Re: Via Turonensis
sillydoll said:
The Via Turonensis couldn't compare with the
Camino Frances which I walked in 2002 from Roncesvalles to Santiago. That was a totally different experience - everything I expected the pilgrimage to be with hundreds of pilgrims, nightly albergues, cook-outs, sing-alongs, doing foot massages for weary pilgrim. It was wonderful but it rather spoiled the Orleans to Spain route for me which is more of a GR hike and the least popular of all the routes.
That used to be the case, but I don't think it's true any more. Judging from the nos recorded in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, more people, particularly cyclists, now use the Tours route than the Vezelay route. Hard to tell how many use the Somport route, but nos recorded in Oloron are somewhat more than Tours/Vezelay together. Other routes are negligible, and none are anywhere near nos on the GR65.
I don't think you can compare any route in France (or Spain for that matter) with the
Camino Frances, which has developed into its own special thing. The other routes are more like what the
Camino Frances used to be 15-20 years ago. When I walked from my home in Chester 15+ years ago, via Paris, Vezelay, Le Puy, Roncesvalles, I doubt whether I saw a dozen pilgrims the whole way.
If you want lots of other pilgrims to provide fellowship and comraderie, and plenty of cheap accommodation, the
Camino Frances is the only choice, and the GR65 from Le Puy would be the only choice in France. If, however, you prefer something quieter away from the crowds, and have no problem with hotel-type accommodation, pick one of the other routes.