length

8 Days

difficulty

Moderate - Challenging

trip cost

from $1540 pp

Icons / stylised / time Created with Sketch.

length

8 Days

Icons / stylised / difficulty Created with Sketch.

difficulty

Moderate - Challenging

Icons / stylised /cost Created with Sketch.

trip cost

from $1540 pp

Nature Immersion

Cultural Interest

Self-Guided Trip

our walk expert

  • Overview
  • Highlights
  • Itinerary
  • Map
  • Inclusions
  • Navigation
  • Gastronomy
  • On the Trail
  • Camaraderie
  • Exclusive Guide
  • Similar Walks

Overview

Le Puy Camino - Conques to Cahors

The Le Puy Camino is one of the best-loved walks in France. Also known as the Via Podienis, it is one of four traditional pilgrim routes that cross France and converge in Spain to continue their way to Santiago de Compostela.

This itinerary covers an incredibly scenic 142km section of this iconic pilgrimage route, from captivating Conques through to vibrant Cahors. It’s an ideal trip for active travellers seeking to explore the rich history, stunning landscapes and charming countryside of rural France on foot over a shorter duration. For hikers who have already walked the first part of the Le Puy Camino and would like a further taste, this itinerary is the perfect follow up and will provide another remarkable experience.

Following an overnight stay in beautiful Conques, for the next 6 days follow paths and trails meandering through forests, across historic stone bridges, past farmlands, quaint villages, lush valleys, rolling hills and limestone cliffs. Stop in towns and villages, visit historic churches, sample regional cuisine and local delicacies, or simply become immersed in nature while enjoying the physical challenge. The journey ends with an overnight in lively Cahors, renowned for its impressive mediaeval architecture as well as its wine and markets. 

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.

Yellow hiker icon We are the longest established and most popular Camino operator in Australia.
Find out why we are the No.1 choice

Le _Puy_gallery0009

Highlights

Get Ready For

  • Hike this scenic 142km section of the Le Puy Camino from Conques to Cahors
  • Explore fairytale Conques, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most beautiful villages in France
  • Savour black truffles, a most celebrated delicacy, in Limogne-en-Quercy 
  • Walk on the old ‘Cami Ferrat’ Roman road constructed on the orders of Julius Caesar 
  • Discover vibrant Cahors, famous for its mediaeval architecture, historic Valentré bridge, wine and markets.
  • Experience the solitude of this tranquil Camino and the camaraderie of the predominantly French walkers

Itinerary

Daily Details

Day 1: Arrive Conques

Welcome to Conques! As well as being considered as one of the most beautiful villages in all of France, Conques is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and a perennial favourite amongst travellers and photographers. The view over this mediaeval village is breathtaking with its stone-roofed cottages and dominating towers of the Romanesque Abbey Church Sainte Foy. Don’t miss a visit to the Church and the ‘pilgrims bridge’, and roam the small laneways and alleyways as you soak up the atmosphere and are transported back in time. 

Overnight: Conques

Meals: None

Day 2: Conques to Decazeville (16km, 4 hours)

Leaving Conques behind, cross the Pont Romain pilgrims bridge over the river, from here it’s a steep climb up to the chapel of Sainte-Foy and upwards to the surrounding hills where the view back down over the village is striking. There is a variant of the GR65 here, the GR6, which branches off to the right to rejoin the GR65 after 8.5km at Fonteilles. The trail leads to the hamlet of Noailhac followed by the small chapel dedicated to Saint Roch, rejoining the GR6 before the steady descent through forests, fields and dairy farms to Decazeville.

Decazeville, established in the nineteenth century as a coal mining and steel town, is now a sprawling modern and important commercial and industrial centre.

Overnight: Decazeville

Meals: B

Day 3: Decazeville to Figeac (33km, 8 hours)

Walking out of Decazeville this morning there will be a steady climb on quiet country lanes that lead to the hilltop village of Montredon, dominated by its church Saint Michel and Romanesque Chapel of Saint Mary. The route then crosses beautiful countryside to Figeac.

Founded in 830 AD around its Benedictine abbey, Figeac contains a substantial and interesting historical centre. The town still has many houses and small palaces dating from the 13th – 16th centuries. It is the birthplace of Champollion, (decipherer of the Egyptian hieroglyphs), and it is possible to visit the Champollion Museum. On the ‘Place des Ecritures’ there is a giant copy of the Rosetta stone.

Overnight: Figeac

Meals: B

Day 4: Figeac to Cajarc (31km, 8 hours)

You have a lengthy hike ahead today as you leave the Aveyron region for Le Lot, one of the few remaining unspoilt regions of France, with vast areas of primaeval oak forest, tranquil river valleys, historical sites and hilltop villages.

The route crosses the Cele River before ascending the limestone plateau offering fantastic views. Pass by the Aiguille du Cingle, an unusual octagonal obelisk of stone that acted as a beacon for pilgrims from the thirteenth century. Continue past the little village of Faycelles, and then skirt Beduer where the imposing Chateau de Beduer has stood guard over the Cele valley for 800 years. Onward towards Grealou through wild landscapes passing by a stone cross from the middle ages, reputedly the oldest wayside stone cross on the Camino. You will then meet up with the Lot River once you begin to descend into Cajarc, a well-known stop along the Way of St James.

Overnight: Cajarc

Meals: B

Day 5: Cajarc to Limogne en Quercy (17.5km, 4.5 hours)

Today the Camino leaves the lush greenery of the Lot and crosses the Parc Regional des Causses du Quercy, a relatively arid plateau where rainwater seeping through the limestone has created a landscape of deep valleys, underground rivers, caves and depressions. In the past, pilgrims dreaded crossing the Causses, as there were no dwellings, very little water and terrain conducive to the attacks of bandits who roamed the region. Things are vastly different today and the shorter walk to Limogne-en-Quercy allows time to absorb the heritage of the area. Look out for historical remnants along the way; walls of stones, gariottes or caselles (a dry stone shelter for the shepherd or farm workers), dolmens, the ruins of once splendid ‘piccionaia’ pigeon houses and the ‘butterfly washers’, which were used for washing linen until the 20th century. Limogne-en-Quercy, is famous for its truffle fair, usually held on Sunday mornings from December to March and in summer.

Overnight: Limogne en Quercy

Meals: B

Day 6: Limogne en Quercy to Lalbenque (26km, 7 hours)

Another lovely walk through the isolation of the Causses on a level trail through woods of scrubby oak trees and low bushes, passing by abandoned farms and with few people between the towns. There is the opportunity to see more dolmens, old windmills, wells, dry stone walls and a pretty monolithic cross carved from a single block. After the villages of Varaire and Bach, you will be walking on the old ‘Cami Ferrat’ which was the original paved ‘iron path’ Roman road constructed on the orders of Julius Caesar during the invasion of Gaul. Continue on this relatively straight road until the diversion to Lalbenque.

Overnight: Lalbenque

Meals: B

Day 7: Lalbenque to Cahors (19km, 5 hours)

Before departure this morning, make sure you have a hearty breakfast and carry lunch, snacks and plenty of water, as there is little in the way of facilities to restock on the way. Crossing the road leading to Laburgade, the Camino continues following the old Cami Ferrat through a succession of woodland and meadows where a little farming survives. After the trail passes under the motorway the walk is on various paths and road surfaces toward Cahors, however the forest is never far away.

On the final downhill into Cahors there are great views of the town, nestled in a bend of the Lot River. As well as being the largest city on the Le Puy Camino, Cahors is the capital of the Lot region. Cahors is perhaps best known as the centre of the famous AOC ‘black’ wine, referred to by many as the darkest in the world and known since the Middle Ages. Today Cahors is a popular centre with tourists enjoying its mediaeval quarter, and on Wednesday and Saturday mornings its colourful local street market draws more visitors.

Located in Cahors city centre, the 11th-century Roman Catholic cathedral (Cathedrale Saint-Étienne) is a national monument of France. The famous 14th-century fortified Valentré bridge crosses the river and is a well-known pilgrim milestone and an emblem of the city, as well as classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. It has three towers each with large arched gateways due to its historical role as a defensive bridge during the Hundred Years War. The broad street that runs through Cahors, the Boulevard Gambetta, was built in the 19th century over a moat that surrounded the original town fortifications.

Overnight: Cahors

Meals: B

Day 8: Depart Cahors

After breakfast you are free to check out of your hotel any time before 10am. If you would like to explore Cahors, you can leave your bags with reception.

Meals: B

Getting there and away

The closest international airports to Conques are Rodez-Aveyron Airport (RDZ) and Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS). Rodez-Aveyron Airport has connections from Paris, London, Dublin, and Brussels. From Rodez-Aveyron Airport a local taxi to Conques takes approx. 45 minutes to 1 hour. If arriving at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, travellers can book a train to Rodez GARE, and then transfer to a local bus or taxi to Conques.

If arriving into Conques by train, the closest train stations are Rodez (38km away), St-Christophe (23km away), and Le Puy-en-Velay (250km away). Travellers will need to book their train travel to either of these stations and then take a local taxi or bus to Conques. If arriving into Le Puy-en-Velay the most convenient way to travel onward to Conques is via the Compostel shuttle bus, which has a 4-hour service between Le Puy-en-Velay and Conques that departs early every morning during the season.

For onward travel from Cahors, the nearest international airports to Cahors are Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) and Brive-Souillac Airport (BVE). From Cahors the journey to Paris takes approximately 5 hours, while to Toulouse it takes approximately 1 hour and with more frequent departures. Alternatively, Flixbus is available between Cahors and both Paris and Toulouse.

The Le Puy Camino season starts on 15 April and ends on 15 October each year, so your trip must fall within this period.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best time to visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Closed

Map

Explore

Conques

Conques is a jewel of medieval architecture and one of the most enchanting stops on the Le Puy Camino. Nestled in a picturesque valley, this village is famed for its stunning Romanesque abbey, the Sainte-Foy Abbey Church.

CLICK ON A PIN TO REVEAL INFORMATION ABOUT THAT LOCATION
Decazeville

This industrial town offers pilgrims a unique glimpse into France’s coal-mining past. A must-see is the Church of Notre-Dame, featuring striking modern stained glass.

Figeac

This medieval town was founded in 830 AD around its Benedictine abbey and became a thriving city in the 13th century thanks to agriculture and commerce. It contains a substantial and interesting medieval historical centre.

Cajarc

In the peaceful town of Cajarc, on the banks of the Lot River, you can see part of the original 13th-century castle in the main street, The Boulevard du Tour de Ville, which forms a ring road around the town. The river is crossed by a 19th century suspension bridge, which replaced a medieval stone bridge.

Limogne-en-Quercy

Limogne-en-Quercy is famous for its truffle fair, usually held on Sunday mornings from December to March and summer.

Lalbenque

Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Lot region, Lalbenque is a delightful village with timeless charm.

Cahors

The medieval town of Cahors is the largest town on the Le Puy Camino. The famous 14th-century fortified Valentre bridge, an emblem of the city classified as World Heritage by UNESCO and a well-known pilgrim milestone, crosses the Lot on the west side of town. It has three towers each with large arched gateways due to its historical role as a defensive bridge during the Hundred Years War. Discover the legend of the pact that the bridge builder made with the devil.

Inclusions

What's included?

Included
  • 7 nights’ accommodation in simple guesthouses or hotels with private facilities
  • Daily continental style breakfasts
  • Luggage transfer each day from hotel to hotel (1 x 13kg bag per person) on days when walking
  • RAW Travel navigation APP with maps of your hotel locations and emergency contact numbers
  • Pre-trip guidance and planning for your Camino trip
Excluded
  • Single supplement (AUD$500)
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Train and bus tickets
  • Local taxis or transfers
  • Guidebooks and maps
  • All items of a personal nature
Added Extras

Please contact us prior to or at the time of booking to add additional pre or post night accommodation in Conques or Cahors.

Let us know if you would like to tailor the itinerary by adding a rest day in Figeac, or by adding some extra nights in order to shorten a couple of the longer walking days.

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. Finding your way has become a lot easier with our exclusive APP, which has all your trip information and route guidance in one handy place. You still need to be self-reliant with wayfinding. For the best results, use a combination of road and trail signs, a backup paper map or guidebook, and our app. Our app can pinpoint and confirm whether you’re still on the correct trail. Read more about all the great features of the app and how to use it for navigation.

Cheese, Le Puy Camino France

Gastronomy

Food & wine

Food and wine are exceptional highlights of this trip. Breakfast will be provided at your hotel. A fresh baguette with cheese, sausage or paté and a tomato makes a great picnic lunch and are best bought from the fromageries and other stores in the towns and villages. Once you’re out on the trails, you may find it difficult to find a boulangerie or patisserie for pastries and coffee. 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

On the Trail

Terrain Underfoot

The Le Puy Camino is a picturesque trail through rural south-west France. It’s dotted with tiny hamlets, isolated farmsteads and intact medieval villages. 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 usually effortlessly friendly and helpful. To enhance your time on the trail, we recommend you invest some time learning some basic conversational French.

Camino De Santiago destination guide

Exclusive Guide

Le Puy Camino

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 Spain, Portugal and France!

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!

Download Now

Le Puy Camino France
An elegant door adorned with a decorative window and pink flowers.
La Clauze, Le Puy Camino, France
A red and white sign for the Le Puy Camino route in France (GR 65) fixed to a brick wall.

Customer Star Rating of 5   

Customer Testimonials

We had a wonderful time. This was the longest multi-day hike I have done and I really enjoyed it. I lamented not walking further on to Cahors that many were doing. It truly was a wonderful immersive experience and we enjoyed all of our accommodations. The chateau outside Decazeville was amazing. Thanks again and I’m looking forward to doing another Camino now that I have the bug!

Ann Chidgey, Black Rock (VIC) – June 2024

Customer Star Rating of 5   

Customer Testimonials

This was a remarkable experience. It was a tougher walk than we had expected but do-able. Harder than Italy’s Via Francigena. We loved the variety, the food and the history. Loved the immersion into the French way of life – local produce, gorgeous countryside and history.

Marie van Gend, Port Macquarie (NSW) – May 2024

Customer Star Rating of 5   

Customer Testimonials

A wonderful experience with no hiccups. Everything was meticulously planned and no surprises. Enjoyed the ease of knowing all facets of the trip were covered. Accommodation mostly above expectation.

Matt Gunn, Noosaville (QLD) - September 2023

Customer Star Rating of 5   

Customer Testimonials

Fabulous trip and delighted with RAW Travel. Enjoyed the beautiful countryside, peaceful walking and camaraderie with other walkers. We stayed at so many wonderful places. When we have time for our next Camino we will be back in contact!

Tony Merritt, Dudley (NSW) – September 2023

Similar Walks

Camino

Cahors to Lectoure: Le Puy Camino
8 Days

Le Puy Camino (France)

Cahors to Lectoure: Le Puy Camino

Moderate Self-Guided
  • Medieval fairytale villages and enchanting hamlets
  • Breathtaking landscapes and picture-postcard scenery
  • Gastronomic delights and fine wines
  • Impressive architecture and rich history 
from

$1,690.00

view trip
Pont Valentre medieval bridge, Cahors
13 Days

Le Puy Camino (France)

The Slow Walk – Cahors to Condom

Moderate Self-Guided
  • Shorter daily distances and ample time to relax in the village squares
  • Tranquil country paths and beautiful trails 
  • Picture-postcard rural scenery and a wealth of gastronomic experiences 
  • Impressive architecture and historic UNESCO world heritage sites
from

$2,795.00

view trip
Le Puy Camino
13 Days

Le Puy Camino (France)

The Conques Trip: Le Puy Camino

Moderate - Challenging Self-Guided
  • A beautiful 200km walk across the Central Massif of France
  • Ever-changing cultures, gastronomy and dialects
  • Espalion’s 16th-century Veiux Palace and 11th century Pont Veiux
  • The beautiful medieval Romanesque abbey and hidden village of Conques
from

$2,620.00

view trip
Le _Puy_Estaing_thumbnail
40 Days

Le Puy Camino (France)

The Full Le Puy Camino

Moderate - Challenging Self-Guided
  • Stunning, ever-changing terrain
  • Impressive architecture and historic UNESCO world heritage sites
  • The most beautiful villages in France
  • French culture, gastronomy and dialects across different regions
from

$7,795.00

view trip
Older Camino walkers near Pamplona
41 Days

Camino de Santiago

The Full Camino

770km Moderate - Challenging Self-Guided
  • Self-guided walking trip; set your own pace
  • Enjoy Spain’s rich legacy of history, culture, food and art
  • Ideal for single travellers who like the details of their trip well planned
  • Country roads, forest tracks over old villages, cities born from the Camino trail
from

$6,695.00

view trip
le Puy en velay
20 Days

Le Puy Camino (France)

The Cahors Trip: Le Puy Camino

Moderate - Challenging Self-Guided
  • Charming villages with rich historical and architectural heritage  
  • Peaceful walking through woodlands, moors of heather, limestone plateaus and verdant farmland 
  • The mythic Aubrac high plateau with its wildflowers and grazing cows
  • Medieval Cahors – famous for its gastronomy and legendary Valentré bridge
from

$4,050.00

view trip

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

SELECT PREFERRED DATES

sign up to our newsletter

explore the world with Raw