The way of Saint James – From the Puy en Velay to Espalion

The way of Saint James – From the Puy en Velay to Espalion

Via Podiensis is one of the four main pilgrimage routes to the Spanish sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela from Le Puy en Velay, a Marian sanctuary since the fifth century. Since the Middle Ages, millions of pilgrims have left from Le Puy to journey to the Spanish Galicia, at the extremity of the Iberian Peninsula, to venerate the relics of Saint James, one of Christ’s apostles. This pilgrimage is today registered on the World Heritage list of UNESCO.
In this first french part of Saint James way, you will explore several different regions of France: Auvergne, Margeride, Gevaudan, the Aubrac highlands, charming and scenic in the summer months, but avoided by pilgrims in the cold of winter, when it is covered by snow and fog. In bad weather, the bells of Domerie d’Aubrac (an abbey hospital) once rang all the day and night long to guide the pilgrims towards this place of refuge. You will end your journey in the Pays d’Olt, or the Lot Valley.

ECO’: Half-board accommodation in hotels with all the facilities

STANDARD : accommodation in 2 star hotels with terroir dinners

COMFORT : accommodation in 3 or 4 star hotels with gourmet dinners

Standard & Eco’ tour description

Day 1: Arrival at Puy en Velay
Day 2: Le Puy en Velay – St Privat d’Allier (22 km)
Day 3: St Privat – Saugues (22 km)
Day 4: Saugues – St Alban sur Limagnole (24 km)
Day 5: St Alban sur Limagnole – Aumont Aubrac (22 km)
Day 6: Aumont – Nasbinals (23.5 km)
Day 7: Nasbinals – St Chély d’Aubrac (20 km)
Day 8: St Chély – Espalion (24.5 km)
Day 9: Espalion – End of the tour after breakfast.

Comfort tour description

Day 1: Arrival at Puy en Velay
Day 2: Le Puy en Velay – St Privat d’Allier (22 km)
Day 3: St Privat – Saugues (22 km)
Day 4: Saugues – Saint Alban de Limagnole (30.5 km)
               Taxi transfer from Saugues to Clauze (to shorten the stage: 23 km)
Day 5: St Alban – Aumont Aubrac (15.5 km)
Day 6: Aumont – Nasbinals (24 km)
Day 7: Nasbinals – St Chély d’Aubrac (20 km)
Day 8: St Chély – Espalion (24.5 km)
                Taxi transfer to Estaing at the end of the day
Day 9: Estaing– End of the tour after breakfast.

What’s included?

• Accomodation and breakfast
• Dinners according to description and selected range of services
• Hotel to hotel luggage transfer along the trail.
• A set of maps (1/25 000 scale) with the route marked on and detailed route notes describing the trail.
• A daily itinerary together with information about facilities and places of interest along the trail.
• Emergency assistance in English