Walking the Le Puy Camino from Le Puy-en-Velay to Aumont Aubrac
Stage 1
89.1km
6 days
Carefully Selected 2 to 2 star accommodations
moderate
Starting From
€704
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Popular Time
Good Time
Off/Low Season
Not Possible
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FREE This trip createstonne(s) of CO2, we offset it for free
Highlights
Le Puy en Velay
As the starting point for the Le Puy Camino in France, this small city has much to offer. Two unique sites are the Cathedral and Hermitage that are perched atop ancient volcanoes and only accessible by climbing the many steps up. The Cathedral of Notre Dame, dates from the 12th Century and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most distinctive Romanesque cathedrals in France. Be sure to also save some energy to wander the small streets flanked by tall pastel buildings of the old city. Here you will find many shops and cafes as well as the famed lace makers of Le Puy.
Sauges
Sauges has served as a popular stopping point on the Le Puy Camino for many centuries, situated between the mountains of Margeride and the Allier Valley. Although a small town there is much to see and do here. From visiting the Fantastic Museum of the Beast of Gevaudan, to the Romanesque Church of St Ménard and the Tower of the English that dates from Medieval times all within a short walk of each other. Whilst here take the opportunity also to try the traditional dish of Aligot – mashed potato mixed with butter, garlic cream and the local cheese Tomme.
Aumont-Aubrac
Aumont-Aubrac was built around the crossroads of the ancient routes between Lyon – Toulouse and Auvergne. Relax in this typical French town, wander the old streets and come across its Statue of the Beast of Gevaudan above the fountain, or visit the Tourist Information Centre situated in the House of the Priory that was restored in the 90’s has a beautiful vaulted cellar in the basement. A must visit also for pilgrims is the Church of Saint-Etienne which sit on the site of a priory from 106. Over the centuries it has undergone many restorations and today you can see clearly the Romanesque and Baroque influences. A peculiarity of the church is its eccentric belfry rebuilt in 1839 with stones from the cemetery. Inside you can witness the glimmers of coloured light from the 12 stained glass windows.
Le Puy En Velay to Aumont-aubrac
Le Puy Camino
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From €704
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2027
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Services
Included in this package
Bed & Breakfast
Specially Hand-Picked Accommodation
Our Holiday or Pilgrim Pack
24/7 On-Call Support
Virtual Face-to-Face Pre-Departure Briefing
Add-On
Premium Accommodation
Airport Pick-Up
Additional Nights
Dinners
Luggage Transfers from Hotel to Hotel
Day Tours to Local Sites of Interest
Not included
Flights/trains
Insurance
Drinks/Lunch
Itinerary
Day 1
LE PUY EN VELAY (Arrival)
Le Puy-en-Velay is the historical starting point of the Via Podiensis, and this is where archbishop Gothescalk departed from, in 950 AD, to become the first ever pilgrim to reach the tomb of the apostle St James in Santiago de Compostela. Le Puy-en-Velay has always been an important sanctuary city as it is home to the mysterious Black Virgin, which has drawn pilgrims from all over Europe since the Middle Ages. But the appeal of Le-Puy-en-Velay goes beyond historical and cultural - the city also worth a visit for its picturesque location. Indeed, set between the Auvergne dormant volcanoes and the Rhone Alpes valley, the lively old city charms visitors with the great views it offers over the surrounding low mountains.
Day 2 22.69km
LE PUY EN VELAY
to
SAINT PRIVAT DALLIER
Starting at the Notre-Dame du Puy Cathedral, modern pilgrims feel a certain emotion when walking down the stairs that have been the starting point of thousands of pilgrim journeys to Santiago for the last millennium. The day is spent through the rounded green mountains of the Velay massif, offering beautiful scenery all day long, before reaching Saint Privat D’Allier.
Day 3 18.63km
SAINT PRIVAT DALLIER
to
SAUGUES
This is a short enough walk but the regula ascents and descents make it the most demanding stage of this first section. The rewarding side of this walk is that it offers wonderful views over the Velay massif and the Gévaudan plateau, and we also pass through picturesque villages and hamlets before arriving in Saugues.
Day 4 27.86km
SAUGUES
to
LES FAUX
Today, we leave Saugues and its Tour des Anglais to continue up to reach Le Sauvage, a farm domain perched on top of a hill dating back to the times of the Knights Templars. The Camino then continues to enter the La Lozère département at the Saint-Roch Chapel and we conclude our day in Les Faux.
Day 5 19.93km
LES FAUX
to
AUMONT-AUBRAC
From Les Faux, we reach Saint-Alban sur Limagnole and its Roman church. Then, it is a steep climb up to Grazieres-Mages. We then start our way down to the tiny village of Les Estrets through peaceful wood and farmlands. Finally, we reach Aumont-Aubrac, gateway to the mythic Aubrac high plateau.
Day 6
AUMONT-AUBRAC
After breakfast, we bid you farewell. You can visit the Tourist Information Centre, situated in the House of the Priory, with its beautiful vaulted cellar or see the Church of Saint-Etienne, which has significant Romanesque and Baroque influences after many restorations. Or, if you want to relax, you can wander the old streets and enjoy some local wine and cheese.
How to Get There
This section of the Camino goes from Le Puy-en-Velay to Aumont-Aubrac. To get to the start of this Camino, the closest airports are Lyon, Paris or Orly. From the end of this walk, the closest airports are Lyon or Rodez. We can organise airport transfers for you to get you from the airport to your first accommodation, and back to the airport at the end of your pilgrimage.
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