Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac → Espalion
24 km | 7-10 hours | +1124m / -1591m
About This Stage
The route descends through the Aubrac foothills to the Lot River valley. Part of the path is recognised by UNESCO as a heritage walking route. The landscape transitions from upland pasture to the warmer, vine-covered Lot valley.
Look for the village of Saint-Come-d'Olt with its unique twisted church spire, a rare architectural curiosity caused (according to legend) either by a construction error or the devil's intervention. The village is classified as one of France's Plus Beaux Villages.
Espalion sits on the Lot River beneath a picturesque medieval bridge, the Pont Vieux. The Renaissance chateau and the riverside tanneries (now a museum) reflect centuries of prosperity from the leather trade.
Terrain: Valley climbs, forested hillsides, rocky descents, riverside paths, town cobblestones
Explore the Stage
Elevation Profile
Things Along the Way
A small village marking the descent from the Aubrac plateau into the Lot valley. Has gites and basic services in a quiet setting.
Classified as one of the 'Plus Beaux Villages de France', with a distinctive twisted bell tower on its Gothic church, medieval gateways, and a charming riverside setting on the Lot.
A charming riverside town on the Lot with a Renaissance chateau, medieval bridge, and tanning quarter. One of the more substantial towns in the Aveyron section of Le Chemin du Puy.
Tips for This Stage
Accommodation between Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac and Espalion
0 places to stay between Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac and Espalion
Stay in Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac
Stage StartAccommodation at the start of this stage (useful for booking the night before)
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Stay in Espalion
Stage EndAccommodation at the end of this stage
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