Le Puy en Velay Hotels and Pilgrims Office

[Former member 31048]

Hi there

i will be setting off on Camino Le Puy in early April.

Wondering if anyone recommends a hotel close to train station and old town, i.e. cathedral. Have found some on booking.com etc but always good to have a recommendation. I will be there 2 nights.

Also, anyone know the location of the pilgrims' office to collect passport and shell?

Many thanks

Jenny

 

[Deleted member 3000]

http://www.lescapucins.net/tarif/

It is not next to the train station, but it is on the Chemin on the way out of town, and very convenient to downtown and the cathedral.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

There are two places in Le Puy where you can get a pilgrim's credential (passport). You can get one from the sacristy in the cathedral itself during its opening hours, or after the early morning Mass- and that is a document issued by the church. They also sell the latest Miam Miam Dodo guide there, as well as books, postcards etc. I can't recall if they sold shells or not, but quite possibly they do.

You can also get a credential issued in the early evenings at 29 rue Cardinal de Polinac- not far from the Cathedral- where there is a welcome drink for pilgrims, and they issue the Amis credential document if you need one. My Miam Miam Dodo says that their welcome time begins at 17h45 from 1 April, but it might pay to check the time locally when you arrive.
Margaret

 

[Former member 31048]

That's great - thank you Margaret and Falcon!! Just the info I needed.

I have booked a room at Hotel des Capucins. I can cancel without charge any time, so thought I may as well secure a room.

Jenny

 

[karenhypes]

Only thing I might add is to be sure to attend the 7:00 am Mass at the Cathedral. Mostly just Pilgrims and very nice service, regardless of language skills. The Priest, (or Bishop in our case) spoke to each one of us after the Mass, mostly in each of our different languages, and gave each of us rosary beads. Enjoy Le Puy, it's a beautiful town and the Chemin Le Puy is fabulous. Dayton and Karen

 

[Former member 31048]

Only thing I might add is to be sure to attend the 7:00 am Mass at the Cathedral. Mostly just Pilgrims and very nice service, regardless of language skills. The Priest, (or Bishop in our case) spoke to each one of us after the Mass, mostly in each of our different languages, and gave each of us rosary beads. Enjoy Le Puy, it's a beautiful town and the Chemin Le Puy is fabulous. Dayton and Karen

Thank you Dayton and Karen, I will add that to my notes.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Oh and if you are there for two nights, make sure you climb up to the little chapel of St Michael on the 'needle'. I found it incredibly atmospheric, and it dates back to very early pilgrim times. Great views from and top and on the way up as well.

 

[Michelle_McA]

There are two places in Le Puy where you can get a pilgrim's credential (passport). You can get one from the sacristy in the cathedral itself during its opening hours, or after the early morning Mass- and that is a document issued by the church. They also sell the latest Miam Miam Dodo guide there, as well as books, postcards etc. I can't recall if they sold shells or not, but quite possibly they do.

You can also get a credential issued in the early evenings at 29 rue Cardinal de Polinac- not far from the Cathedral- where there is a welcome drink for pilgrims, and they issue the Amis credential document if you need one. My Miam Miam Dodo says that their welcome time begins at 17h45 from 1 April, but it might pay to check the time locally when you arrive.
Margaret

Is there just one cathedral in Le Puy? This is where the 7:00am mass is? I'll be needing to get my credential there too.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

One cathedral, several churches and chapels. Yes, that is where the 7 a.m. pilgrim mass is held.

 

[Dan]

Karen, thanks for the info about the Mass at 7am - is that each day of the week or Sundays only?
tks
Dan

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Dan, I found a link in French about the Masses- and yes the 7am Mass at the Cathedral does seem to be every day, except that on Saturday and Sundays the 7am Mass only happens from 1 April until 1 November. Here is the info in French: http://www.cathedraledupuy.org/Horaires-des-Messes-dans-les-eglises-du-Puy_a567.html

I also came across a pdf document in English from the Tourist Office which gives some walking tours and describes places to visit in Le Puy. (It looks quite interesting so I might put it in a separate post too.) http://www.ot-lepuyenvelay.fr/_fichiers/GUIDES_ETRANGERS/Guide_ANGLAIS_BR.pdf
Margaret

 

[newfydog]

Oh and if you are there for two nights, make sure you climb up to the little chapel of St Michael on the 'needle'. I found it incredibly atmospheric, and it dates back to very early pilgrim times.

Kiwi is making an understatement....it goes back to the first St James pilgrim:

The chapel on the top dates back to the 10th century.
In 950-951 Gothescalk, Bishop of Le Puy, led the
first French pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
On his return, a chapel dedicated to St Michael was built on the volcanic rock
of Aiguilhe. The chapel was finished in 962 and inaugurated on 18th July.

 

[Dan]

Margaret: thank you very much for those links.

 

[liilii11]

Only thing I might add is to be sure to attend the 7:00 am Mass at the Cathedral. Mostly just Pilgrims and very nice service, regardless of language skills. The Priest, (or Bishop in our case) spoke to each one of us after the Mass, mostly in each of our different languages, and gave each of us rosary beads. Enjoy Le Puy, it's a beautiful town and the Chemin Le Puy is fabulous. Dayton and Karen

hi Karen,
Did you do the Camino France this year? i met someone from Ontario her name is karen. I did the Camino Frances at the end of April, May and June.
Lama

 

[karenhypes]

hi Karen,
Did you do the Camino France this year? i met someone from Ontario her name is karen. I did the Camino Frances at the end of April, May and June.
Lama

Hi Lama, No, we did the Camino France's in 2009. We did the Le Puy Chemin in 2010/11, the Chemin Arles in 2013 and the Portuguese from Lisbon last spring. River cruise this year!!! If you're ever in London, look us up. We have a great Camino group. Take care. Karen