The Way of St James from Le Puy-en-Velay in the Haute Loire to the City of the Apostle in Galicia is a long-distance footpath with a difference. People have been walking it - as a pilgrimage route - for over a thousand years and it has changed little in all that time.
This guide to the French section of the route - the 730km Pilgrim Road from Le Puy-en-Velay to the Pyrenees - provides all the information needed to tackle it. As well as detailed route descriptions, practical information is provided about places to visit, shops, bars, restaurants and accommodation.
INTRODUCTION History Topography, Economy and Language Before you Go Planning your Schedule Companions Equipment There and Back Being There Using this Guide THE ROUTE Section 1#Le Puy-en-Velay to Figeac Section 2#Figeac to Moissac Section 3 Moissac to Aire-sur-l'Adour Section 4#Aire-sur-l'Adour to the Pyrenees APPENDIX A#Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles APPENDIX B #Saint-Palais to Irun APPENDIX C #GR651 - Variant along the Vallee du Cele APPENDIX D #Summary of St James's and other Pilgrim References APPENDIX E #Suggestions for Further Reading APPENDIX F #Useful Addresses APPENDIX G #Glossary APPENDIX H #Index of Principal Place Names APPENDIX I #Index of Maps APPENDIX J #Summary of Route
Alison Raju is a former teacher of French, German and Spanish to adults and the author of two other current Cicerone guides to pilgrimage routes: The Way of St James - Spain, and Via de la Plata. She is also the author of a forthcoming two-volume Cicerone guide to the Via Francigena, the historic pilgrim route from Canterbury to Rome.