Information on routes in France

[Artemis]

I have been researching the routes in Spain for several years and had planned to start in SJPP but since we are probably going to fly into Toulouse we would like to spend some time walking in France. We were thinking of starting in Lourdes but want to go through SJPP. Where can we find information about the gites and routes in France in English?

 

[Sinenomene]

http://www.peterrobins.co.uk/camino/

and

http://www.chemins-compostelle.com

google the site without the www or the .com and have google translate it for you. works pretty good. ive got some more sites but these will be good. maybe think about the GR11 or GR10 they both go through the pyrenees, one french one spanish and connect to the camino. GR11 connects after Roncesvalles, not sure about the GR10.

Buen Camino!
chris

 

[aussiejames]

Hi Artemis,

I am planning to start my second Camino from Lourdes, starting in 5 weeks. I am planning to walk over the Pyrenees via the Vallee d'Osseau and the Somport Pass, then follow the Camino Aragonese. I walked from SJPdP the first time and it was amazing.
Some websites I found useful:

http://vppyr.free.fr
http://chemindarles.free.fr/carteEn.php
http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org
http://vppyr.free.fr/documents/hebergements_vppyr.pdf

You can get Google to translate some of these pages that are in French.

Good luck with it.
James

 

[Artemis]

Thanks for the replies and the websites. Do you know of a good guide book? I have the Brierley book for Spain but need something for France.

 

[andré]

Hi Artemis,

I'm the webmaster of http://chemindarles.free.fr recommended to you by James. If you drop at Toulouse, I only can recommend that you walk along the Arles route that goes across Toulouse, then crosses the Pyrenees at the Somport pass and reaches the 'camino francés' at Puente-la-Reina in Spain. It is much less overcrowded than the Le Puy route (10-15 pilgrims a day versus 100-200, that's the great pro) and as interesting and beautiful as the latter. There's a guide, in french only, on which you'll get addresses of the gites along the route on both french and spanish sides. Have a look at http://perso.orange.fr/cheminsdecompostelle/Leschemins/leschemins.html for complete reference. You may also get information at the tourist office at Toulouse.
Wish you a good pilgrimage,
André