Le Chemin du Puy

Le Chemin du Puy, also known as the Via Podiensis, is the most popular Camino de Santiago route in France and one of the most beautiful long-distance walks in Europe. Starting from the dramatic volcanic city of Le Puy-en-Velay, the route crosses 736 km of southern France before arriving at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Pyrenees, where it connects with the Camino Frances for the onward journey to Santiago de Compostela.

This is one of the oldest pilgrimage routes to Santiago. In 951 AD, Bishop Godescalc of Le Puy set out with a large retinue to visit the tomb of Saint James, becoming one of the earliest documented pilgrims. The route was later featured in the 12th-century Codex Calixtinus, the first pilgrim guidebook, as one of the four great French routes to Santiago. The path is now waymarked as the GR65, one of France's official long-distance hiking trails, and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage route.

The landscape is extraordinarily varied. The route begins in the volcanic highlands of the Velay, with views of ancient lava peaks and the astonishing chapel of Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe perched on a volcanic needle. It crosses the wild Aubrac plateau, a vast treeless highland of cattle pastures and stone-built villages. It descends into the Lot Valley, passes through the medieval jewel of Conques with its Romanesque abbey, and continues through the limestone gorges of the Quercy, the rolling green hills of Gascony, the vineyards of Armagnac, and finally the Basque Country before reaching the Pyrenees.

The route is rated moderate. There are no extreme mountain crossings but the terrain is constantly undulating with frequent ascents and descents, particularly in the first week through the volcanic hills and on the Aubrac plateau. Daily stages average 20 to 25 km. The route is well-marked, well-served by gites (French pilgrim hostels), chambres d'hotes (guesthouses), and small hotels. Meals are often communal table d'hote dinners featuring local specialities, which are a highlight of the experience.

Unlike the Spanish Camino routes, Le Chemin du Puy passes almost entirely through rural France. Towns are small, the pace is slow, and the pilgrim community is predominantly French. English is less widely spoken in the smaller villages, which adds to the immersion. The route is best walked between mid-April and mid-October.

This route is ideal for pilgrims who want to experience the French side of the Camino, those planning to walk the full route from Le Puy to Santiago (approximately 1,500 km over 8 to 10 weeks), and anyone drawn to French countryside, history, food, and culture.