Consisting of barely more than a church, a hotel and a few dozen houses, the village of Espeyrac packs a lot of charm into the narrow streets and is a delightful place to stop for the night on a long-distance walk along the Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy.
A leisurely stroll around the village will take less than an hour, so leave your boots on and start exploring.
What will you find?
(Published December 2015, last updated April 2022)
Hôtel de la Vallée
View from my room in Hôtel de la Vallée
Water well
Stone houses partially disguised under a layer of stucco
Typical stone house
…a choice of water wells
A thin layer of mist hangs over the valley as we leave the next morning
Views of Espeyrac from the GR65 Chemin de Saint-Jacques
FAST FACTS
Which long-distance walk in France visits Espeyrac?
Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy (Stage 2: Aumont-Aubrac to Figeac)
Where is Espeyrac, France? Find it on Google maps
Espeyrac is located 191 kilometres (119.4 miles) along the Chemin de Saint-Jacques – a ten day walk from the starting point of Le Puy-en-Velay.
Click through to find my suggested itinerary for all five stages of the walk
If you prefer to set your own agenda, I share the steps I take to plan my itinerary on any long-distance walk (using the Chemin de Stevenson as a case study)
The Compostel’Bus service runs every morning, connecting Espeyrac with villages along the path between Le-Puy-en-Velay and Conques and making the return journey each afternoon. Other stops include Montbonnet, Saint-Privat-d’Allier, Monistrol-d’Allier, Saugues, Villeret-d’Apchier, La Roche, Les Faux, Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole, Aumont-Aubrac, Nasbinals, Aubrac, Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac, Saint-Côme-d’Olt, Espalion, Estaing, Golinhac and Sénergues.
Tourist Office in Espeyrac
There is no Tourist Office in Espeyrac but if you need assistance, ask at the mairie which is open every morning from Monday to Saturday. Opening hours are listed here.
Accommodation in Espeyrac
Options for accommodation are limited so I recommend booking ahead at either –
Hotel
Hôtel de la Vallée
Gîtes
Gîte de l’École d’Espeyrac
Gîte Chez Benjamin
How to book accommodation in French
Where to eat in Espeyrac
Hôtel de la Vallée offers a delicious home-cooked meal, included with the demi-pension rate.
If you are spending the night at Gîte de l’École d’Espeyrac, cooking facilities are available in the communal kitchen.
A new grocery store in the village is open every day, except Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.
Practical tips for long-distance walking—preparation, packing and avoiding blisters
