Know a good 2-week route in France?

rsmith0000

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances (2013) Frances (2014) St. Oswald's Way (2015) Le Puy (2016) Portugues (2018)

• Jun 11, 2016

• #1

Hello, friends. I'm looking for a good route to walk in France, possibly on Vezalay or Le Puy routes. Unfortunately, it's going to have to be about two weeks long, give or take a few days, due to work demands. Does anyone have a suggestion of what section to walk? It will likely be in late September. I've walked in Spain but never in France and my walking companion is new to the whole Camino thing, so I especially want this to be an enjoyable introduction. Thanks for any suggestions or guidance!

 

billmclaughlin

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

SJPP/Burgos 2012; Le Puy/SJPP 2013; Aumont Aubrac/Aire sur l'Adour 2014; Burgos/Santiago 2016.

• Jun 11, 2016

• #2

Le Puy to Figeac would be my pick.

 

A

anna klara klintegaard

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances, Camino Primitivo

• Jun 11, 2016

• #3

I love "The Cathar Way" in the south of France, from Port la Nouvelle to Foix. It is beautiful, remote and magical. You will walk from the Mediterranean sea through the foothills of the Pyrenees past the old and magical castles of the Cathars. I hiked it 3 times About 250 km in 12 days.
Alan Mattingly wrote a brilliant guidebook:
http://www.cicerone.co.uk/product/detail.cfm/book/486/title/the-cathar-way#.V1vGIlJf01I
This is the official homepage:
http://www.lesentiercathare.com/

 

Bradypus

Migratory hermit

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Too many and too often!

• Jun 11, 2016

• #4

Not an answer to your question but a suggestion. If you like the sound of any of the routes which are mentioned here or fancy making up your own the French government mapping agency has an excellent website with high-detail topographic maps which show the waymarked GR routes and other long/medium distance footpaths. Might be helpful to give yourself some impression of the landscape you would be passing through:
http://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil or the smartphone version m.geoportail.fr

 

mspath

Veteran Member

Donating Member

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Frances, autumn/winter; 2004, 2005-2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

• Jun 11, 2016

• #5

Another suggestion is to check out the wealth of information available in French on the web of the FFrp site re Les Chemins de Saint Jacques.

Happy research and Bon chemin!

 

Last edited: Jun 11, 2016

mla1

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF (2000); St. Giles (2013); Le Puy-SJPP (2015); VDLP (2016); Mozárabe, Almeria to Granada (2018)

• Jun 11, 2016

• #6

And - also not a 'camino' but an old pilgrimage route: the Chemin de St. Giles, from Le Puy straight south to the Mediterranean. About 11 or 12 days. It is more or less the same route as the GR 700, the Regordane Way.
The GR is more beautiful, while the Chemin is more historically accurate (which means it is often close to roads). Very very nice walk. There are gîtes and small pensions. Excellent food. Walking is not too too hard.
http://www.gr700-regordane.com/way.htm

 

rsmith0000

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances (2013) Frances (2014) St. Oswald's Way (2015) Le Puy (2016) Portugues (2018)

• Jun 11, 2016

• #7

What wonderful suggestions! Thanks to each of you. I'll research these routes and talk to my friend. Truly appreciate your guidance!

 

SYates

Camino Fossil AD 1999, now living in Santiago de C

Time of past OR future Camino

First: Camino Francés 1999
...
Last: Santiago - Muxia 2019

Now: http://egeria.house/

• Jun 12, 2016

• #8

Some years ago I walked with my husband from Pau, in France, to Puente la Reina. Both parts, the Arles route in France and the Camino Aragones in Spain have a good pilgrim infrastructure without being crowded. Pau has an airport that many budget airlines fly to and it is easy to get from Puente la Reina to Pamplona and from there to wherever you fly home from. Buen Camino, SY

 

rsmith0000

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances (2013) Frances (2014) St. Oswald's Way (2015) Le Puy (2016) Portugues (2018)

• Jun 13, 2016

• #9

I appreciate the suggestion. I've seen references to the Arles and Aragones routes but had no idea they connected. I'll check it out. One question: do you know what the total distance would be? Thanks so much, SYates.

 

SYates

Camino Fossil AD 1999, now living in Santiago de C

Time of past OR future Camino

First: Camino Francés 1999
...
Last: Santiago - Muxia 2019

Now: http://egeria.house/

• Jun 16, 2016

• #10

I am not at home just now, so don't have my notes with me, rough guesstimate ~200km? Have a look here http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los-caminos-de-santiago/frances/ for the Aragones (marked with 'por Somport') and here http://chemindarles.free.fr/carte_EN.php for the French part.
Bon Chemin, SY

 

R

Rooman Holiday

Rooman

Time of past OR future Camino

Le-Puy

• Jan 1, 2017

• #11

I walked Le Puy to Pamplona in 3 x 12 days .. each was magical and had many natural and architectural highlights .. Le Puy to Figeac .. Figeac to Condom and Condom to Pamplona .. you can't go wrong!
I'm watching this post for 2 week walk suggestions on Vezelay in Sept 17.

 

Kanga

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Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Jan 1, 2017

• #12

I second Le Puy to Figeac. Glorious.