Anyone walking la Voie de Vézelay yet?

[Peter Lockwood]

Hi. I started walking at Sainte Foy la Grande a few days ago after a retreat at Village des Pruniers. Haven't met any other pilgrims yet. Stayed at le Moulin de Piis (what a wonderful place!) near La Réole 2 nights ago and was the first this season. In Bazas tonight.
So I'm wondering if there's anyone else in the vicinity heading for St Jean? Happy to share tips, experiences with travellers ahead or behind me.
Its been muddy and green so far with so many spring flowers. And the walking is like meditation for me.

 

[LesBrass]

Hi Peter you missed me... I live near the Vezeley path but I'm 2 days from you. I've walked from home to Sainte Foy but not beyond... I keep telling myself one day I'll walk from home to Fisterra

Have a wonderful walk!

 

[Peter Lockwood]

Well you live in a wonderful part of the world! Best wishes.

 

[Anton Bruno]

Hi. I started walking at Sainte Foy la Grande a few days ago after a retreat at Village des Pruniers. Haven't met any other pilgrims yet. Stayed at le Moulin de Piis (what a wonderful place!) near La Réole 2 nights ago and was the first this season. In Bazas tonight.
So I'm wondering if there's anyone else in the vicinity heading for St Jean? Happy to share tips, experiences with travellers ahead or behind me.
Its been muddy and green so far with so many spring flowers. And the walking is like meditation for me.

Buen Camino...I plan to start in Vezelay last week of September...how are you finding places to stay? Cost? Signage?

 

[Purky]

Excellent that you stayed in Moulin de Piis, I loved that place! For your upcoming stays I can recommend the refuge Hôtel de la Lune in Orthez. Up top in a building from the 13th or 14th century, it has an nice stone spiral staircase to climb. Lots of history attached. Key at the Office de Tourisme.
And I was pleasantly surprised in and around Sauveterre de Béarn, after Orthez. I didn't sleep there, but took my time looking around. Very scenic.
Bon chemin!

 

[Mournes]

Agree with Purky.Hôtel de La Lune is a very comfortable gîte in a magnificent historic building.I stayed there in June last year and also in 2012.I thought Sauveterre de Béarn
was beautiful.

 

[Purky]

Oh, by the way: for the inner pilgrim a huge and delicious pizza (and a nice cold beer) at Auberge du Foirail in Saint-Palais!

 

[Peter Lockwood]

Buen Camino...I plan to start in Vezelay last week of September...how are you finding places to stay? Cost? Signage?

Sorry about my slow response. Too much walking eating and sleeping! Will give a better response shortly.

 

[Peter Lockwood]

Agree with Purky.Hôtel de La Lune is a very comfortable gîte in a magnificent historic building.I stayed there in June last year and also in 2012.I thought Sauveterre de Béarn
was beautiful.

Thank you. Walking to Orthez today!

 

[Peter Lockwood]

Finally finding time to reply to your questions. I'm now in Estella, five days into Spain.

Signage through the part of the Vezelay that I walked was really excellent. Initially I followed the kmz route that I had downloaded from the Dutch Pilgrims Association and imported into maps.me. Worked fine until the day between Captieux and Roquefort where it tried to take me along non existent roads through a pine forest. I'm guessing that the gps logging in the kmz file is old and new pine plantings have changed the roads. So beware! After that I followed the signs primarily and only used the kmz as confirmation. No further problems.

Accommodation has been fine. All the hostels I stayed in were well set up. Much smaller than those in Spain and sometimes I was the only occupant.

At Bazas stayed at a lovely Airbnb hosted by Ela who English.

If you stay at the Moulin de Piis, you might want to allow a bit of time to explore La Réole before crossing the river and walking the few extra km. I didn’t and wish I had.

At Hagetmau the hostel is at:
43.657929, -0.599104
across town from where you register and pay which is the Sports Centre (City Vert) at:
43.651294, -0.590966.
They give you a map which is not very accurate so using a gps might help. Also a bit of unexpected extra walking on top of a long day for me as I had come from Mont de Marsan.

Buen Camino