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Traverse the centuries of time and the borders of Europe on the medieval pilgrim trail. In the 9th century, the tomb of the apostle St James was unearthed in Compostela. The site became the focus of a pilgrim trail beginning in France, and crossing northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. This journey, along the Via Podiensis, the French Way of St James, takes pilgrims from Le Puy en Velay to the Pyrenees at St Jean Pied de Port. The route passes a multitude of churches and monasteries, resembling a travelling museum of Romanesque art. Six stages of this historic trail are included in our self-guided walking program in France.
From the pretty town of Conques, traverse the Lot Valley and cross vast limestone plateaus covered in forests of oak, chestnut, boxwood and maple and dotted with megaliths and other historic relics. The plateau, cut by the Lot and Cele rivers, is home to interesting villages and a rich gastronomic tradition. Explore the Champollion museum in Figeac and tempt your tastebuds at local markets brimming with local culinary specialties on this inspiring walk through timeless scenes. From Figeac the Célé variant diverges from the main route, offering a quieter and more rugged alternative. Following the Célé River, the trail winds through deep valleys beneath dramatic limestone cliffs, passing oak forests and the rolling agricultural plateaus of the Quercy region.
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Day 1
Arrive Conques
Arrive in the picturesque town of Conques, nestled in lush greenery. We recommend arriving early to visit the Sainte-Foy abbey, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, and to stroll along the medieval lanes of one of the "Most beautiful villages of France". Dinner at the hotel is included this evening. We can also assist with booking pre-tour accommodation on request, if you'd like to stay longer.
Meals: D
Day 2
To Livinhac-le-Haut/Decazeville (6hrs)
The trail this morning heads to the surrounding hills where the view over the village of Conques is striking. Along the way, visit a small chapel dedicated to Saint Roch, pilgrim saint of Montpellier. Here he is depicted as a pilgrim with a scallop shell. This evening your accommodation will be in Livinhac/Decazeville by the Lot river. Own dinner arrangements. Distance 24km/14.9mi, +671m/2201ft, -753m/2470ft
Meals: B
Day 3
Continue to Figeac (6-7hrs)
Walking from Livinhac you will reach the hilltop village of Montredon, dominated by its church Saint Michel and Romanesque Chapel of St Mary. The route then crosses the countryside to arrive in Figeac. Figeac is a substantial medieval town in the Lot department, east of Cahors on the River Célé. It has an extensive and interesting historical centre, dating in part from the 9th century. There are also many houses and small palaces from the 13th to 16th centuries, when it was an important trade centre. It is the birthplace of Champollion, decipherer of the Egyptian hieroglyphs, and you can visit the excellent museum dedicated to his work. Own dinner arrangements. Distance 24km/14.9mi, +-507m/1663ft
Day 4
Follow the Cele variant to Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie (5-6hrs)
From Figeac the variant begins. The hike through the Cele valley begins at the small hamlet of Beduer where you start following the GR651. The route follows the river to Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie, a monastery village with steeply roofed houses. Discover its 16th century church and Val-Paradis priory. Distance 24.5km, +-420m/1378ft
Meals: B,D
Day 5
Continue to Marcilhac-sur-Célé (4-5hrs)
Today the route continues towards Brengues and Saint Sulpice. Along the way you will discover troglodyte houses. Arrive at Marcilhac-sur-Cele and visit the remains of its Romanesque and Gothic Benedictine abbey church and its many ‘cazelles’, dry stone shepherds’ shelters. Distance 20.5km, +-710m/2330ft Note: the accommodation here has shared rooms (all single beds, no bunks) and bathrooms.
Day 6
On to Bouziès (6-7hrs)
You will hike up to Cabrerets along paths lined with low dry stone walls, passing through the Causse and the picturesque village of Sauliac-sur-Cele, clinging to the rock. The route follows a balcony path that overlooks the village and offers a lovely panorama of the Cele valley. In Cabrerets you can visit the Grotte du Pech Merle to discover authentic prehistoric paintings dating back more than 20,000 years (reservations essential, see https://www.pechmerle.com/). The GR651 officially ends in Bouzies. Distance 24km, +620m/2035ft, -700m/2296ft
Day 7
Continue to Saint Géry-Vers via Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (5-6 hrs)
Today's walk to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie takes you to the heights of the Lot river, where you will discover cliffs at the confluence of the Cele and Lot rivers. The village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is perched on a rocky outcrop above the Lot and is listed as one of France's 'most beautiful villages'. Explore its narrow street, medieval houses and charming cafes then return to Bouziès via an inland trail. Continue on the main trail to Saint-Géry-Vers, where you spend the night. Distance 25.3km, +-840m/2755ft (including the loop walk of 8km/5mi return)
Day 8
To Cahors (5hrs)
Today's slightly undulating path runs through cultivated countryside and past several villages. You will pass many stone shepherd shelters, ‘caselles’, unique to the region. Walking into Cahors, you'll enjoy fantastic views. It's nestled in a meander of the Lot river and to arrive you cross the famous bridge Valentré, an emblem of the city and a well-known pilgrim milestone. Once a major financial and trading centre during the Middle Ages, Cahors' rich heritage is evident in its fine buildings. It's also know for wine, predominantly its AOC Cahors, an intense red. The region's wine making dates from Ancient Rome, with vines being planted in the area since around 50 BC. It is the largest city on the Le Puy Camino. On Saturday mornings, the market takes place at the foot of the Cathedral of Saint-Etienne, a listed historic monument. We suggest trying pastis, Cahors' famous pastry and apple cake. Distance 18km/11.2mi, +170m/558ft, -310m/1017ft
Day 9
Trip concludes
Trip concludes after breakfast, or continue on the next stage to Lectoure. We can assist with booking extra nights in Cahors on request - please ask for our rates.
What's included
What's not included
GRADE 3 - Daily walks are between 18 and 25km on well marked trails over diverse terrain – from relatively flat to mountainous. It is a quieter and more rugged alternative to the main trail (GR65). Route finding is straightforward using the navigation app. The main areas to concentrate on route finding are arriving and leaving towns. The accent is on keeping a steady pace to take in all of the attractions, with time to stop and take photos. You will need a good level of fitness and walking endurance to participate fully in this holiday.
Per Person, Twin Share
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
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