Le Puy or Vézelay?

[ht701]

Hi Everyone,

I'm planning my camino this summer and, while I was assuming I would walk le Puy to Finisterre, I've recently been looking into the Vézelay route (connecting to the Camino Francés at SJPdP).

I have a few questions, though:

(1) What are the relative advantages of the le Puy route? Is it generally accepted that the le Puy route is less meditative, but more visually stunning? I understand that, compared to Vézelay, it is somewhat busier. Just how busy, though?

(2) Are costs for gîtes comparable?

(3) Finally, and this might sound ridiculous, and I won't let it influence my decision--just curious--but I read somewhere (sorry, I can't remember where,) that many consider the Vézelay route to be the "true" route through France. Of course, I don't even know what is properly meant by that, but I thought I'd throw it out there in case anyone had heard this before.

Thanks for your time. I appreciate all the help I've received on this forum so far.

Best,

--ht

 

[Kitsambler]

I think you really want to read KiwiNomad's blog of her trip on the Vezelay route, to more clearly address your concerns.
(1) There are many more people on the Le Puy route (especially in May and Sept). But apart from the morning departure rush, there is no need to walk with a crowd unless you particularly wish. The scenery the first ten days on the Le Puy route is stunning; after that, less so. You'll see the Pyrrenees either way.

(2) Fewer gites - many fewer gites in fact - on the Vezelay. One often must lodge in pilgrim rooms near the local church, as I recall from KN's blog. Quite a dicey proposition. The lodgings are less expensive but also much sparser along the way, often necessitating very long stages.

(3) No facts here, just an opinion. The Vezelay route starts nearer Paris and Cluny, and would be the joining point for the majority of medieval pilgrims coming from Germany. So in older times it may have been more heavily travelled than the Le Puy route. That was then, this is now.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

I think you really want to read KiwiNomad's blog of her trip on the Vezelay route, to more clearly address your concerns.

Kitsambler- my more recent blog is about the Cluny route, which took me south until I reached Le Puy. Some people use part/all of the Cluny route when they start in Vezelay and want to get to Le Puy- but most don't. The Vezelay-SJPP route is a possibility for my future.... but I haven't walked it yet. So many walks, so little time!
Margaret

PS I notice the OP put the same question on the Vezelay thread- and got several replies there. http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/vézelay-or-le-puy.25345/

 

[Kitsambler]

Aha! I had not made the distinction between the two. My bad. Thanks for clarifying!