Cluny to Le Puy en Velay (and onward)

[gypsy9]

Bonjour!
As the title suggests, this is my plan for early July/late June. If you have walked this way, would you recommend the orange guidebook put out by CSJ? It is in English (important for me) and seems from the website to be comprehensive. It is called, The Lightfoot guide to the Via Podiensis. I am pretty sure this includes the Way from Cluney.

I have the standard queries:

Is this section from Cluny well waymarked? (part of GR, so I assume, oui)
Is it possible to stay in The Abbey of Cluny as a pilgrim?
Is accommodation mostly in gites (I hope so) on this particular section (from Cluny to Le Puy en Velay?).
Is it necessary to book ahead or is this Way quieter....or perhaps this time may be popular for tourists/French ramblers...

Thank you for taking the time to answer these queries
Bon Chemin!!

 

[mspath]

For more on the remains of the great abbey see http://www.cluny-abbaye.fr/

Do also read the many useful posts/links in this earlier thread.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/cluny-le-puy-and-the-french-way.20246/

This Cluny tourist office info is also very helpful.
http://www.cluny-tourisme.com/?lang=fr

Happy planning and Bon chemin!

 

[gypsy9]

Thanks for the links.

I am hoping to find a blog that is very current as I am sure there have been changes in the last few years. The orange CSJ seems a must!
Regarding the Abbey...
Disheartening that such a beautiful, holy and historic building was torn down.

No lodgings here, as I can understand from the website.
I am thinking the grounds of Cluny must be rather special if this was the chosen site all those centuries ago to be the "mother-house"...

 

[Kitsambler]

Is this section from Cluny well waymarked? (part of GR, so I assume, oui)

Just because a route is GR does not mean there are frequent or well-maintained waymarks. A map or gps will still be very useful.

Is accommodation mostly in gites (I hope so) on this particular section (from Cluny to Le Puy en Velay?).

The Amis guide gives current lodging information
http://chemins.amis-st-jacques.org/?page_id=6

Is it necessary to book ahead or is this Way quieter....or perhaps this time may be popular for tourists/French ramblers...

This section is much quieter overall; the French school holidays begin with Bastille Day and you can expect lodging competition from tourists from then onwards.

 

[JabbaPapa]

I've actually done this walk, back in '95 or so, and it is a very well waymarked and really not very difficult GR.

Is it possible to stay in The Abbey of Cluny as a pilgrim?

No, it's a ruin, as the Abbey was closed under the French Revolution, and in one of the worst acts of anti-religious architectural vandalism that they came up with, they demolished what was one of the three largest church buildings in the world, and used it for construction materials.

Is accommodation mostly in gites (I hope so) on this particular section (from Cluny to Le Puy en Velay?).

Yes, it would be, though there should also be campsites (I was sleeping rough when I did it)

Is it necessary to book ahead or is this Way quieter....or perhaps this time may be popular for tourists/French ramblers...

I'd book ahead if I were you, regardless of how many ramblers you'll find (and you shouldn't expect to meet even one other pilgrim 'til you reach Le Puy), as the gîtes could fill quite independently of how many are on the hiking trail.

 

[SUSIE]

Bonjour!
As the title suggests, this is my plan for early July/late June. If you have walked this way, would you recommend the orange guidebook put out by CSJ? It is in English (important for me) and seems from the website to be comprehensive. It is called, The Lightfoot guide to the Via Podiensis. I am pretty sure this includes the Way from Cluney.

I have the standard queries:

Is this section from Cluny well waymarked? (part of GR, so I assume, oui)
Is it possible to stay in The Abbey of Cluny as a pilgrim?
Is accommodation mostly in gites (I hope so) on this particular section (from Cluny to Le Puy en Velay?).
Is it necessary to book ahead or is this Way quieter....or perhaps this time may be popular for tourists/French ramblers...

Thank you for taking the time to answer these queries
Bon Chemin!!

Hi Gypsey9

I am also planning to walk from Cluny to Le Puy also in the middle of this year so I am very interested and if you could share any info you have researched , I would greatly appreciate it.

So far I am getting a friend to buy the Orange Guide Book from the tourism Office in Cluny- it will be in French which is fine as I can read a little French. But they will check if its available in English.

I am wondering if there is a credencial available for this route?

How many stages are you planning to make it in? Do you enjoy the long km days?

Cheers
Susie

Thanks for the links.

I am hoping to find a blog that is very current as I am sure there have been changes in the last few years. The orange CSJ seems a must!
Regarding the Abbey...
Disheartening that such a beautiful, holy and historic building was torn down.

No lodgings here, as I can understand from the website.
I am thinking the grounds of Cluny must be rather special if this was the chosen site all those centuries ago to be the "mother-house"...

 

[SUSIE]

Can anyone help I am trying to obtain the Camina Guide for Cluny to Le Puy but it seems out of stock from their website and I have had no reply from them when I sent them a message on their website.

 

[Willtravel]

Bonjour!
As the title suggests, this is my plan for early July/late June. If you have walked this way, would you recommend the orange guidebook put out by CSJ? It is in English (important for me) and seems from the website to be comprehensive. It is called, The Lightfoot guide to the Via Podiensis. I am pretty sure this includes the Way from Cluney.

I have the standard queries:

Is this section from Cluny well waymarked? (part of GR, so I assume, oui)
Is it possible to stay in The Abbey of Cluny as a pilgrim?
Is accommodation mostly in gites (I hope so) on this particular section (from Cluny to Le Puy en Velay?).
Is it necessary to book ahead or is this Way quieter....or perhaps this time may be popular for tourists/French ramblers...

Thank you for taking the time to answer these queries
Bon Chemin!!

 

[Willtravel]

Hi
I am currently walking the Cluny Camino.
These are my impressions so far.
No you cannot stay at the Abbaye in Cluny. It is a ruin.
The Orange book can be helpful and bought at the tourism office. Do not rely totally on this information it is already incorrect in parts.
By your Credentula before Cluny if you can. We did manage to get one after alot of ringing around and waiting.
If walking to Cenves on the 1st day buy food in Tramayes as restaurant probably will be closed and Gite offers no food at all.
Yes you need to book at least 1 to 2 days ahead. Ask if food is readily available nearby and actual location. You could be klms away from the village.
This Camino is not like the camino Francis at all. Boulangeries are a god send buy lunch/sandwiches.
Most Camino signs are quite small look on upper right hand corner on GR(RED/WHITE)
Be vigilant as the direction can change quite suddenly.
Good luck Bon Journey

 

[Kitsambler]

buy the Orange Guide Book

The guides are published by the Amis St Jacques and can be ordered from their website (http://chemins.amis-st-jacques.org/?page_id=6). They are generally published in the spring each year, and updates are available online from the same site.

 

[gypsy9]

Thank you for replying...changes in Camino plans! (yes, this happens). Lourdes early August to SJPP and then Camino del Norte from Irun...(this too may change, but I now have the del Norte guidebook)>

I would definitely still love to visit Cluny and surrounds...