France - Puy Route - from Lectoure to Saint Jean Pied de Port

Description	Dates and prices

The section of the Puy Route of the Way of St James takes place between Lectoure and Saint Jean Pied de Port and winds its way first through the Quercy and the Armagnac region and then through 2 areas: the Bearn and the Basque Country. This self-guided walking first crosses the green wooded hilly landscape between Aire and Navarrenx and then climbs up through the white villages to Saint Jean Pied de Port.The Pyrenees range in the background,each day closer while approaching Ostabat the meeting point of 3 of the Way of St James Routes.The Sauvelade Abbey,the Navarrenx Bastide, Saint Palais are famous remarkable places.

Day 1

LECTOURE
Night in Lectoure – Hotel - Half board (dinner,night and breakfast)

Day 2

LECTOURE - LA ROMIEU - 19 km - 5h00 walk
Today you will pass by Marsolan and a St James Hospital. From the terrace the view overlooks the green valley.
Arrive in La Romieu and visit the magnificent Collégiale St. Pierre, a 14th-century cloister with a tower (Unesco Heritage)

Day 3

LA ROMIEU-CONDOM - 16 km - 4h00 walk
The walk continues through the Armagnac region, and the black oaks forests. High and Low Armagnac where the alcohol is produced. Night in Condom in a Guest House - Half board (dinner, night and breakfast)

Day 4

CONDOM – MONTREAL - 17 km - 4h15 walk
In this stage you have the option to visit Larresingle, a 13th century village which is out of the GR (+2km). Night in Montreal in a Guest House- Half board (dinner, night and breakfast)

Day 5

MONTREAL-EAUZE - 16 km - 4h00 walk
Leave Montreal, one of the first bastides (1289) of the Gers “department” to reach Eauze, the present capital of Armagnac. A variant of the GR will take you to Seviac, a hamlet with rich Gallo Roman excavations (4th century mosaics) Night in Eauze - Hotel in the center of the town- Half board (dinner, night and breakfast)

Day 6

EAUZE-NOGARO - 20 km - 5h00 walk
Take the time to stroll around between the elegant bell tower and the House “Jeanne d’Albret”, Henry IV ‘s mother, where the “Bon Roi” Henry stayed in 1579. Night in Nogaro - 2* star hotel -Half board (dinner, night and breakfast)

Day 7

NOGARO – BARCELONNE DU GERS (or Aire sur Adour) – 19.5 km (or 29 km) - 6h30 walk
You walk across a chesnut-tree woodland which quickly turns into maritime pine-tree forest while approaching the cultivated the Adour River valley - Night in Barcelonne du Gers in a 3* Guest House- Half board (dinner, night and breakfast)

Day 8

AIRE S/ADOUR- MIRAMONT SENSACQ - 16 Km – 4H00
Les Landes and its great fields of corn, and as a backdrop the Pyrenees range can be seen in the distance-Dinner and night in a 3*** Guest House.

Day 9

MIRAMONT SENSACQ - ARZACQ - 18 Km – 5h00
This easy stage will take you to one of the oldest “bastide”, Pimbo, and to Arzacq a beautiful village. Dinner and night in a 3*** Guest House.

Day 10

ARZACQ - ARTHEZ DE BEARN - 29 km – 7h30
This stage crosses Bearn with a few beautiful churches, Ste Quitterie or Saint Jacques in Pomps The stage is less flat with a small elevation gain. Dinner and night in a hotel in Arthez.

Day 11

ARTHEZ de BEARN - NAVARRENX - 29 km - 7H30
The 13th century abbey with its Greek cross shape is worth the visit. Dinner and night. This hilly stage is more challenging than the previous day but does not exceed 150 meters of elevation gain. Fortified Navarrenx will welcome you for the tasty dinner and night in a 2* hotel.

Day 12

NAVARRENX - AROUE - 20 KM TRF SAINT PALAIS –
A long walk today on a variant out of GR65. The river called the Gave d’Oloron, a fine swirling torrent coming out of the Pyrenees, is the border between Bearn and the Basque Country. After Castetnau-Camblong the route plunges into a wood and at times you will have to follow the road up to Saint Palais. Dinner and night in Saint Palais in a 3* star hotel

Day 13

SAINT PALAIS – LARCEVEAU - 17 km – 4h15 - +700m /-600m
Following the blue-and-yellow scallop signs, you will arrive at the junction of the 3 routes to Compostelle converging here in Ostabat (the Vezelay Way and the Way from Tours), a high place for the pilgrims where formerly stands hospital and other monuments. Continue your way to Larceveau. Night in a 3* star hotel in Larceveau

Day 14

LARCEVEAU - SAINT JEAN PIED DE PORT - 18 Km – 4h30 (+590 m)
Last stage before the Spanish border. Walk through small hamlets and across the Oyhanzarre Pass (365 m) and reach your final stage, the fortified mountain city of Saint Jean Pied de Port, departure point for the French Camino. Night in a 3* hotel. Dinner on your own.

Day 15

ST JEAN PIED DE PORT
The city is a very lively place with many monuments to visit. End of your walk after breakfast