Via Podiensis France
June 7, 2023 chrisna
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Yolandi and Marina will be exploring the Via Podiensis from 20 September to 5 October 2023 and will share their experiences daily.
VIA Podiensis
The Via Podiensis, Chemin le Puy or the Le Puy Route is all the same route and one of the four "hikes" through France on the pilgrimage of Saint James to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwest Spain.
In 950 or 951, Godescalc, bishop of Le Puy-en-Velay, set off on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella. He was the first non-Hispanic to undertake the pilgrimage, leading a large caravan that included members of the clergy, their staff and servants as well as various nobles and gentlemen.
Therefore the Le-Puy route is known as the real start to the Camino Francés and ends at Saint-Jean-Oied-de-Port just before crossing the Pyrenees and the Spanish border. It starts from Le-Puy-en-Velay, France, and crosses the countryside in 6 stages.
Stage 1: Le Puy to Aumont-Aubrac
- Total Nights: 5 l Walking Days: 6 l Total Distance: 92 km
| Day | Route | Distance |
| 1 | Le Puy – Saint-Privat d’Állier | 19,8km |
| 2 | Saint-Privat d’Állier – Saugues | 27,3km |
| 3 | Saugues – Les Faux | 21,2km |
| 4 | Les Faux – Aumont-Aubrac | 21,2km |
Stage 2: Aumont-Aubrac to Conques
- Total Nights: 6 l Walking Days: 7 l Total Distance: 115 km
| Day | Route | Distance |
| 1 | Aumont-Aubrac – Nasbinals | 25,7km |
| 2 | Nasbinals - Saint-Chély d'Aubrac | 17km |
| 3 | Saint-Chély d'Aubrac – Espalion | 24,5km |
| 4 | Espalion – Golinhac | 26km |
| 5 | Golinhac – Conques | 21km |
Stage 3: Conques to Cahors
- Total Nights: 7 l Walking Days: 8 l Total Distance: 137.5 km
| Day | Route | Distance |
| 1 | Conques – Decazeville | 20km |
| 2 | Decazeville – Figeac | 29km |
| 3 | Figeac – Cajarc | 30km |
| 4 | Cajarc - Limogne en Quercy | 18km |
| 5 | Limogne en Quercy – Lalbenque | 22,5km |
| 6 | Lalbenque – Cahors | 18km |
Stage 4: Cahors to Lectoures
- Total Nights: 6 l Walking Days: 7 l Total Distance: 130 km
| Day | Route | Distance |
| 1 | Cahors – Montcuq | 32,5km |
| 2 | Montcuq – Lauzerte | 15km |
| 3 | Lauzerte – Moissac | 27km |
| 4 | Moissac – Auvillar | 22km |
| 5 | Auvillar – Lectoure | 33km |
Stage 5: Lectoures to Aire sur l’Adour
- Total Nights: 6 l Walking Days: 7 l Total Distance: 114 km
| Day | Route | Distance |
| 1 | Lectoure – Condom | 32km |
| 2 | Condom – Montréal du Gers | 16km |
| 3 | Montréal du Gers – Eauze | 17km |
| 4 | Eauze – Nogaro | 21km |
| 5 | Nogaro – Aire sur l’Adour | 27,6km |
Stage 6: Aire sur l’Adour to Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Total Nights: 7 l Walking Days: 8 l Total Distance: 168 km
| Day | Route | Distance |
| 1 | Aire sur l’Adour – Arzacq-Arraziguet | 34km |
| 2 | Arzacq-Arraziguet – Arthez de Bearn | 30km |
| 3 | Arthez de Bearn – Navarrenx | 32km |
| 4 | Navarrenx – Aroue | 19,7km |
| 5 | Aroue – Saint Palais | 19,2km |
| 6 | Saint Palais – Larceveau | 14km |
| 7 | Larceveau – Saint Jean Pied de Port | 19km |