A pilgrim rests near Aubrac on the Le Puy Camino in France
Blog home / Interview: Jaclyn Leads the Food Lovers French Camino
Interview: Jaclyn Leads the Food Lovers French Camino
Jaclyn escorts the
Food Lovers French Way of St James walking tour. This trip is fully booked for 2024.
About the Food Lovers French Way of St James
This guided 'Food Lover's' walk along the Camino in France is destined to appeal to a wide range of palates. This exquisitely crafted and zesty itinerary captures the essence of the Way of St James pilgrimage and the many culinary delights to be found along the way.
The foodie highlights are endless, with tastings of delectable cheeses, wines and truffles, interspersed with the rustic cooking style for which the region is renowned. From lunch at a small 100 year old family restaurant, to wine and Armagnac tasting, market visits, truffle hunting demonstrations and fine dining, this is a full-bodied experience. Most days include walks for 10-15kms and each night you'll stay in atmospheric accommodations ranging from restored convents to countryside inns and family run hotels.
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Interview with Jaclyn - Leader of the Food Lovers' French Way of St James
Why do you like active travel?
I love changing my environment, being somewhere new and in particular close to nature.
How did you prepare for your walk?
To prepare I increased my regular exercise and then checked over all my gear and ensured my footwear in particular was feeling good.
What did you think of this Camino vs the other trails you’ve done?
The Way of St James is just gorgeous, the towns, the countryside and all the flowers lining the path.
What were the overall trip highlights?
The Le Puy cathedral is impressive and atmospheric and the morning pilgrim mass is memorable.
On our walk we ate a hearty lunch in a ‘buron’ which is a traditional stone shepherds hut.
So many of the towns on this walk are scenically and historically wonderful – in particular for me Conques, Auvillar & Rocamadour.
Can you describe your favourite food and drink in France?
Cheese! I’m quite fond of the French way of having a cheese course - after entrée and main and before dessert! It is a good thing we’re walking it all off!!!
What surprised you the most about the French Food Lover's Walk?
The area retains its traditional feel and is also very tranquil, even though the south of France is far from unknown or remote, this route still feels authentic and untouristed and those experiences are at times, harder to come by. It really felt a world away from Paris where I had set off from.
What was your favourite town on the trail?
Such a hard question – staying in Conques feels like stepping back in time, or being on a movie set, its so well preserved and magical.
For a town though, I really enjoyed Le Puy – it has all the beauty and historical and pilgrimage elements, but also lots of shops and restaurants and things to do.
Were there any standout moments in nature on the trail?
The springs flowers were plentiful, tumbling down walls and sprouting out from the path beneath us.
Also, the path walking into St Jean Pied de Port with the Pyrenees ahead of you is quite breathtaking.
Best moments of the trip?
We have a very special night at a chateau winery with an incredibly grand setting, the hosted tasting followed by wine pairing dinner was pretty special.
We also visited a truffle farm and learnt so much! They provide a demonstration with ‘planted’ truffles to show how the dog finds them and digs them up but shortly after the dog found a truffle in another part of the ground which had not been planted there and it was all very exciting seeing this treasure being brought from the earth.
Can you share advice for other pilgrims doing the Camino?
Breathe it all in, slow down, take your time to literally smell the roses, wander inside a little church or sit under a tree and watch the clouds. Life is ‘busy’ – on a walk like this you can really have some space and peace to enjoy all that surrounds you.
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About Jaclyn, Leader of the Food Lovers French Way of St James
Jaclyn has been UTracks’ resident Camino expert for over a decade, regularly hosting information evenings and assisting travellers to realise their Camino dreams. She has walked and cycled through Europe's unexplored pockets with UTracks for well over a decade and is constantly fascinated by the endless options still available.
Naturally, she has extensive pilgrimage experience, having walked the entire Camino de Santiago and St Francis Way, along with stages on the Le Puy Camino, Japan’s Kumano Kodo, and Camino Portuguese.
A lover of good food and wine, Jaclyn tends to plan active holidays that are known for their culinary delights. She has tasted her way through India, Malaysia, Italy and Japan, but it is always France that draws her back.
She is a committed Francophile: sipping merlot in Bordeaux, seeing Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley, hiking the stunning Tour du Mont Blanc, and cycling along the Rhône river are some of her most cherished memories.
Jaclyn is looking forward to supporting you on this journey, sharing what makes people so excited about divine French cuisine, and without doubt, creating lifetime memories.
Food Lovers Tours
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