Love this route!

[Purple Backpack]

Home last night after finishing in SJPDP over the holiday weekend. It took us a year, as we can’t take huge chunks of time off yet. The first stage, Spring 2022, was Le Puy to Figeac, then the Rocamadour variant before heading to CDG to fly home. I had high expectations after hearing so much about leaving the cathedral thru the stairs in the floor, the beauty of the Aubrac, the gorgeous countryside, the “most beautiful villages of France”, the history, Conques organ recital..and it didn’t disappoint. It was wonderful. We came back Fall 2022 to hike the Célé variant, from Figeac to Moissac. I was expecting nothing on this route but absolutely loved it…the history, the villages, the cave drawings, limestone cliff dwellings, the hiking…delightful. We finished out the last third from Moissac to SJPDP a few days ago. This one felt different, less spiritual, more like a hiking trip. Was it me or just the nature of the section? Very agricultural, rural, fewer significant historical sites. But it grew on me. Walking through vineyards, tiny empty chapels, quiet forests. The gites we stayed in were so much fun and we really got to know the hosts and other guests. There were few other Americans so we were somewhat of a novelty but honestly, everyone was just so nice. The only difficult part for me, as a vegan at home, were meals, all the gunshots (boar and birds snacking on newly planted fields), the poor ducks and geese destined for fois gras and seeing all the meat everywhere. That was difficult for me, though likely not for most walkers. Part of the culture, I know, but still difficult. I would go back and hike the GR 65 again in a heartbeat but I’d love to do it in one fell swoop. Lovely, just lovely.

 

[BlackRocker57]

Bonjour @Purple Backpack! So happy to know that you enjoyed it I love the Le Puy route and walk it every year when I can, including the variantes ... this year I will tackle the GR6 Voie de Rocamadour having missed moat of it last year for one reason or another ... I would love to hear about the personal stamp you referred to elsewhere ... sounds like a great idea!

 

[Purple Backpack]

Bonjour @Purple Backpack! So happy to know that you enjoyed it I love the Le Puy route and walk it every year when I can, including the variantes ... this year I will tackle the GR6 Voie de Rocamadour having missed moat of it last year for one reason or another ... I would love to hear about the personal stamp you referred to elsewhere ... sounds like a great idea!

My favorite all time stamp from any Camino was from Conques. There was a tiny artistry shop and the owner created hand done illuminations, similar to the Bibles that medieval monks illustrated. We stayed in their two bedroom gite and loved it…also bought our daughter and son-in-law a piece of their artwork for their wedding, a medieval maiden putting a helmet on her knight before he left for the joust. Her stamp was hand caligraphied, similar to the one on this TripAdvisor review: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_R...es_Conques_en_Rouergue_Aveyron_Occitanie.html

 

[fransw]

Home last night after finishing in SJPDP over the holiday weekend. It took us a year, as we can’t take huge chunks of time off yet. The first stage, Spring 2022, was Le Puy to Figeac, then the Rocamadour variant before heading to CDG to fly home. I had high expectations after hearing so much about leaving the cathedral thru the stairs in the floor, the beauty of the Aubrac, the gorgeous countryside, the “most beautiful villages of France”, the history, Conques organ recital..and it didn’t disappoint. It was wonderful. We came back Fall 2022 to hike the Célé variant, from Figeac to Moissac. I was expecting nothing on this route but absolutely loved it…the history, the villages, the cave drawings, limestone cliff dwellings, the hiking…delightful. We finished out the last third from Moissac to SJPDP a few days ago. This one felt different, less spiritual, more like a hiking trip. Was it me or just the nature of the section? Very agricultural, rural, fewer significant historical sites. But it grew on me. Walking through vineyards, tiny empty chapels, quiet forests. The gites we stayed in were so much fun and we really got to know the hosts and other guests. There were few other Americans so we were somewhat of a novelty but honestly, everyone was just so nice. The only difficult part for me, as a vegan at home, were meals, all the gunshots (boar and birds snacking on newly planted fields), the poor ducks and geese destined for fois gras and seeing all the meat everywhere. That was difficult for me, though likely not for most walkers. Part of the culture, I know, but still difficult. I would go back and hike the GR 65 again in a heartbeat but I’d love to do it in one fell swoop. Lovely, just lovely.

It is a wonderful way with very ancient and beautiful simple churches, , especially the Célé-variant is glorious.

 

[Anthony Rocco]

Home last night after finishing in SJPDP over the holiday weekend. It took us a year, as we can’t take huge chunks of time off yet. The first stage, Spring 2022, was Le Puy to Figeac, then the Rocamadour variant before heading to CDG to fly home. I had high expectations after hearing so much about leaving the cathedral thru the stairs in the floor, the beauty of the Aubrac, the gorgeous countryside, the “most beautiful villages of France”, the history, Conques organ recital..and it didn’t disappoint. It was wonderful. We came back Fall 2022 to hike the Célé variant, from Figeac to Moissac. I was expecting nothing on this route but absolutely loved it…the history, the villages, the cave drawings, limestone cliff dwellings, the hiking…delightful. We finished out the last third from Moissac to SJPDP a few days ago. This one felt different, less spiritual, more like a hiking trip. Was it me or just the nature of the section? Very agricultural, rural, fewer significant historical sites. But it grew on me. Walking through vineyards, tiny empty chapels, quiet forests. The gites we stayed in were so much fun and we really got to know the hosts and other guests. There were few other Americans so we were somewhat of a novelty but honestly, everyone was just so nice. The only difficult part for me, as a vegan at home, were meals, all the gunshots (boar and birds snacking on newly planted fields), the poor ducks and geese destined for fois gras and seeing all the meat everywhere. That was difficult for me, though likely not for most walkers. Part of the culture, I know, but still difficult. I would go back and hike the GR 65 again in a heartbeat but I’d love to do it in one fell swoop. Lovely, just lovely.

Thank you so much for your comments. Please add more. And comments by others below are so useful. My wife and I are starting in Le Puy the first week of September this year. Our plan is to walk to Figiac, do a day out and back bus visit to Roca, walk to Moissac, bus back to Cahors, walk the Cele variant, then on to Toulouse. We always do self-engineered routes like this since our first camino ten years ago. Wish my French was better, but we'll survive, as we did when we walked from Lourdes to Oleron and over the pass at Somport five years ago. So very much looking forward to the beauty of this route!

 

[Michelle G Daoust]

Thank you so much for your comments. Please add more. And comments by others below are so useful. My wife and I are starting in Le Puy the first week of September this year. Our plan is to walk to Figiac, do a day out and back bus visit to Roca, walk to Moissac, bus back to Cahors, walk the Cele variant, then on to Toulouse. We always do self-engineered routes like this since our first camino ten years ago. Wish my French was better, but we'll survive, as we did when we walked from Lourdes to Oleron and over the pass at Somport five years ago. So very much looking forward to the beauty of this route!

Hello Anthony, Wishing you and your wife a wonderful walk in France. You may be interested in joining the GR65 facebook page which has oodles of information from people who have/are walking the GR 65, the Via Podiensis. I’ll attach a photo of the facebook page. You can request to be invited to be a part of the group. It was a great resource for me….walked from Le Puy to St. Jean Pied du Port last August /September. A magical walk.

 

[Purple Backpack]

Thank you so much for your comments. Please add more. And comments by others below are so useful. My wife and I are starting in Le Puy the first week of September this year. Our plan is to walk to Figiac, do a day out and back bus visit to Roca, walk to Moissac, bus back to Cahors, walk the Cele variant, then on to Toulouse. We always do self-engineered routes like this since our first camino ten years ago. Wish my French was better, but we'll survive, as we did when we walked from Lourdes to Oleron and over the pass at Somport five years ago. So very much looking forward to the beauty of this route!

Catching up on laundry and de jet lagging, will try to go thru photos and notes in the next couple of weeks and post on gites we loved. My French is pretty basic but everyone google translates now so not an issue. I can’t wait to redo this route someday!

 

[Leaderene]

When I started to walk my first Camino I could not do it in one go as my daughter was too young to leave for that period of time so I decided to start in France and therefore walk a section a year to Santiago. I started in Le Puy and absolutely adored the Via Podiensis. I have walked sections of this again and will do so in 2024 leading a small group. There is so much beauty on thius route and it is quieter, leass commercialised and the food was amazing though I do understand that not great for a vegan. Highly recommend this route.

 

[Purple Backpack]

When I started to walk my first Camino I could not do it in one go as my daughter was too young to leave for that period of time so I decided to start in France and therefore walk a section a year to Santiago. I started in Le Puy and absolutely adored the Via Podiensis. I have walked sections of this again and will do so in 2024 leading a small group. There is so much beauty on thius route and it is quieter, leass commercialised and the food was amazing though I do understand that not great for a vegan. Highly recommend this route.

It was the last third, from Moissac to SJPDP, that I found hardest, as a vegan and animal lover. For the most part, restaurants and give owners were incredibly understanding and there wasn’t a problem getting veggies, salads, piperade and the like. I had to give up the vegan thing and go a bit vegetarian when they served eggs or a little cheese.

 

[Kat46]

Hello Anthony, Wishing you and your wife a wonderful walk in France. You may be interested in joining the GR65 facebook page which has oodles of information from people who have/are walking the GR 65, the Via Podiensis. I’ll attach a photo of the facebook page. You can request to be invited to be a part of the group. It was a great resource for me….walked from Le Puy to St. Jean Pied du Port last August /September. A magical walk.

Hi Michelle, I tried to join the facebook GR 65 but never got confirmed. Did you have to wait a long time before you got accepted?

 

[Leaderene]

It was the last third, from Moissac to SJPDP, that I found hardest, as a vegan and animal lover. For the most part, restaurants and give owners were incredibly understanding and there wasn’t a problem getting veggies, salads, piperade and the like. I had to give up the vegan thing and go a bit vegetarian when they served eggs or a little cheese.

Yes I get that. There is quite a lot of meat in France but things have improved. they love their dairy though so I can see how being vegan was challenging.

 

[BlackRocker57]

Hi Michelle, I tried to join the facebook GR 65 but never got confirmed. Did you have to wait a long time before you got accepted?

Bonjour @Kat46, I am senior admin and moderator of the FB group ... you might like to try again ... it is important to answer / respond to the new-member questions ... if you did not respond then it is possible that your request was not accepted ... I am presently walking this chemin so I am not always on FB 24/7

 

[BlackRocker57]

Hi Michelle, I tried to join the facebook GR 65 but never got confirmed. Did you have to wait a long time before you got accepted?

p.s. we accept people every day BUT it is important to respond to the new-member questions ...

 

[Leaderene]

p.s. we accept people every day BUT it is important to respond to the new-member questions ...

I just tried to join too but could not find it. Is there a link that you can post please. I love this route and will be walking some of it again next year.

 

[Michelle G Daoust]

Hi Michelle, I tried to join the facebook GR 65 but never got confirmed. Did you have to wait a long time before you got accepted?

Hmmm, not that I recall. I’ll take a look and see if there is a personal contact I can send you. Best wishes.

 

[Michelle G Daoust]

Bonjour @Kat46, I am senior admin and moderator of the FB group ... you might like to try again ... it is important to answer / respond to the new-member questions ... if you did not respond then it is possible that your request was not accepted ... I am presently walking this chemin so I am not always on FB 24/7

This is the name of the admin. Not sure if you can send private message?

 

[Kat46]

This is the name of the admin. Not sure if you can send private message?

Thank you for your quick answer. I just found your page and answered the questions. It was the other one ( Forrester) I tried to join and nothing happend. So hopefully with yours it goes quicker!

 

[Kat46]

Yes I get that. There is quite a lot of meat in France but things have improved. they love their dairy though so I can see how being vegan was challenging.

Thank you for your answer! I just realized that it was another group I tried. So know I answered the questions for yours.

 

[BlackRocker57]

I just tried to join too but could not find it. Is there a link that you can post please. I love this route and will be walking some of it again next year.

@Leaderene ... apols for the delay, I am presently walking the chemin ... here is the link : <https://www.facebook.com/groups/1081800999284335/permalink/1401940593937039/>

 

[BlackRocker57]

I just tried to join too but could not find it. Is there a link that you can post please. I love this route and will be walking some of it again next year.

GR65 Via Podiensis : walking the Le Puy route in France | Facebook

This group is for all those hikers / pilgrims / walkers who are planning to walk or have walked the beautiful Le Puy route in south-western France ... it’s a place to ask questions to assist with...

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