The Chemin de Saint-Jacques has been guiding pilgrims from Le-Puy-en-Velay towards Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (the starting point of the Spanish Camino) since the tenth century.
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.
Stage 1 visits Le-Puy-en-Velay, Chapelle de Saint-Roch and Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole…
Today, tens of thousands of walkers make the journey along the Chemin de Saint-Jacques every year.
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…
You’ll find everything you need to plan an itinerary, book accommodation and much more in the Chemin de Saint-Jacques guidebook.
Some of the information is also available here on the website—
- What to expect on this 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 the Chemin de Saint-Jacques 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—what will you find, hotels, chambre d’hôtes, gîtes or 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
Stage 5 visits Navarrenx, Ostabat-Asme and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port…
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques guidebooks are provided in PDF format, allowing you easy access to all website links or, if you prefer a paper copy, print only those pages you want to carry.
Download the 2020 edition of each section individually and start planning!
Or purchase the set and save US$11.97
What others are saying about the Chemin de Saint-Jacques guidebooks…
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 on The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Cahors to Eauze
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)
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 on The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Aumont-Aubrac to Figeac and Figeac to Cahors
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 on The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Aumont-Aubrac to Figeac
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 on The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Aumont-Aubrac to Figeac and Figeac to Cahors
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Terms and Conditions – I Love Walking in France digital guidebooks are produced in PDF format to give you the best possible viewing experience and to allow easy access to the links within it.
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Refund Policy – If you are not completely happy with your I Love Walking in France digital guidebook, please email me at the address below within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
Contact – email melinda@ilovewalkinginfrance.com
Revisions to the 2020 edition
Compagnon de Route (Saint-Côme-d’Olt) – link updated
Domaine d’Armagnac (Bessuéjouls) – link updated, new mobile phone 06 03 25 63 47
Gîte Ultreïa (Estaing) – new listing
Hospitalité Saint Jacques (Estaing) – new listing
Chez Anne (Estaing) – no longer listed
Gîte Communal (Espeyrac) – link updated, new mobile phone 06 89 08 72 29
Hôtel Sainte-Foy (Conques) – link updated
Camping le Terriol (Cajarc) – link updated
Auberge du Sombral (Saint-Cirq-Lapopie) – link updated
Gîte le Chemin vers l’Étoile (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port) – link updated
