General Questions re: Vezelay, Le Puy, Arles

[Chuck Cunningham]

Questions about: Vezelay, LePuy, Arles.

Of these three which is the most popular? Did you hike any of them? How much did you enjoy your hike?

I am interested in hiking one of these and would like one with stages being not too long. I also wouldn't mind seeing and meeting a few pilgrims.

I have read on this forum somewhere that the Le Puy is the most popular?

If you were to pick one which one would it be?

I realize these are loaded questions so if you can just help me out briefly so i can sort out and study one or the other.

I realize there are posts on these routes however I seem to get lost in all the language and inside info. Sorry..i don't understand a lot of the posts.. so just some simple advice is all i am asking.

Thanks my friends.





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[Deleted member 3000]

I have walked the Le Puy route twice. It is my favorite. I have walked Via Tolosana twice. It is very nice but sparsely traveled (even less traveled from Arles). I have walked Via Vezelay once. It is unique. You stay on a lot of private homes where only French will be spoken.

Bon chemin.

 

[Chuck Cunningham]

I have walked the Le Puy route twice. It is my favorite. I have walked Via Tolosana twice. It is very nice but sparsely traveled (even less traveled from Arles). I have walked Via Vezelay once. It is unique. You stay on a lot of private homes where only French will be spoken.

Bon chemin.

The Le Puy seems to be quite popular. Can you please elaborate on the LP a little. Thanks a lot. This really helps.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

It is a walk with the French. If you don't speak French, ask St. James to provide a translator!! Call ahead each day. The French do.

 

[Bradypus]

According to the Santiago pilgrim office statistics of those given Compostelas last year 3396 people started in Le Puy, 194 in Vezelay and 107 in Arles. Seems that the Le Puy route is by far the most popular of the three.
https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/statistics/

 

[Chuck Cunningham]

According to the Santiago pilgrim office statistics of those given Compostelas last year 3396 people started in Le Puy, 194 in Vezelay and 107 in Arles. Seems that the Le Puy route is by far the most popular of the three.
https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/statistics/

Definitely sheds some light on the subject. Looks like Le Puy may be the way to go. At least one could have some contact with other pilgrims.

 

[Canucks]

Since you asked "if you could do one of the routes, which would you do"....I can answer that since we could choose and did choose the Le Puy route. It was fantastic but very very different from the Frances. As has been mentioned over and over, you walk with the French, not necessarily with pilgrims. There are less facilities but we just planned ahead and booked everything. The grades are tougher than the Frances....kind of like walking the Roncevalles day over and over for some of it.
But, very rewarding and a great choice.

 

[Kitsambler]

Can you please elaborate on the LP a little.

Reading blogs is wonderfully educational as you research the various pilgrim routes. I've walked the Le Puy route, and the blog is linked in my sig block below. There are others too, of course.

 

[Doogman]

I have walked the Le Puy route, but not the Vezelay or Arles (yet). I would highly recommend the Le Puy. Beautiful scenery, pretty villages, not crowded but a number of other pilgrims on the route (especially from Le Puy to Conques), well marked, and good infrastructure in terms of gites, cafes, etc. It is not easy, as there are a lot of ups and downs, but if you take it at your own pace, there is nothing that should be too much of an issue if you feel capable of walking the 750kms or so to SJPdP.

 

[Chuck Cunningham]

It is a walk with the French. If you don't speak French, ask St. James to provide a translator!! Call ahead each day. The French do.

Falcon, what is meant by "ask St. James for a translator?" also by "call ahead" i assume you mean for lodging?