"NOt to be missed" Towns - Le Puy?

[kmrice]

I'm roughing out my plans for a Le Puy Camino. Any towns or cities I should be sure to stop at? Any I should consider spending an extra day in? I needed an extra day for the cathedrals in Burgos and Leon when I walked from SJPdP to Santiago last fall; any towns or cities you would recommend I plan extra time for on the Le Puy route?

Karl

 

[robertt]

Conques! (Thought I'd beat everybody else to that.)

 

[Kanga]

Of course Conques but also Saint Cirq Lapopie! Voted the most beautiful village in France. Do the Cele Valley route to get there - and visit the prehistoric cave paintings at Peche Merle which is at the end of the Cele.

There are lots of very lovely towns and villages on this route; I love the river towns - St Come d'Olt, Espalion, Estaing, Figeac, Cahors, Moissac, Condom. But there are also beautiful non river towns too - Lauzerte is a treasure.

The only places I stayed more than a night were Cahors and Moissac.

I'm very jealous.

 

[mspath]

Conques! (Thought I'd beat everybody else to that.)

How fast you are Robert!! What would Santa Fides think?
All who are interested in Conques should read your delightful tales about this special place via these links.

Thanks for imagining the past so successfully.

MM

 

[robertt]

How fast you are Robert!! What would Santa Fides think?
All who are interested in Conques should read your delightful tales about this special place via these links.

Thanks for imagining the past so successfully.

MM

Margaret, that was rather fast for me. But I've been lying around all day sipping tea to recover. By the way, we're all wondering if you are going to go again this winter.

 

[mspath]

Robert,

If all goes well I shall indeed. As usual it should be late October through mid December.
Hope springs eternal especially at 75!

MM

 

[Sue M]

Just been to Conques. It depends what you want to do there, it's very small. But I went to Vespers, Compline and Mass in the Abbey. After Compline there is a Pilgrim Blessing which was very moving. Also we paid six euros to go up and wander round the gallery at 9pm while the organ was playing and the lighting was varied. Very atmospheric!

 

[Sue M]

P.S. we spent an extra day in Nasbinals. Don't do that..

 

[billmclaughlin]

If you're in Conques from 5 pm on you don't need to spend an extra day there. A overnight in Saint Cirq suffices as well.

Figeac is worth exploring and has some street life. I took a day off there and took the train round trip to Rocamadour for a day of sightseeing. That way I had a day off but had lots to entertain myself. (Warning: It also involves a few kilometers of walking from the train station to and from the site.)

Much as I love this route, there are few places to single out. You could rest a day in many of them, though I'm hard pressed to say one merits a stationary day. Exploring Cahors might prove worthwhile, though at first glance it's less than charming and has just one historic quarter.

Maybe just do a very small stage or two. Arrive early and relish your afternoon sitting quietly enjoying the views from Lectoure or the garden of the gite Le Camp d'Etoile in Condom.

 

[kmrice]

Thanks to all for your advice. It sounds like a great Camino.

Karl

 

[newfydog]

Conques is nice, but there is one fairy tale town after another out there.

 

[scruffy1]

Moissac
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
Conques

 

[Kanga]

Beautiful photos folks! It is indeed a lovely route.