Spanish on the Le Puy Camino

[urbanhiker]

I was wondering if Spanish is common along the Le Puy Camino. I have been studying French for a few months and can construct some basic French phrases to help me along the way. I think I can order food, rooms, taxis, and follow train schedules and such.

I did the Camino de Santiago last year and noticed that in most cases, people along the way did not speak English. English may be a universal language but it isn't in smaller towns across Europe. I am fluent in Spanish and was hoping I could that in place of my French, although I continue to study French everyday.

Any thoughts?

Ray

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Not really - It might help you read some signs etc because of similarities between the languages, but French is the only language generally spoken on the Le Puy route.
Margaret

 

[JabbaPapa]

You'd get more use out of English than Spanish, frankly, and the English will BTW be not very useful at all ...

 

[StephenT]

Ray - l agree entirely - I've just completed the stage Le Puy to Moissac / 400 km, finishing 8 August - French is all but essential on the way for a deeply enjoyable walk - you could get by in English, but that is putting expectations onto the locals, and you'd miss out on the local flavour - some Spanish walkers, but you would need to be extremely lucky to find hospitaleros who spoke Spanish - so continue with the French studies - the French walkers and those at the gites will appreciate your efforts - bon chemin...! - Stephen in NZ

 

[Kitsambler]

I was wondering if Spanish is common along the Le Puy Camino. I have been studying French for a few months and can construct some basic French phrases to help me along the way. I think I can order food, rooms, taxis, and follow train schedules and such.

On the Le Puy route, Spanish is about as common as ... well, Czech. Spanish is not taught in the public schools, there are few Spanish expats, and the French tend to vacation in the south of France rather than in Spain. At least with English, because such a large proportion of the vocabulary originated with French (due to the Norman conquest), you can recognize many words of written French. It's just that we pronounce them terribly (by French standards).

The basic French phrases you list - including general pleasantries and politenesses - will stand you in good stead. The French really appreciate our attempts to speak/learn their language. I would steer clear of trying to make your own phone calls for lodging reservations - ask the gite owner, Tourism Office, or a fellow Francophone pilgrim instead.