Camino in France

[Milka]

I am planning to do one of the Camino's in France. Can anyone recommend a guide that is in English as opposed to French?

 

[Purky]

For the camino (or Chemin Saint Jacques) between Vézelay and St. Jean-Pied-de-Port I used the Vézelay guide published by the Dutch Association of Saint James. It's based on the Dutch translation of the famous "yellow" guide: Voie Historique de Vézelay by Monique Chassain.
Great guide and also available in English. As a side note: there are two guides. One with the variant Nevers and the other with the route through Bourges. Very up to date accommodation listings and other helpful information. You can find them here.

EDIT: I see that the guides are even available as PDF-files, but I recommend you buying one (and keeping a PDF as back-up on your phone). Not only is it cheaper buying than printing it yourself, but your purchase will also help the Dutch Association to keep up the good work.
Plus the guide serves as a souvenir, handy notebook on the way and a useful reference book upon your return. Bonne route!

 

[Milka]

For the camino (or Chemin Saint Jacques) between Vézelay and St. Jean-Pied-de-Port I used the Vézelay guide published by the Dutch Association of Saint James. It's based on the Dutch translation of the famous "yellow" guide: Voie Historique de Vézelay by Monique Chassain.
Great guide and also available in English. As a side note: there are two guides. One with the variant Nevers and the other with the route through Bourges. Very up to date accommodation listings and other helpful information. You can find them here.

EDIT: I see that the guides are even available as PDF-files, but I recommend you buying one (and keeping a PDF as back-up on your phone). Not only is it cheaper buying than printing it yourself, but your purchase will also help the Dutch Association to keep up the good work.
Plus the guide serves as a souvenir, handy notebook on the way and a useful reference book upon your return. Bonne route!

Thank you so much, I most definitely will order it. Would you know how it compares to the Miami Miami Dodo?

 

[Purky]

Brutally honest: Miam-Miam-Dodo is a wee bit better. Especially the accommodation listings. They seem to have just a bit more addresses and, what I found genius, also where they are located on a map. But the Miam-Miam-Dodo is also bigger and heavier and I managed just fine with my own guide.

 

[Milka]

Thanks again, when I did the Camino this past August, SJPP to Santiago, a friend was using the MMD and I was impressed but he was French. I'm studying French for my next Camino in 2018 but would love the convenience of the English guide.
Again I appreciate your response.

 

[Purky]

What I remember about the Miam-Miam-Dodo guide is that it is usable for people who don't speak too much French. Lots of icons and easy abbreviations. But then again, my French hovers somewhere between passable and good, so I might not be the best judge...

 

[Purky]

Also plenty of English guides of other routes available at The Confraternity of Saint James, they have an online shop.

 

[Doogman]

For the Le Puy route I used the Cicerone guides by Alison Raju. They contain very detailed route descriptions, but the trail is so well marked I did not use the guides that much. The maps in these guides are not very good, but they also contain a brief description of facilities and items of interest along the way. The Miam Miam Dodo guides are good for the maps and accommodation details. Even though they are in French, I think they are fairly easily deciphered by non-French speakers.

 

[BShea]

IMHO, the only guide you need for the Le Puy route is the Michelin Chemins de Compostelle 161.


You can buy it in the Le Puy cathedral for less than 7€. Here's a scanned first page of mine to give you an idea of what it looks like. No knowledge of French is necessary. Well worth the price. The first few editions had mileage errors so I would recommend that you buy the most recent version when you arrive.


I used this site a lot because it shows pictures and prices of the accommodations, but knowing French is beneficial: http://www.chemindecompostelle.com/Selection/CarteFrance.html

I also love this site for planning: http://www.godesalco.com/plan

I have a two page list of accommodations which I found to be very handy. Feel free to PM me with your email address if you would like a copy.

 

[Milka]

Also plenty of English guides of other routes available at The Confraternity of Saint James, they have an online shop.

I'll check that out for sure. Thank you, you were so helpful.

 

[Milka]

IMHO, the only guide you need for the Le Puy route is the Michelin Chemins de Compostelle 161.
View attachment 31202

You can buy it in the Le Puy cathedral for less than 7€. Here's a scanned first page of mine to give you an idea of what it looks like. No knowledge of French is necessary. Well worth the price. The first few editions had mileage errors so I would recommend that you buy the most recent version when you arrive.
View attachment 31204

I used this site a lot because it shows pictures and prices of the accommodations, but knowing French is beneficial: http://www.chemindecompostelle.com/Selection/CarteFrance.html

I also love this site for planning: http://www.godesalco.com/plan

I have a two page list of accommodations which I found to be very handy. Feel free to PM me with your email address if you would like a copy.

 

[Milka]

Those two websites were really good. Thank you.

 

[Milka]

IMHO, the only guide you need for the Le Puy route is the Michelin Chemins de Compostelle 161.
View attachment 31202

You can buy it in the Le Puy cathedral for less than 7€. Here's a scanned first page of mine to give you an idea of what it looks like. No knowledge of French is necessary. Well worth the price. The first few editions had mileage errors so I would recommend that you buy the most recent version when you arrive.
View attachment 31204

I used this site a lot because it shows pictures and prices of the accommodations, but knowing French is beneficial: http://www.chemindecompostelle.com/Selection/CarteFrance.html

I also love this site for planning: http://www.godesalco.com/plan

I have a two page list of accommodations which I found to be very handy. Feel free to PM me with your email address if you would like a copy.

 

[Milka]

I would love to get a copy of those two pages but i could not find a spot on your blog to send you my email address.

 

[BShea]

Click on my picture, then click on "Start a conversation" to send a PM.

P.S. Does anyone out there know if it's possible to attach a file in a P.M.? I can't seem to figure it out.

 

[scruffy1]

Miam Miam Dodo hands down! Chassain is hopelessly out of date the maps are good but not much else. If the Dutch have updated the guide it might be alright. For MMDD all the French you need you need is droite, gauche, tout droit- the lodging is more extensive and all you need is the address, same in all languages.

 

[Purky]

If the Dutch have updated the guide it might be alright.

It is indeed updated.

 

[Milka]

Click on my picture, then click on "Start a conversation" to send a PM.

P.S. Does anyone out there know if it's possible to attach a file in a P.M.? I can't seem to figure it out.

If you are on facebook can you send me a message to connect at Milka Milka.

 

[denimich]

I am planning to do one of the Camino's in France. Can anyone recommend a guide that is in English as opposed to French?

Look ... possible translate In english
http://www.saintjacques-hospitalet.fr/
Buen camino