trains/buses, I hope to arrive in Vezelay before the Centre Sainte-Madeleine closes registration for a bed at 9pm.

On Friday morning I'll be super tired and jet-lagged but I don't want to miss morning mass in the Basilica. The first stage is normally to Athien (25 km). I'm really out of shape and was wondering how strenous the path will be. If it is tough would it be better to break up the first stage into two days? There is a gite open at km7.5 and maybe an option for home hospitality at km11
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Also, if anyone other recommended 'don't miss' places like restaurants, historical sites, accomodations, amazing places to tent etc. on the way to Spain - please let me know to add to my list!

 

[filly]

I finished the route last Saturday and am now on the Frances. I chose the Bourges (northern) route because I wanted to see the stained glass. Later I took the Bergerac variant as I know the area dye west of Périgueux. It proved a good choice as I met up again with others.

I did book accommodation some days ahead as private homes like advance notice especially for the meal option.

Cafés were few and far between. I tried to get a good midday meal.

All best! Ultreia!!

 

[ranthr]

How are you out there, Sara? We grandmothers get worried not getting a sign from you out there. Hope you enjoy your camino !

 

[Sara_Dhooma]

How are you out there, Sara? We grandmothers get worried not getting a sign from you out there. Hope you enjoy your camino !

sorry!!!! Just adjusting back to Camino life off the internet. I’m back now.
Thank you for your concern!!!