The Chemin de Saint-Jacques has been guiding pilgrims across France from Le Puy-en-Velay towards Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (the starting point of the Spanish Camino) since the tenth century.
Today, tens of thousands of walkers make the journey along the Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy every year.
Stage 1 visits Le-Puy-en-Velay, Chapelle de Saint-Roch and Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole…
Will you be among them?—crossing the wide open spaces of the Aubrac region, climbing the foothills the Pyrénées, passing through eleven of France’s most beautiful villages and dining at three Michelin-starred restaurants.
Stage 2 visits Espalion, Conques and Estaing…
People walk the Chemin de Saint-Jacques for a variety of reasons—sometimes for the physical challenge, sometimes as a walking meditation, often for religious reasons.
Walk through picturesque villages, shady forests and gentle green hills…
If you are not an experienced long-distance walker, this is the perfect walk to cut your teeth on. There is almost always another walker in sight—someone to chat with and compare blister stories with…
Stage 3 visits Cahors, Marcilhac-sur-Célé and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie…
Of course, there is no need to complete all 750 kilometres (470 miles) in a single trip—take it as fast or as slow as you like.
Stage 4 visits Auvillar, Montcuq and Moissac…
Presented in a light, easy-to-read format and illustrated with dozens of photos, this comprehensive guidebook covering distances, accommodation, suggested itineraries, practical tips on transport options, market days, available services and much more makes planning a breeze.
Five guidebooks, 411 pages packed with everything you need to know to plan an itinerary and book accommodation (the morning before or six months earlier!) along the 39-day, 750-kilometre (468-mile) walk along the Chemin de Saint-Jacques from Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
My partner and I are excited to travel with friends this year to walk the Cahors to Eauze section of the Chemin de Saint-Jacques. Thanks to your PDF guide that we purchased, our planning has been a breeze. Ryan Walsh
The only unanswered question after reading Melinda Lusmore’s guidebook, Le-Puy-en-Velay to Aumont-Aubrac on the Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy, is, “When do we leave?” Seriously! Everything else is answered. Besides furnishing some historical details, personal experiences, points of interest, local customs, mileage, elevation, where to sleep, where to eat and shop, and fantastic photography, she even provides up-to-date links to many of the services you might need while you’re walking; train schedules, bus schedules, luggage transporters. You name it! She’s thought of it all and delivers it in an easy-to-use, charming, well-written and refreshingly light guidebook. I confess! Walking in France was never on my Bucket List…until now. So…“When do we leave?” Michael Byrd (Appalachian Trail hiker at ATatDusk)
Stage 5 visits Navarrenx, Ostabat-Asme and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How often is the guidebook updated?
I Love Walking in France guidebooks are updated in January/February each year.
If you purchase a guidebook but are not able to complete the walk before the new edition is released, let me know at melinda@ilovewalkinginfrance.com I will email you a discount code to download the updated guide at no cost!
Updates to content which occur throughout the year are listed at the bottom of this page.
Is the guidebook available in paperback as well as PDF format?
No, the guidebook is only available in PDF format. You’ll receive an email containing a link to download the guide which can be saved onto your phone, iPad, laptop or any electronic device.
This provides easy access to website links so that booking accommodation, checking bus timetables and confirming the opening hours of Tourist Offices and other attractions is a breeze!
What’s in the guidebook that’s not covered on the website?
It’s true, you’ll find a lot of information here on the website, including:
- What to expect on the walk
- Map of the path and its location in France
- My suggested itinerary, including tips for sightseeing and market days
- A list of all the towns and villages where you’ll find accommodation and the distances between them
- Practical tips for walking safely and considerately
Inside an I Love Walking in France digital guidebook, you’ll also find—
- A complete packing list covering all the essential items you’ll need to take and a few optional extras
- Useful French phrases to help you book a taxi, book a room, ask about breakfast, order dinner, buy a train ticket and understand directions
- Dozens of photos
Each village has a dedicated section covering:
- Population (because a village of 35 will not have an ATM not matter how badly you need one)
- Accommodation—hotels, chambre d’hôtes, gîtes and campgrounds… including website links
- Available services—cafés, bakeries, grocery stores, doctors, pharmacies, banks and ATMs
- Train and bus services, including website links to check or download timetables
- Taxi phone numbers
- Tourist Office location and website
- Market days and other festivals
- A brief history of the village and details of museums, churches and other attractions
Does the guidebook include walking notes?
No. For up-to-date information on routes and elevations, I recommend carrying a TopoGuide, the guidebook published by FFRandonnée, the organisation that maintains all walking paths in France. (TopoGuides include topographic maps showing the path, nearby roads and villages and the lay of the land. You’ll find a description of the TopoGuides and a comparison with the Miam Miam Dodo guidebooks here, including instructions for navigating the French online book stores.)
Who is this guidebook for?
I love Walking in France guidebooks are for those wanting a broader experience of the French joie de vivre beyond the chemin—those wanting to travel a little slower and take the time to explore historic chapels, climb the tower of a ruined châteaux, visit local museums, plan their day around the fresh food market and, of course, to savour the delicious food and wine for which France is, quite rightly, famous.
If you prefer to travel simply and lightly—camping whenever possible, perhaps preparing your own meals each night and focusing mostly on the trail—you’ll find everything you need in the TopoGuide.
Do you have a refund policy?
Bien sur! If you are not completely happy with your I Love Walking in France guidebook, please email me at melinda@ilovewalkinginfrance.com within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
This guidebook really smoothed the path for me and helped to eliminate any anticipatory fears and concerns
Thanks for a very informative guidebook. I am a novice walker in my fifties and was quite anxious about setting out on my first walk in France. This guidebook, with the lovely photos and information, really smoothed the path for me and helped to eliminate any anticipatory fears and concerns. Like you, I am now able to say I LOVE WALKING IN FRANCE and am planning a return trip! Rita Wise
Whether you are a pilgrim or just enjoying the sheer pleasure of long distance walking in France you will find this guide book a very useful (almost essential) companion
This book covers a 163km section of the GR65, The Way of Saint James, a world famous 1500km pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella in Spain. Melinda writes a cheerful and amusing story as she enjoys the numerous villages en route with their historical and gastronomic delights. The text is enhanced with many outstanding photographs taken by the author and her daughter.
Whether you are a pilgrim or just enjoying the sheer pleasure of long distance walking in France you will find this guide book a very useful (almost essential) companion. The book is not track notes and is made to be used with TopoguideRef 651 and/or the IGN topographic maps for the area.
As an e-book it is full of essential web links which will save most users many hours of web searching, taking a lot of ‘the grunt’ out of researching the walk. To me this was perhaps its most appealing attribute.
While the book suggests an itinerary of eleven days the trip can be easily tailored to meet the walker’s needs as contact details are provided for all accommodation close to the path. A table summarises the services in each village while the village descriptions start with the details of services available. There is information on train bus and taxi services and even services to transport your luggage each day.
For those who may be new to the joys of long distance walking in France Melinda’s guide books provide a basic packing list and many useful hints.
Aumont-Aubrac to Figeac guide should be the start of your walking adventure along the GR65. Sam Lees
I am most impressed with the information packed pages on each individual town
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your guidebook. I am most impressed with the information packed pages on each individual town along the way; the efficient list of facilities would be most helpful. The inclusion of relevant websites on each area is good—it saves doing a lot of research and reinventing the wheel. Barbara Reid
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy (2021 edition)
Five guidebooks, 411 pages covering 750 kilometres (468 miles) over 39 days of walking.
Or purchase individually –
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Le Puy-en-Velay to Aumont-Aubrac (2021 edition)
Eighty-three pages covering 89 kilometres (55 miles) over five days of walking.
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Aumont-Aubrac to Figeac (2021 edition)
Ninety-eight pages covering 163 kilometres (102 miles) over nine days of walking.
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Figeac to Cahors (2021 edition)
103 pages covering 108 kilometres (67 miles) over six days of walking.
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Cahors to Eauze (2021 edition)
Ninety-two pages covering 190 kilometres (119 miles) over ten days of walking.
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Eauze to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (2021 edition)
Ninety-five pages covering 200 kilometres (125 miles) over nine days of walking.
Terms and Conditions – As the author and a fellow traveller, I understand that you might share this book with other people, and with your travelling companions in particular, in the same way that you share a physical book. By purchasing this guidebook, you agree not to mass broadcast, email or upload this book to a peer-to-peer site.
Privacy policy – I Love Walking in France will collect your name and email address for electronic delivery of the guidebook. This information will never be shared or sold to another party.
Revisions to the Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy guidebooks
Chez Aurelie (Estaing) – link updated
Gîte Isabelle Cassagnas (Figeac) – link updated
Centre d’Accueil Abbaye Sainte-Foy (Conques) – link updated
Hôtel Terminus (Cahors) – link updated
Gîte Izaxulo (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port) – book through your favourite hotel booking website
