Via podiensis guide book

[Gabi Wehler]

Can anybody recommend a good guide book for the via Podiensis from Le Puy to SJPdP? It can be in French if there are more available. I live in New Zealand, though, and am not sure about postage at the moment.
thanks in advance

 

[Kanga]

I used the Miam Miam Dodo books, even though they are in French. Simple and very easy to understand. They list all accommodation and food within 5km of the Via, set out on "mud maps", and come in three books, the first from Le Puy to Cahors, the second from Cahors to SJPDP and the third using the Célé Valley variant. I bought mine direct from the publisher's website here, but they are probably available on other websites as well. I also used a map book that I purchased from the Cathedral in Le Puy (they have them all). But my information is now well out of date, and today I would probably simply download an app - if you search you will find plenty, and you will probably get recommendations here from those who have walked more recently than me.

 

[Gabi Wehler]

I used the Miam Miam Dodo books, even though they are in French. Simple and very easy to understand. They list all accommodation and food within 5km of the Via, set out on "mud maps", and come in three books, the first from Le Puy to Cahors, the second from Cahors to SJPDP and the third using the Célé Valley variant. I bought mine direct from the publisher's website here, but they are probably available on other websites as well. I also used a map book that I purchased from the Cathedral in Le Puy (they have them all). But my information is now well out of date, and today I would probably simply download an app - if you search you will find plenty, and you will probably get recommendations here from those who have walked more recently than me.

Thank you very much Kanga. Will check online re these books. I used to have a Camino gps app that shows the actual Camino but couldn’t find any for the le Puy route. Once in France will see whether I can find a map for the path. All covid dependent anyway. Not looking good in Europe at the mo. France very bad

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

You can get Miam miam dodo also digital and in english. It gives information about the caminos , the routes, albergues, restaurants, distances and so on which you can use in preparation. A third compartment "I walk" you can use while walking, it offers all the information, related to the spot where you are at the moment. I did not use this part yet because of the pandemy, others might tell you how well this functione

 

[Gabi Wehler]

Oh. Will check out. Many thanks

 

[Kanga]

@Gabi Wehler and may you have much joy in the planning! Seeing as it might take a while until you can safely leave NZ.

 

[Gabi Wehler]

Yes. Won’t happen this year anyway. Earliest May 2022. Plenty of time for research

 

[Former member 59618]

Miam Miam Dodo was perfect and fairly accurate. In conjunction, I downloaded maps from the Maps.me app that I was able to use offline when I got lost. I compared the maps.me to the maps in MMD and it always got me out of a pickle (aka hopelessly lost).

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I used both the "Lightfoot Guide to the Via Podiensis" and the Miam Miam Dodo app. They worked well together and offered a few differing lodging options to consider.

 

[lt56ny]

I used both the "Lightfoot Guide to the Via Podiensis" and the Miam Miam Dodo app. They worked well together and offered a few differing lodging options to consider.

I think it is important to take Chrissy’s advice especially since this damn pandemic. It will be difficult to know exactly where services and gites are still open and operating for a good while. Having a few sources especially on a route like this will be important. When I walked in 2015 I used a small Michelin guide that was totally inadequate. Should have bought the Dodo. The representative in the pilgrim office in Paris told me to but I spoke no French and thought I couldn’t use it. Found out when I was just days out of SJPP it would have been easy ugh. Now that is an app and in English get it. There were lots of little villages I walked through that ended up having no services or shops or restaurants that were only open a few hours a day. It is a wonderful Camino even though I couldn’t speak French and barely a soul spoke English. Do some planning and watch the markers. I can tell you I walked more than a few days were I couldn’t find one shop or cafe open. A fantastic route no matter what.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

A fantastic route no matter what.

I also absolutely loved it!
I speak no French either, but being with two Camino girlfriends made a big difference over being alone.

 

[Glenshiro]

Here is Miam Miam Dodo online. Essential for accommodation. Alison Raju's The Way of St James is dated, but very good on history and background. Consider buying some IGN (French mapping) 1:25000 maps in France. I did, but then I love maps. Agree the Michelin guide is not much good.

There is a series of French walking guides (TopoGuides) published by the French walking association (in French, obviously) with good maps, but no accommodation details. Some basic French is very useful - be prepared for whole towns where, apparently, no-one speaks English!

 

[clare kelly]

Are you anywhere near Wellington ? I walked the Via Podiensis (and onwards) in 2019 and used the Miam Dodo app which was excellent in conjunction with the Michelin guide which was of limited use but I liked it because it was light and was set out in sections with kms marked between villages and towns. I pulled it out often as a hard copy. You’re welcome to borrow it ?

 

[jouffroy47]

For lodging, the MMDD is probably the most up-to-date during these Covid times, plus there's an errata for the 2021 version on their website www.levieuxcrayon.com as many places are temporarily or permanently closed due to the pandemic. It can also be found here at http://chemindecompostelle.com/covid-19-pelerinage-2021/

 

[TDS]

Thank you very much Kanga. Will check online re these books. I used to have a Camino gps app that shows the actual Camino but couldn’t find any for the le Puy route. Once in France will see whether I can find a map for the path. All covid dependent anyway. Not looking good in Europe at the mo. France very bad

Try the free Windy Maps GPS app with downloadable maps so you don’t need data. Has every trail under the sun including the Le Puy.

 

[jouffroy47]

You can also use Maps.me and download the tracks you need from a place like https://www.santiago.nl/downloads

 

[AlwynWellington]

@Gabi Wehler, kia ora

I have four hard copy guides and two map sources I use for Le Puy to the Pyrenees. These are:

Hard copy

1) Cicerone - Alison Raju - (1) The way of S James, France - step by step

2) Miam Miam Dodo - Clouteau - (1) Le Puy-Cahors (2) Cahors-Roncevaux (3) Cele variant

3) ffRandonnee - ... - sentier vers ... Compostelle (1) Le Puy-Figeac (2) F...-Moissac (3) M...-Roncevaux

4) Michelin - ... - 161 Chemins de Compostelle Le Puy-Saint-Jean

1) above was detailed and assumed you knew exactly where you were and would have it out to refer to at each turn. This may have been useful when the GR waymarks were not so frequent.

2) and 3) above were, for me more useful. Together they weighed about 800 grams. I much preferred the maps in 3). Long before leaving home I scanned for use on my tablet the map sections as these would be the most use for me. I found I seldom referred to them.

4) I purchased from a corner store in Nasbinals (end of day 4 for me). This weighs 90 grams and easily fitted in a largish pouch slung across my chest between the shoulder straps. The maps are, for me, easy to read on the go. Along with the other stuff it became my regular goto on the way. (For Spain I purchased the companion Michelin 160 Saint-Jean-Compostela)

Maps on the tablet

I use a tablet (phone included - weighs about 800 grams) as it is easier for me to see a big picture and close-up detail than on a normal sized phone. The things below cover the world, so you can also scroll etc to see what is recorded near you home. 1) and 2) are on-line browser apps. 3) is an offline app.

1) Hiking.WayMarkedTrails.org That link shows my first day from Le Puy to Saint-Privat-d'Allier. Scrolling back and moving the screen you can see not only Le Podiensis but any other walking route that has been mapped. Click on "routes" (bottom right corner) and you can select a route and see what heads-up details have been included. At the foot there are three icons with the middle one being "locate me".

2) OpenStreetMap,org This is a more general purpose map (Hiking... gets its data from here)

3) OsmAnd is an app for Android devices. Within the app, and when on wifi, you download maps for the country/region that you need. As well as details there can be contour lines, hillshades and slope additions to download. All of New Zealand is one download while all of France is in 13 regions. When underway I just start the app and it can locate where I am automatically. In a car it can be used for turn by turn directions.

Be please to chat, as you wish.

Kia kaha, kia māia, kia mana'wa'nui (be strong, confident and patient)

 

[Lleslie]

We used 'The Lightfoot Guide to the Via Podiensis' as well - gives some history of the places you go through plus km way points along the way and a reasonable selection of accommodation options. We also had the MMDD which had a more expansive list of accommodation - altho in french it is easy to follow the symbols. We much preferred the route profiles in the MMDD till we realised that the sawtooth profile in the Lightfoot Guide was probably more realistic Bon chemin, Linda

 

[Bronte DownUnder]

You can get Miam miam dodo also digital and in english. It gives information about the caminos , the routes, albergues, restaurants, distances and so on which you can use in preparation. A third compartment "I walk" you can use while walking, it offers all the information, related to the spot where you are at the moment. I did not use this part yet because of the pandemy, others might tell you how well this functione

Thank you for this information. Is it only the digital version that is available in English? Before we walked in 2015 I wrote to the authors of Miam Miam Dodo to request an English translation of the first 40 pages - was happy to pay for it but didn't get a response. The rest of the book (and my version is now probably old) is easy to negotiate, even with limited French. I will look to see what I can find out online as well.

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

Thank you for this information. Is it only the digital version that is available in English? Before we walked in 2015 I wrote to the authors of Miam Miam Dodo to request an English translation of the first 40 pages - was happy to pay for it but didn't get a response. The rest of the book (and my version is now probably old) is easy to negotiate, even with limited French. I will look to see what I can find out online as well.

In another Post I wrote that the digital version is not a available for this year. It is based on a license. For me it was a pity. I bought it because I wanted to walk the via podiensis last year. I will walk it starting end of august, but can not longer use it. I bought the paper version. There is some general information in english, the rest is in French. I liked the digital version more, I am not sure I will take the two books with me. The website of Gronze.com gives much information and can be translated via google

 

[Bronte DownUnder]

In another Post I wrote that the digital version is not a available for this year. It is based on a license. For me it was a pity. I bought it because I wanted to walk the via podiensis last year. I will walk it starting end of august, but can not longer use it. I bought the paper version. There is some general information in english, the rest is in French. I liked the digital version more, I am not sure I will take the two books with me. The website of Gronze.com gives much information and can be translated via google

Thank you for clarifying

 

[Wagner team]

You can get Miam miam dodo also digital and in english. It gives information about the caminos , the routes, albergues, restaurants, distances and so on which you can use in preparation. A third compartment "I walk" you can use while walking, it offers all the information, related to the spot where you are at the moment. I did not use this part yet because of the pandemy, others might tell you how well this functione

Thank you for the tip. I try to find the app in Enlish but couldn't. Can you give me more info. Thank you very much

Yes. Won’t happen this year anyway. Earliest May 2022. Plenty of time for research

Yes. Won’t happen this year anyway. Earliest May 2022. Plenty of time for research

Hi Gabi. Keep in touch. We will start in Geneva middle April so we might catch up along the we. Kia Ora

 

[sharon w]

You can also use Gronze.com for planning. It covers the Le Puy route. I just used Miam Miam Dodo for a guidebook.

 

[ivar]

I just published this 2022 edition by @Dave on the forum store:

2022 edition: Via Podiensis Le Puy to the Pyrenees on the GR65

This is the 2022 edition. Guidebook to the Via Podiensis (Chemin du Puy) pilgrim route along the GR65 through southern France to the Pyrenees. The 750km route links Le Puy-en-Velay with Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and the start of the Camino Francés to Santiago. Includes Célé Valley and Rocamadour...

www.santiagodecompostela.me