length

13 Days

difficulty

Moderate - Challenging

trip cost

From $2550 pp

Icons / stylised / time Created with Sketch.

length

13 Days

Icons / stylised / difficulty Created with Sketch.

difficulty

Moderate - Challenging

Icons / stylised /cost Created with Sketch.

trip cost

From $2550 pp

Nature Immersion

Cultural Interest

Self-Guided Trip

our walk expert

  • Overview
  • Highlights
  • Itinerary
  • Map
  • Inclusions
  • Food & Wine
  • Accommodation
  • On the trail
  • Camaraderie
  • Navigation
  • Exclusive Guide
  • Similar Walks

Overview

Le Puy en Velay to Conques

The Le Puy Camino is deservedly one of the most popular walks in France, though it has far less walkers than you’d encounter on its Spanish cousin. From the historic town of Le Puy-en-Velay, this beautiful walk takes you across the Central Massif of France, to arrive 204km later in the old pilgrimage centre of Conques.

Follow in the footsteps of thousands of pilgrims and traverse the ages of living French history as you walk through beautiful, medieval French villages, pass by historic churches and cathedrals and over centuries old pilgrim bridges, many of them UNESCO World Heritage listed. Immerse yourself into the local and changing cultures, gastronomy and dialects throughout the journey.

The Le Puy Camino is well way marked with the red and white markings of GR65, and the familiar scallop shell of the Camino. The terrain is varied with some hills, but rarely strenuous.

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Highlights

Get Ready For

  • Hike the tranquil country paths and stunningly beautiful trails through rural France
  • Discover some of France’s historic UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the most beautiful cloister in the whole world in Moissac Abbey
  • Make your way through fairytale villages and beautiful countryside
  • Indulge in the local cuisine that is ever changing as you pass through the different towns
  • Be awed by the impressive architecture and rich history of  ‘Les plus beaux villages de France’
  • Explore the medieval village of La Romieu with its magnificent Collégiale St Pierre and legendary cat sculptures
  • Experience the solitude of this quieter Camino and the camaraderie of the predominantly French walkers

Itinerary

DAILY DETAILS

Day 1: ARRIVE Le Puy-en-Velay

Today you need to make your way to Le Puy-en-Velay on the upper reaches of the Loire and a pilgrimage centre since the Middle Ages. Internationally recognised as a starting point for the St James Way (the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela), Le Puy-en-Velay enjoys a unique historical and architectural heritage that we recommend you spend time discovering before you start your journey.

Overnight: Le Puy-en-Velay

Day 2: Le Puy-en-Velay at leisure

Le Puy was much visited during medieval times by pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela and highly venerated for its Black Madonna statue. You can explore the historical and well-preserved old town with its maze of small cobbled streets, flanked by tall, pastel coloured houses. The charming streets, winding their way up to the UNESCO World Heritage listed cathedral, provide a great place to stop in one of the many restaurants where local specialities are served. Famed for centuries for its lace making, visitors can also see lace makers at work, keeping the old tradition alive.

Overnight: Le Puy-en-Velay

Meals: B

Day 3: Le Puy-en-Velay to St Privat d’Allier (23.9km, 6.5 hours)

The Cathedral Notre-Dame is the starting point for today’s walk. You may wish to attend the Pilgrims’ Mass, which is held in the cathedral every morning at 7 am. As you follow the trail up and out of town, enjoy great views over Le Puy and the surrounding area. Rural landscapes will now be your companion as you gently ascend and cross the volcanic soils of the Velay, past fields of the famous green lentils. You will pass by the first of many ancient stone crosses marking the way of the original pilgrimage route. Continue through the small village of Saint-Christophe and, just before Montbonnet, visit the small Chapel Saint Roch built from the local volcanic rock. Saint Roch (pronounced Rock) became the patron saint of pilgrims and this is the first of many chapels along the Camino that bear his name. The path then passes through the spruce forest of La Baraque, before a steep descent into the small village of St Privat d’Allier.

Overnight: St Privat d’Allier

Meals: B

Day 4: St Privat d’Allier to La Clauze (26.5km, 7 hours)

The first part of today is spent crossing the valley of the River Allier, starting with a level walk to Rochegude, famous for its ancient St Jacques Chapel and tower (the remnants of an old 13th-century castle). The path descends steeply along a spruce lined, stony footpath towards Monistrol d’Allier with its stone buildings set in the valley below the volcanic cliffs. Walking out of town over the iron bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel, you encounter a sustained ascent that continues to a water fountain at Montaure where easy walking across an agrarian and forest plateau takes you to Saugues, the meeting point for pilgrims coming from the Auvergne region. This town features in the history of the Hundred Years War and as a marshalling point for hunters of the legendary Beast of Gevaudan, which terrorised this region in the mid-1700s. On leaving Saugues, a large, wooden statue of Saint James points the way to open farmland and the hamlet of La Clauze, with its remnant tower of the 100 years war perched alone on a large granite rock.

Overnight: La Clauze

Meals: B

Day 5: La Clauze to Saint-Alban (25.3km, 6.5 hours)

Today’s picturesque walk takes you across the Margeride Plateau with grassy plains, moors of broom and heather and conifer woods. After the past 2 days, you will find this section relatively easy going, gently ascending most of the day. Continue through forests and around a huge estate called Le Sauvage with its massive solid stone barns and courtyard. Here you leave the Department of Haute-Loire and enter that of the Lozere. On the way you pass the Fountain St-Roch and rest stop, followed by the St-Roch Chapel founded in 1198 as a hospital for pilgrims and travellers. After the chapel, the track commences a gentle descent into Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole with its grey slate roofed stone houses laid out neatly along the slope of the hill.

Overnight: Saint-Alban

Meals: B

Day 6: Saint-Alban to Aumont-Aubrac (15.6km, 4 hours)

Today you continue to traverse the vast plain of the Margeride toward Aumont-Aubrac, also known as ‘Terre de Peyre’ (land of stone). This stage follows the same pattern as yesterday; beautiful rolling landscapes following mostly along comfortable earthen tracks between forests and fields. A short steep climb takes you up to Grazieres-Mages before descending to the hamlet of Les Estrets through quiet woods and farmland, then gently ascending to Aumont-Aubrac, a pleasant market town. Part of the route here follows the ancient Roman Agrippa Way. Gateway to the mythic Aubrac high plateau, Aumont-Aubrac has always had strong links to the Camino. Back in medieval times, this is where pilgrims coming from the East on the Le Puy route rested before tackling the upcoming bleak and isolated lands of the Aubrac.

Overnight: Aumont-Aubrac

Meals: B

Day 7: Aumont-Aubrac to Nasbinals (27.1km, 7 hours)

From Aumont-Aubrac the trail passes through groves of pines before reaching the endless pasture lands of the vast volcanic and granite Aubrac plateau that is dotted with traditional stone shepherd’s huts called burons. Pass through the village of La Chaze to the tiny Chapel de Bastide, with its 16th-century ceiling mural, and then through the village of Labros where you start to cross the Aubrac. This is a desolate region of wildflowers and contentedly grazing Aubrac cows. It is largely treeless and empty of people. You will observe the vast stretches of dry stone walls and drailles (old drove roads), originally built for the summer ‘transhumance’, where cattle were returned to summer pastures of the Aubrac after the long cold winter. The trail takes you through tiny hamlets and farmsteads, crossing streams over ancient granite bridges to arrive at Nasbinals, a herding village that marks the beginning of the Aveyron region.

Overnight: Nasbinals

Meals: B

Day 8: Nasbinals - Rest day

Enjoy a day strolling around the peaceful town of Nasbinals (pop. 500) with its beautiful historic granite buildings. Take time to visit the 12th-century church with its lofty interior. Aligot, a fondue-like dish of cheesy whipped potatoes, is a traditional pilgrim staple in this area and well worth sampling.

Overnight: Nasbinals

Meals: B

Day 9: Nasbinals to St-Chely-d’Aubrac (16.5km, 4.5 hours)

This stage of the walk takes you through the heart of the Aubrac plateau and the entire route has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Aubrac plateau has a tough reputation; cold, windy, remote and originally country for wolves and bandits. This can be an exhilarating day, much of it on open grassy hillsides and passing beech forests, dry stone walls of the drailles and ascending to 1368m – the highest point of the Le Puy Camino. The trail then delivers you downhill to the historic centre of Aubrac, another transhumance centre. In Aubrac you can see remnants of an ancient domerie (the name given to the hospital in Aubrac in medieval times). The domerie also provided a rescue service; lost travellers were summoned by an evening bell and horsemen scoured the surrounding district to escort wanderers to safety. After Aubrac you drop steeply past the ruins of Knights Templar Belvezet castle to pretty St-Chely-d’Aubrac in its secluded valley.

Overnight: St-Chely-d’Aubrac

Meals: B

Day 10: St-Chely-d’Aubrac to Espalion (22.3km, 6.5 hours)

Descending the cobbled streets of St-Chely-d’Albrac, you cross the Boralde River on the old stone UNESCO World Heritage listed Pont des Pelerins – built by 12th-century bridge-building friars, whose mission was to help pilgrims make their way towards Compostela.

Leave the country of the ‘Boraldes’ on an ascending road and trail before descending to the Lot valley. Your path passes along beech-clad slopes and then descends through chestnut woods to cross a few little bridges to ascend suddenly to the hamlet of La Roziere. There is a little more undulation until finally you descend to St-Come-d’Olt, the first of the “Les plus beaux villages de France” (most beautiful villages in France), with its medieval gateways, old quarter and famous twisted church spire.

You continue along a ridge above the Lot valley with some short steep ascents and descents towards Espalion. As you walk into Espalion the 16th century Veiux Palace and 11th century Pont Veiux arched bridge connecting the ancient tanner’s houses lining the river come into view. The bridge and church of Espalion are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. High above the town are the ruins of the 10th century Chateau de Calmont d’Olt.

Overnight: Espalion

Meals: B

Day 11: Espalion to Golinhac (26.4km, 7 hours)

Continuing on the Way of St James, you follow the UNESCO World Heritage listed trail along the Lot river, then climb upwards to the beautiful Romanesque church of Bessuéjouls, one of the oldest along the route with an 11th-century chapel in the bell tower. After Tredou, cross a mosaic of rich red soils, and green fields alternating with more forests of oak and old chestnut trees, before passing through the village of Verrieres. A narrow footpath then winds up and over a forested spur of a gorge, and a small section of road-walking leads to the village of Estaing; an impossibly beautiful picture-postcard village with its imposing 15th-century Chateau of the Estaing family rising above the old houses.

The Church of Saint-Fleuret in the centre of Estaing is important to pilgrims because the relics of St-Fleuret within. The annual St- Fleuret fair has been held here since the 14th century, when a great procession travels through the village in period costume.

Leaving Estaing, you start winding your way through beautiful villages to the tiny hilltop village of Golinhac. With commanding views over the countryside, Golinhac is known for its church, which preserves the Roman foundations of a Benedictine priory, and an original stone cross with a small-sculpted pilgrim erected on it – a replica greets you at the entrance of the village.

Overnight: Golinhac

Meals: B

Day 12: Golinhac to Conques (21km, 6.5 hours)

Today’s walk is a favourite amongst pilgrims. It is a hilly rollercoaster but otherwise easy walk across wonderful countryside and peaceful woodlands as you leave the Lot valley towards the famous village of Conques. You pass through the tranquil village of Espeyrac, perched on a rocky promontory on the side of the valley, then Senergues, with its 14th-century square tower castle. Undulating trails lead you to a final dramatic descent into Conques, one of the finest hill-towns in France and a perfect example of a medieval village. The view over the village is breathtaking with its lauze stone-roofed cottages and dominating towers of the Romanesque Abbey Church Sainte Foy.

Overnight: Conques

Meals: B

Day 13: Depart Conques

Your trip concludes this morning after a leisurely breakfast.

Meals: B

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Map

Explore

Le Puy en Velay

Spectacular Le Puy-en-Velay is the gateway to the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage trail. Explore the historical and well-preserved old town with its delightful maze of small cobbled streets flanked by tall, pastel coloured houses. Le Puy’s famous cathedral is well worth a visit. It houses a Black Madonna statue that is believed to have miraculous powers. Pilgrims and visitors come to pay their respects to this revered religious icon.

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St Privat d’Allier

On the way to St Privat d’Allier you will pass by the first of many ancient stone crosses marking the way of the original pilgrimage route. Once you are through the spruce forest of La Baraque there is a steep decent into the small village.

Saugues

Sauges is the meeting point for pilgrims coming from the Auvergne region. This town features in the history of the Hundred Years War and as a marshalling point for hunters of the legendary Beast of Gevaudan, which terrorised this region in the mid-1700s.

Les Faux

On the way to the small village of Les Faux you will pass the Fountain St-Roch and rest stop, followed by the St-Roch Chapel founded in 1198 as a hospital for pilgrims and travellers. After the chapel, the track commences a gentle descent into Les Faux.

Aumont-Aubrac

Gateway to the mythic Aubrac high plateau, Aumont-Aubrac has always had strong links to the Camino. Back in medieval times this is where pilgrims coming from the East on the Le Puy route rested before tackling the upcoming bleak and isolated lands of the Aubrac.

Nasbinals

Nasbinals is a herding village that marks the beginning of the Aveyron region. From here, the route takes you through the heart of the Aubrac plateau, which has a tough reputation for being windy, cold and remote. This can be an exhilarating day and includes an ascent to the the highest point (1368m) of Le Puy Camino.

St-Chely-d’Aubrac

The pretty village of St-Chely-d’Aubrac is in a secluded valley. It’s a great place to explore, relax and reflect. The early 15th-century church is steeped in history, and the pilgrims’ bridge has a beautiful stone cross that bears a bas-relief representing a pilgrim, with its large cape, staff and rosary.

Espalion

The small village of Espalion has several sites of interest and the area along the riverfront and is lovely. The-16th century Veiux Palace and 11th-century Pont Veiux arched bridge connect the ancient tanner’s houses lining the River Lot. High above the town are the ruins of the 10th century Chateau de Calmont d’Olt.

Golinhac

Golinhac is known for its church, which preserves the Roman foundations of a Benedictine priory, and an original stone cross with a small-sculpted pilgrim erected on it – a replica greets you at the entrance of the village.

Conques

Conques is a superb and bewitching medieval village and one of the finest hill-towns in France. The views of the lauze stone-roofed cottages and dominating towers of the Romanesque Abbey Church Sainte Foy are breathtaking.

Inclusions

What's included?

Included
  • 12 nights’ accommodation in simple guesthouses or hotels with private facilities on a twin share basis
  • 11 Breakfasts
  • Luggage transfer each day from hotel to hotel (1 x 13kg bag per person)
  • RAW Travel navigation App with maps of your hotel locations and emergency contact numbers
  • Pre-trip guidance and planning for your French Camino trip
Excluded
  • Travel insurance
  • Single supplement
  • All items of a personal nature
  • Flights
Le Puy Camino France

Customer Star Rating of 5   

Customer Testimonials

I loved exploring this lesser known (for us) part of France by foot – fabulous scenery, history, food and wine, and mainly local French tourists. Accommodation was all super clean and comfortable with lovely helpful hosts and great meal offerings. We really felt that we were getting away from it all in rural France and loved the experience!

Margot Murphy, McMahons Point (NSW) - June 2023

Cheese, Le Puy Camino France

Food & Wine

Gastronomy

Food and wine are exceptional highlights of this trip. Breakfast will be provided at your hotel. Once you’re on the trail, it’s common to find a boulangerie or patisserie for pastries and coffee. A fresh baguette with cheese, sausage or paté and a tomato makes a great picnic lunch. Items can be bought from the fromageries and other stores along the route. In the early evening, enjoy an apéritif in an atmospheric village square then sample the abundant local wines and rich and varied cuisine for which France is famous, including delicacies like black truffles and the irresistible Rocamadour cheese.

Le Puy Camino France

Accommodation

Where you stay

Memorable accommodation is a hallmark of our trips on Le Puy Camino. We have long-standing relationships with hoteliers and have hand-selected the most beautiful, unique and character-filled properties on the trail and in the surrounding villages. We want you to enjoy each overnight stay as much as the walking. Our hosts enjoy sharing their knowledge of the local area and history and are accustomed to welcoming RAW Travellers into their establishments.

Le Puy Camino France

On the trail

Terrain Underfoot

The Le Puy route is a picturesque trail through rural south-west France. It’s dotted with tiny hamlets, isolated farmsteads and intact medieval villages. It takes on average 5 weeks to walk the full 750km. The terrain is varied, sometimes strenuous and rarely flat, especially in the beginning. At times, there are descents and ascents from river valleys. Some sections are on single-track paths that can often be rocky in places, sometimes with steps but mostly just bare earth. Gravel forest roads, walking tracks and unsealed roads are common. Many of the long paths are dotted with crosses and chapels, which make good rest stops.

Le Puy Camino France

Camaraderie

A quieter Camino

Experience the solitude of this quieter Camino and the camaraderie of the predominantly French walkers. The Le Puy route has far fewer walkers that you’d encounter on the Camino Francés through Spain. You’ll have days with only three or four other people in sight. The overwhelming majority of walkers on this route are French nationals who do a week or two on the route each year. They are effortlessly friendly and helpful. To enhance your time on the trail, we recommend you invest some time learning some basic conversational French.

Le Puy Camino France

Navigation

Finding your way

The trail is very well-marked with the frequent horizontal red-and-white stripes of the French Grande Randonée network. ‘Wrong direction’ signs (red-and-white crosses) are nailed to trees or painted on rocks. To help you navigate easily, we’ll provide you with our exclusive RAW Travel walking app. Your unique route map will show your location in real-time without any internet connection needed. The app also has a host of other great features, including points and places of interest on the trail, accommodation details, weather forecasts and safety information.

Camino De Santiago destination guide

Exclusive Guide

Le Puy Camino

Walking the Camino is an incredible journey that will immerse you not only in Europe’s grand history, food and culture but most importantly the extraordinary camaraderie that exists along these routes. The spirit of the Camino de Santiago is alive and well among people from all over the world. It is a ‘bucket list’ experience you will never forget!Discover inspiration, travel essentials, practical information and more in our free Destination Guide. All you need to know about walking the Camino de Santiago routes through France, Spain and Portugal.

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TRIP date selection

when would you like to travel?

Please select your preferred dates for on-demand trips or select a scheduled date for group departures. If you have booked a self-guided trip please understand that because your trip date is on demand and we must check availability of all properties on your chosen dates before it can be fully confirmed

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