France - Walk on the Puy Route from Le Puy en Velay to Conques.

Day 1

Arrive in Le Puy-en-Velay.
Le Puy is a lively cultural medieval city surrounded by low mountains. Its old charming centre with numerous museums, the famous Cathedral, the 10th century cloister. If you arrive early you will enjoy these marvellous visits.

Day 2

Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint Privat. 24 km- 6 hours walk +646 m/-452 m.
Notre Dame du Puy Cathedral is the departure point for you just as thousands of pilgrims before. Today's walk ends in St Privat crossing the green mountain of the Velay massif with stunning sceneries all day long

Day 3

St Privat d’Allier - Saugues –19 km - 5 hours walk-+715m/-665 m.
Just after leaving St Privat, you reach the hamlet of Rochegude famous for its St James Chapel. The trail dives into the canyon of the Allier River which is the natural frontier between the Velay and the Gevaudan plateau. The ascent on the Saugues plateau is the most challenging of the week. (+500m).

Day 4

Saugues-Les Faux – 26 km- 6 ½ hour walk.
From the famous Tour des Anglais of Saugues, the Way of Saint James reaches the solitary highlands of the Margeride plateau where heather, broom, bilberry, pasture land as well as giant bracken compose a marvellous wild scenery. A remarkable site today is the St Roch Chapel or l’Hospitalet Chapel built at 1280 metres on an isolated pass next to a hospital that was created for pilgrims. Depending on the season wild raspberries & strawberries line the path.

Day 5

Les Faux-St Alban-
Aumont-Aubrac - 21 km, 5h15 +435 m / - 511 m
From les Faux head towards Saint-Alban sur Limagnole with its Roman Church, a steep climb up to Grazières Mages before starting your descent to Les Estrets through quiet woods and farmlands. Arrive at Aumont-Aubrac, gateway to the mythic Aubrac plateaux.

Day 6

Aumont-Aubrac- Nasbinals – 26 km- 6 to 7 hour walk.
From Aumont Aubrac called the “stone land” and a traditional resting place for pilgrims before the high mythic plateau of Aubrac, the Way of Saint James crosses through groves of pines before reaching endless pasture lands dotted with traditional stone huts called burons. Welcome to the land of the Laguiole knife, a must to cut the local cheese also called Laguiole!

Day 7

Nasbinals-St Chely d’Aubrac- 17 km- 4 to 5 hour walk.
The scene takes place in the heart of the Aubrac Plateau where ancestral transhumance is still alive (generally late May). For those who love gastronomy why not taste a local dish such as aligot, mountainous cooked pork meat, or excellent cepe omelets...

Day 8

St Chely d’Aubrac-Espalion-22km- 5 to 6 hour walk
We leave the “Boraldes” countryside, the name given to the river that descends off of the plateau, and reach the Lot Valley and one of the most beautiful villages in France called St Come d’Olt. There remains the traces of several bridges thrown over the Lot River for pilgrims.

Day 9

Espalion-Estaing -11 km- 3 to 4 hour walk
The Way of Saint James follows the banks of the Lot and reaches the charming medieval village of Estaing with its impressive castle.

Day 10

Estaing-Espeyrac – 25 km, 6 to 7 hour walk
Today's walk goes through woods and countryside leaving the Lot Valley once in the village of Golinhac and its incredible Roman church that once depended upon the Conques Abbaye.

Day 11

Espeyrac-Conques- 13 km, 3 to 4 hour walk
Conques is a often a favourite for pilgrims on the via Podensis and is considered a jewel with the three towers of the Sainte Foy Basilica standing out of the town's pointed roofs. Its portal is an unforgettable Roman treasure. Night in Conques.

Day 12

Trip ends after breakfast