HOW THE CHEMIN DU PUY IS DIFFERENT FROM THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO 1

[Kevin Considine]

Kevin considine submitted a new resource:

HOW THE CHEMIN DU PUY IS DIFFERENT FROM THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO - Comparing Chemin du Puy with The Camino

Le Puy to St. Jean-Pied-de-Port is in France while Camino Frances is in Spain all but one day which is the main differentiator. Here are 8 more differences from one pilgrim’s admittedly biased perspective:

1. Quieter: There are significantly less walkers. I did the walk in 28 days in late July and August and some days only saw 2 or 3 others on trail. Rarely more than 10 or 15...

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[David]

I agree with all the points made and would add a few. I have walked from Moissac on the Le Puy route - it is more beautiful, not in the grand sense - can't beat Spain for that - but in the rolling meadows, deciduous woods, winding lanes, dips to beautiful streams, the golden architecture of houses and towns .. but in Spain the entrances to towns, the unbuilt on gaps in between houses, the edges of shopping malls and so on tend to be strewn with rubble, weeds, rubbish .. I find it very ugly, whereas in France there will be grass, maybe trees.

I find that the French are friendlier, more helpful, kinder - and they don't kill bulls either - it is a very different culture to Spain.

Re food - I know that I seem to be rare here but I do not like Spanish food .. I cannot think of one Spanish dish that I like, and don't get me on to the bread crust so sharp that you cut your gums! - in Spain I only eat because I am hungry, no other reason - whereas in France the food is quite wonderful - always! - and at even the meanest cafe there will be a board outside showing set meals and prices and the cheapest 3 course will be marvellous.
Do I need to mention French wine?

I walked in March/April 2005 and it was very quiet. Once, at a village refugio, the mayor came with a bottle of wine to offer a welcome. At another two council staff arrived with clipboards and smiles to ask if everything was ok and was there anything that could be improved. I have picked up the key from the tourist office, stayed in a medieval apartment in the centre, and dropped the key off into their letterbox the next morning. Three times I was invited to the family meal of the refugio owners - always charming, civilised, graceful - I was charmed by walking in France and I still am.

It was a culture shock for me, descending into Spain from Roncesvalles, and I have never really got over it.

Oh, if only the remains of St James were housed in St Jean!!!

p.s. and from where better can you send a postcard home saying you are being safe than the beautiful town of Condom?

 

[Kevin Considine]

I agree with all the points made and would add a few. I have walked from Moissac on the Le Puy route - it is more beautiful, not in the grand sense - can't beat Spain for that - but in the rolling meadows, deciduous woods, winding lanes, dips to beautiful streams, the golden architecture of houses and towns .. but in Spain the entrances to towns, the unbuilt on gaps in between houses, the edges of shopping malls and so on tend to be strewn with rubble, weeds, rubbish .. I find it very ugly, whereas in France there will be grass, maybe trees.

I find that the French are friendlier, more helpful, kinder - and they don't kill bulls either - it is a very different culture to Spain.

Re food - I know that I seem to be rare here but I do not like Spanish food .. I cannot think of one Spanish dish that I like, and don't get me on to the bread crust so sharp that you cut your gums! - in Spain I only eat because I am hungry, no other reason - whereas in France the food is quite wonderful - always! - and at even the meanest cafe there will be a board outside showing set meals and prices and the cheapest 3 course will be marvellous.
Do I need to mention French wine?

I walked in March/April 2005 and it was very quiet. Once, at a village refugio, the mayor came with a bottle of wine to offer a welcome. At another two council staff arrived with clipboards and smiles to ask if everything was ok and was there anything that could be improved. I have picked up the key from the tourist office, stayed in a medieval apartment in the centre, and dropped the key off into their letterbox the next morning. Three times I was invited to the family meal of the refugio owners - always charming, civilised, graceful - I was charmed by walking in France and I still am.

It was a culture shock for me, descending into Spain from Roncesvalles, and I have never really got over it.

Oh, if only the remains of St James were housed in St Jean!!!

p.s. and from where better can you send a postcard home saying you are being safe than the beautiful town of Condom?

I enjoyed your response. All good points. I wrote this. Few years ago and subsequently have walked many Caminos. I just finished in October the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome and I wrote more in depth and mentioned how the French open up their homes to help pilgrims making that a special part of the overall walk. It was the same when I walked from Cherbourg to SJPP as part of an Irish Cmino de Santiago.

 

[Deleted member 73526]

p.s. and from where better can you send a postcard home saying you are being safe than the beautiful town of Condom?

You may have snickered when you were safely ensconced in Condom, but for French walkers, the saucy thrill of the Chemin du Puy is their passage through Montcuq, as described here by Daniel Prévost:

 

[BombayBill]

Kevin considine submitted a new resource:

HOW THE CHEMIN DU PUY IS DIFFERENT FROM THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO - Comparing Chemin du Puy with The Camino



Read more about this resource...

I would add these points-
There are very nice maintained public WCs.
Most places had 1 tier beds, no bunks!
Churches tended to be open.
Communal meals tended to be structured with everyone carefully sharing and no one taking more than their due.