Lourdes to SJPJP

[goldenlotus5]

Has anyone taken the Voi du Piemont from Lourdes to SJPSP? How many days for the average walker? How is the scenery and albergues?

 

[Anniesantiago]

We walked from Lourdes and hooked up with the Aragones route.
You can see my blog about it here:
http://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2012/05/toulouse.html

You will have to click newer post, newer post to follow the walk.

We flew into Barcelona, then took a bus to Toulouse.

 

[Jotown]

Has anyone taken the Voi du Piemont from Lourdes to SJPSP? How many days for the average walker? How is the scenery and albergues?

I did this last September- 7 days - I've the route description in English
If you pm me with your email address I'll send it to you
Buen Camino
Joe

 

[Andpartner]

I'd like to see this too, please would you send it to me as well

 

[Jotown]

I'd like to see this too, please would you send it to me as well

Hi
I've sent it to you

Joe

 

[naplesdon]

Has anyone taken the Voi du Piemont from Lourdes to SJPSP? How many days for the average walker? How is the scenery and albergues?

There is the option to walk to Somport via the GR653 and join up with the Camino Aragones. The route is lovely and it is a path less traveled.

 

[Jotown]

There is the option to walk to Somport via the GR653 and join up with the Camino Aragones. The route is lovely and it is a path less traveled.

Lourdes to SJPP is very quiet also, most days last September I was alone !

 

[William Garza]

We walked from Lourdes and hooked up with the Aragones route.
You can see my blog about it here:
http://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2012/05/toulouse.html

You will have to click newer post, newer post to follow the walk.

We flew into Barcelona, then took a bus to Toulouse.

What a wonderful Blog!

 

[Felipe]

I did it last late September; from Lourdes to Betharram (monastery albergue), Arudy (parish), Mauleón (municipal), Oloron (Amis du chemin, others), Hôpital Saint Blaise (parish), St Just Ibarre (private), SJPP (lot of choices). The albergues are fine. Calling for a reservation is customary. I saw many "rural hostals" in farms, but I don't know about them. Kitchens are not always available; sometimes dinner is offered (for a price). Arudy is "donativo". Walking in France is more expensive than in Spain.
It is a very beautiful and picturesque way (see pics in Godesalco guide). Mostly rural roads, gravel paths; some sections of paved roads with scarce traffic. Little villages (note: most of the times without commercial services), farms, woods; a couple of medium cities. Quite lonely, too (apart from Oloron, where you meet the people going to Somport). I walked between 8-10 hrs daily (I am rather slow...) alone, with almost no person in sight. It has some tough sections, especially the "col de Napal", before Ibarre. I think some trekking experience is advisable. I noticed other pilgrims were walking in pairs or groups, but maybe it was just a coincidence.
Signposting is very good, but some sections has many alternatives that require attention.
There are some online guides: Gronze (in Spanish), Peterrobins (English), Voie du Piemont (French)
and some printed ones. An association in Toulouse, ACIR, offers a free pdf available by request (they also have a fine printed guide).
Buen camino!