1. L’Esprit du Chemin         a hostel of, for and by pilgrims

 

regional roads


In the meantime several regional routes in France have been described, for example in Brittany, in the Alsace and from Cluny and Lyon to Le Puy.

 

links


United Kingdom

  1. •Confraternity of Saint James

  2. •Cicerone Press

France

  1. •Amis de Saint-Jacques des Pyrénées-Atlantiques
    (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port)

  2. •Amis de Saint-Jacques de la Voie de Vézelay

  3. •Via Turonensis: la voie de Tours

  4. •Voie du Piémont Pyrénéen (through Lourdes to Saint-Jean)

  5. •Chemin d’Arles (or Via Tolosana)

  6. •Fédération Francaise de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP)

  7. •LEPERE Editions

  8. •ACIR Compostelle / Rando Editions

  9. •Editions du Vieux Crayon ("Miam-miam-dodo")

  10. •www.chemindecompostelle.com

  11. •www.gites-compostelle.net, Le bouche à oreille des Pèlerins ...

  12. •www.chemin-st-jacques.com

  13. (Le Puy - Fisterra)

Deutschland

  1. •Conrad Stein Verlag

  2. •Rother Wanderführer

  3. •Salem Edition

  4. •Pilgerwege (Thekla & Aloys)

  5. •Wandern in Europa

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roads in France


The four main routes through France to Spain are:

  1. •the road from Paris (via Tours and Bordeaux)

  2. •the road from Vézelay (via Bourges or Nevers)

  3. •the road from Le Puy (via Conques and Moissac)

  4. •the road from Arles (via Toulouse)


The routes from Holland and Belgium and from Germany, Austria and Switzerland to the cities mentioned are more and more signposted and described.


the road from Paris

The route is not used very often. Gradually there are more places to spend the night for pilgrims.


the road from Vézelay

From Vézelay there are two main routes:

  1. •the route to the southwest (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port) and

  2. •the short-cut to the road from Le Puy (GR 3).

The souhtwestern route has two main versions:

  1. •the so-called “historic route” (with a version via Nevers and one via Bourges), and

  2. •the GR6542 to Montréal-du-Gers and the connection with the GR 65 from Le Puy.

These routes is signposted (largely) and described (good). Gradually there are more places to spend the night for pilgrims.
The route from Vézelay to Le Puy is roughly described.


the road from le Puy-en-Velay (GR 65)

This has been by far the most followed run-up route to Spain, through sometimes beautiful landscapes and ancient towns, evidence of the rich history of the "Chemin de St.Jacques". On the other hand, this route is very popular by groups who often make their reservations long before. This complicates finding a place to sleep for pilgrims who are traveling day-by-day, without a strict planning.


the road from Arles
The main route from Arles (GR 653) leads via Montpellier and Toulouse to Col du Somport, which at that point is connected to the Camino Francés. Another possibility is to take a short-cut from Montpellier to Narbonne and from there follow “la Voie du Piémont” to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. By GR 65 this road is connected to the other starting point of the Camino Francés.

More > video alongside: Saint-Jean - Arles - Montgenèvre.


More > in Spain and crossing the Pyrenees

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