For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
My wife and I walked the Via Podiensis in 2014, from Le Puy to St. Jean Pied de Port. Beautiful walk with several UNESCO villages along the way. We did it in April/May not a lot of people. Photos are Cahor's famous bridge; and the town of Espalion.
My wife and I did the route but we started from Geneva, through Le Puy and on to St. Jean Pied de Port, we do not speak French. Reservation were necessary in some parts as we stayed in private homes with the families (seldom did they speak much English) but we had a French dictionary, and we...
I agree the history of just the Cathedral/train station is worth the visit to Cahors. When we passed through there was a festival by the river, music, good food, an old Citroen car show. And leaving Cahors you walk for quite away along a level shady path beside the canal, with it's passing...
The Le Puy Camino route w/scallop shells shares the route with the French GR, so there are a number of French hikers, that share the route and accomodations, but are not Pilgrims, particularly in the summer.
I think regular hiking boots and trekking poles are necessary, as you will find on the...
Bains is supposedly on the original route, it is a small village. Pizza parlor is only place open on Mondays. Friendly, helpful owners is you need help. The route is well marked, but they use black & yellow trail markers. Much of the trail is farm tractor roads.
We took the Bain route after being told it was the original route, the GR65 being newer. It is well marked with black/white scallop shells, historic church in Bain, and walking on paths and farm tractor roads. Businesses in Bain are closed on Mondays, the only business open was the Pizza...
The MMDD is every year. I walked it Sep/Oct 2014, and had a 2014 edition of the Michelin that I bought in bookshop there. The Michelin doesn't give as much info as to accommodations and services, but maps, elevations, water stops are good and easy to use.
There are several luggage transfer companies listed in Miam Miam Dodo website.
PS Paty Services; contact@paty43.com They say they cover the whole route.
This site is run by Ivar at in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon