Page 6 - Camino

French Way
of St James:
Le Puy Way
Le Puy-en-Velay – St Jean Pied de Port, 740km
Of the four main pilgrimage routes in France to St Jean Pied de Port, where pilgrims can connect with the Camino Francés, the Le Puy Way, also known as Via Podiensis, is by far the most popular.
Once the word had spread across Europe
that the apostle of St James’ relics had been discovered in Santiago, a pilgrimage to the
site became a rite of passage. The journey at times rivalled a trip to Jerusalem or Rome, and pilgrims from as far as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic made their way through France to St Jean Pied de Port.
While the earliest recordings of pilgrims
on this way dates back to 950AD, the popularity of the French Way of St James today can be traced back to more recent times when the
long distance GR65 hiking route was created in the 1970s. As more modern day travellers began to seek ways to Santiago, the Le Puy Way stood out as the most spectacular, taking in some
of the most scenic parts of France.
The Le Puy Way begins in Le Puy-en-Velay
and travels across the high plateaus of the Massif Central, the volcanic highlands of Velay, through rustic villages, past impressive castles, quaint villages, a myriad of monuments and through picturesque French countryside. For today’s travellers, the Le Puy Way provides one of the most beautiful walking or cycling experiences of all the Camino routes. And, unlike the Camino Francés, it avoids major cities and towns.
Medieval villages and castles adorn the route
6 utracks.com
SPAIN
FRANCE
Le Puy-en-Velay
Aumont
Conques Cahors
Lectoure Aire sur l’Adour
St Jean Pied de Port
Rocamadour