LENGTH: 13 days – 12 nights
HIKING LEVEL: EASY to MODERATE – 8 days of hiking
Double Occupancy: 12 Breakfasts – 12 Dinners
Discovery stays in Puy-en-Velay and Conques
The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela is certainly one of the oldest walks of all times. In France, the mythical Voie du Puy – or via Podiensis – more or less follows the ancient Via Agrippa traced by the Romans and which linked Lyon to Toulouse. A splendid itinerary of two weeks, with small steps and between two jewels of the way: the cathedral of Le Puy and the Romanesque wonder of Conques and its basilica.
This itinerary has been designed with short stages in order to make the most of the visits and discoveries along the way.
You are free to travel at your own pace with a detailed logbook.
Safe, this circuit is very well marked, frequented by many hikers and offers a shuttle service along the entire route that can be used if necessary to eliminate one of the stages in case of fatigue or to reach an accommodation.
It is an ideal formula for a first experience and to leave without worries.
Between LE PUY-EN-VELAY and CONQUES, 3 tours (all half-board – lunch and dinner – with transfers at the beginning and end of the tour as the case may be) are proposed on this part of the PATH DU PUY : 9, 13 or 18 days depending on your available time.
Departure from Montreal or other Canadian airport the day before day 1.
DAY 1:
Arrival at PUY-EN-VELAY at the end of the day. Drop off to your accommodation. Supper will be served. Drop off at your accommodation. Supper will be served.
DAY 2: LE PUY-EN-VELAY
A good day of rest after the transatlantic flight to recover from jet lag and be ready for the next day’s departure. Visit of the city: the Romanesque cathedral and its 12th century cloister, the Cornelius Rock and the old medieval city. Dinner and accommodation.
DAY 3: LE PUY-EN-VELAY – AUMONT-AUBRAC
A little more time to spend in Puy-en-Velay depending on the shuttle schedule to reach the village of Aumont-Aubrac during the day. Transfer, drop off at your accommodation and dinner.
DAY 4: AUMONT-AUBRAC – PRINSUÉJOLS
From Aumont-Aubrac in “Terre de Peyre”, we reach the gateway to the Aubrac plateau at Prinsuéjols. Passage by the Chaze de Peyre and Lasbros. Dinner and accommodation in Prinsuéjols.
Duration: 4 to 5 hrs – Distance: 16 or 18 km
DAY 5: PRINSUÉJOLS – NASBINALS
First hike on the vastness of the plateau Aubrac, covered with pastures as far as the eye can see and punctuated with burons (stone walls). Passage to Rieutort d’Aubrac and Montgros. Some scenes of the film ST-JACQUES – LA MECQUE were shot here: certainly one of the most beautiful stages of the Chemin du Puy before reaching Nasbinals, a charming medieval town. Dinner and accommodation.
Duration: 3 to 4 hrs – Distance: 14 or 16 km
DAY 6: NASBINALS – ST-CHÉLY D’AUBRAC
Second hike on the superb plateau Aubrac where the rite of transhumance is still alive – the herds go up to the pastures – with a passage through the Domerie d’Aubrac (1120) and its bell of the Lost. Descent to St-Chély d’Aubrac. Dinner and accommodation.
Duration: 4 to 5 hrs – Distance: 17 km
DAY 7: ST-CHÉLY D’AUBRAC – ST-CÔME D’OLT
Hike along the “boraldes” – generic name given to the rivers flowing down the southern slopes of the Aubrac – and arrive in Lot valley and the Olt country. Arrival at St-Côme d’Olt and its “flamed” bell tower, a village classified as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”. Dinner and accommodation.
Duration: 4 to 5 hrs – Distance: 16 km
DAY 8: ST-CÔME D’OLT – ESTAING
A circuit passing by Espalion and the pink sandstone Romanesque jewel of the church of Perse -Discovery of the village of Estaing, of the castle of the Counts of Estaing, of the old medieval part and of the gothic bridge of XVIth S, classified world heritage site of UNESCO. Dinner and accommodation.
Duration: 3 to 4 hrs – Distance: 20 km
DAY 9: ESTAING – GOLINHAC
Hike along the river Lot, through the peaceful landscapes of Rouergue punctuated by priories and discovery of its half-Romanesque (10th century) and half-Gothic (16th century) church. Dinner and accommodation.
Duration: 4 to 5 hrs – Distance: 16 km
DAY 10: GOLINHAC – SÉNERGUES
Short stage to reach Sénergues, village located on a granite spur, and its XIVth century castle.
Duration: 3 to 4 hrs – Distance: 12 km
DAY 11: SÉNERGUES – CONQUES
A striking arrival in Conques: pointed roofs and the basilica emerging in the landscape – A jewel of medieval architecture, Conques fascinates all visitors. First discovery of the village in the afternoon – Dinner and accommodation.
Duration: 2.5 hrs – Distance: 10 km
DAY 12: CONQUES
Conques, “the Pearl of the Road” deserves much more than the short visit of the day before – Free day for a more in-depth discovery of this remarkably preserved medieval village and the “Most Beautiful Villages of France” label – Stroll through the narrow streets of the village, walk on the ramparts, without forgetting in the evening the organ concert and the illumination of the tympanum of the basilica – two daily and free events – which should be on the menu of this day – Dinner and accommodation in Conques.
DAY 13: CONQUES – LE PUY-EN-VELAY
Transfer back to PUY-EN-VELAY and end of the tour.
To reach the start of this tour and return, two options exist from Canada, Montreal airport:
RESERVATIONS UPON REQUEST for flights and transfers according to your dates.
FROM PUY-EN-VELAY TO CONQUES (REF # 0902A-COMP-LIB)
From CAD $1,695 per person.
FROM PUY-EN-VELAY TO AUMONT-AUBRAC (REF # 0902C-COMP-LIB)
From CAD $ 975 per person.
www.nicolevoyage.com 450-455-0991 Toll Free: 1-877-455-0991
www.euro-rando.com 514-386-1704
COMPOSTELA IN FRANCE : FROM PUY-EN-VELAY TO AUMONT- AUBRAC
COMPOSTELA IN FRANCE : FROM PUY-EN-VELAY TO CONQUES