FRANCE

AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPES / OCCITANIE

REF # 0902C-COMP-LIB

COMPOSTELA – ON THE PATH PUY-EN-VELAY (FRANCE)

FROM PUY-EN-VELAY TO AUMONT-AUBRAC

SELF GUIDED TOUR

LENGTH: 9 days – 8 nights

HIKING LEVEL: EASY to MODERATE – 6 days of hiking

Double Occupancy: 8 Breakfasts – 8 Dinners
Discovery stay in Puy-en-Velay.

ON THE PATH PUY-EN-VELAY – FROM PUY-EN-VELAY TO AUMONT-AUBRAC

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.

HIGHLIGHTS

From PUY-EN-VELAY to AUMONT-AUBRAC : the first great stage of the pilgrims of the Middle Ages – A full day in Le Puy and the blessing of the hikers at the cathedral – The crossing of Velay, the chapel of Rochegude, the gorges of the Allier, the country of Gévaudan, the plateau of Margeride and the domain of Sauvage. An “initiatory” circuit for a very first experience on the roads to Compostela.

PERIOD

Between April 1 and October 8, 2023

DEPARTURE

At your convenience and leisure.

ITINERARY

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 the PUY-EN-VELAY and CONQUES, 3 tours (all double occupancy – 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 CHEMIN DU PUY: 9, 13 or 18 days depending on your available time.

9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS TOUR

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. Installation dans l’hébergement. Dinner.

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 – MONBONNET (ou Bains)
After the blessing of the pilgrims and hikers, we will start the tour through the Velay mountains, the country of the lentil and the black sheep, in the heart of the volcanic chain of Devès. Dinner and accommodation in Montbonnet (or Bains).
Duration: 3 to 4 hrs – Distance : approx. 15 km

DAY 4: MONTBONNET – MONISTROL D’ALLIER
Continuation on the volcanic chain of Devès, the Lake of the egg, the village of St-Privat d’Allier and its priory, the hamlet of Rochegude – famous for its chapel St-Jacques and its old watchtower -. Dinner and accommodation in Monistrol d’Allier.
Duration: 4 to 5 hrs – Distance : 14 or 19 km

DAY 5: MONISTROL D’ALLIER – SAUGUES
Ascent by the Margueride plateau, the only difficulty – however acceptable – of this part of the path. On the way, discovery of the troglodyte chapel of the Madeleine, then in Saugues of the Tour des Anglais and the collegiate church St-Médard. Dinner and accommodation in Saugues.
Duration: 4 hrs – Distance : 12 km

DAY 6: SAUGUES – LE VILLERET D’APCHIER (ou Chanaleilles)
Discovery stage of the Margueride plateau with its typical villages, its lost hamlets, its pastures surrounded by stone walls and the leaning tower of La Clauze. Dinner and lodging.
Duration: 3 to 4 hrs – Distance: 12 or 15 km

DAY 7: LE VILLERET D’APCHIER – ST-ALBAN (Les Faux)
Discovery of the Hospitalet du Sauvage, located in a deserted pass at 1280 m of altitude and of the chapel of St-Roch, patron saint of pilgrims. A day in the heather and broom moors. Arrival at the hamlet of Les Faux for dinner and accommodation.
Duration: 4 to 4.5 hrs – Distance : 13 or 16 km

DAY 8: ST-ALBAN (Les Faux) – AUMONT-AUBRAC
This stage crosses the Margueride plateau to Aumont, gateway to Aubrac – Passage to Rouget, to the castle of St-Alban and to the charming village of Les Estrets and its combed bell tower (wall-belfry supporting another small bell tower). Dinner and lodging in Aumont-Aubrac.
Duration: 5 to 6 hrs – Distance : approx. 19 km

DAY 9: AUMONT-AUBRAC – LE PUY-EN-VELAY
Transfer back to LE PUY-EN-VELAY (Shuttle) and end of the tour.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

To reach the start of this tour and return, two options exist from Canada, Montreal airport:

OPTION 1 Direct transatlantic flight to LYON (some weekdays), then transfer by train. About 2 to 3 hours.
OPTION 2 Direct transatlantic flight to PARIS (every day) then transfer by train. About 5 – 6 hours.

RESERVATIONS UPON REQUEST for flights and transfers according to your dates.

RATES

Land only program, from PUY-EN-VELAY to PUY-EN-VELAY

With lodging at different stages: from CAD $ 975 per person.
With lodging at HOTELS and/or GUEST HOUSES: from CAD $ 1,185 per person (Double Occ.).

INCLUDED

Accommodation : 8 Nights
Lodging in dormitories or shared rooms, with shared bathroom facilities. For this type of accommodation, it is imperative to bring a light sleeping bag (or better yet a sheet/pillow bag) and towels.
8 breakfasts – 8 dinners.
Lodging at HOTELS and/or GUEST HOUSES: in a double room with private bathroom and toilets with sometimes the possibility of sharing the bathroom on the floor according to availability.
8 breakfasts – 8 dinners.
Transfer from Aumont-Aubrac to Puy-en-Velay and back (shuttle) on day 9.

NOT INCLUDED

International and/or domestic flights and round-trip train transfers at the beginning and end of the tour (rates according to your choice of dates and destinations).
Lunches: generally taken as picnics while hiking (supplies available on the way).
Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
Travel insurance (recommended).

OPTIONAL AND UPON REQUEST

Luggage transport at each stage: hiking with only a small day bag.

On this part of the Chemin du Puy and depending on your available time, you could also consider the two tours below:

FROM AUMONT-AUBRAC TO CONQUES (REF # 0902B-COMP-LIB)

13 days / 12 nights
Double Occupancy – 12 breakfasts /12 dinners
2 transfers

From CAD $1,305 per person.

FROM PUY-EN-VELAY TO CONQUES (REF # 0902A-COMP-LIB)

18 days/ 17 nights
Double Occupancy – 17 breakfasts / 17 dinners
1 transfer

From CAD $1,695 per person.

INFORMATION / RESERVATIONS:

www.nicolevoyage.com 450-455-0991 Toll Free: 1-877-455-0991
www.euro-rando.com 514-386-1704

Program (In French, PDF Format) (Acrobat Reader required)

RESERVE OR REQUEST A QUOTE

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