The Full Le Puy Camino by Bike

Welcome to Le Puy-en-Velay, the capital of Haute-Loire. Nestled in the southeast of the Massif Central, this ancient town is surrounded by a volcanic landscape. Start your exploration with the Chapel of Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe, built by Godescalc after his pilgrimage to Santiago in AD951. Climb the 267 steps for a panoramic view of the town and surrounding area. Don't miss the Romanesque Cathedral of Notre Dame and the town's museums. Remember to get your pilgrim passport stamped throughout your journey to St Jean Pied de Port.

Kickstart your day from the cathedral and ascend quickly to leave the town of Le Puy. Cycle through the Monts du Velay, where green lentils are grown, and enter the volcanic range of Devès. Descend into the Haut-Allier gorges, a natural frontier before the Velay and the Gévaudan areas. The ascent of the Saugues plateau will be the last challenge of this stage. Spend your night in Saugues, a town famous for its mushrooms.

Start your day in Saugues, a town known for its English Tower and Mushroom Fair. The route continues into the Margeride plateau, then winds through the Truyère high valley before reaching Aumont-Aubrac. Along the way, visit the St Roch Chapel and L’Hospitalet du Dauvage Chapel, erected on a lonely pass at an altitude of around 1200m. Aumont-Aubrac, set at 1043m, is in the heart of Lozère and is an important point on the pilgrimage route.

From Aumont-Aubrac, the route goes through pine groves before reaching the Aubrac plateau, covered with pastures as far as the eye can see. As you approach St Chély d’Aubrac, you will reach the 'Boraldes' land. Further down, around Saint Côme d’Olt, you will discover the Lot valley and the lovely village of Estaing.

This stage takes place in very hilly Aveyron. If you decide to cross the Lot gorges through Entraygues-sur-Truyère and Vieillevie, the difficulty will be ascending the Dourdou valley up to Conques. In this village filled with sloping roofed houses, you will admire the Abbey-Church of Sainte Foy, with its three dominant towers and precious Roman portal.

On the Lot river, flat-bottomed boats called 'gabares' used to transport charcoal to Bordeaux. The river is the connecting thread of this stage, leading you up to Livinhac-le-Haut. You will then leave it behind to reach the pretty town of Figeac, by the Célé river. This is the home town of Champollion, the 'Father of Egyptology' who first deciphered hieroglyphics, and a very important pilgrimage connecting point.

The route winds along the Célé Valley past several Quercy-like villages: Espagnac and its lovely 13th century church, Saint Sulpice and its troglodyte houses, Marcilhac and the ruins of its Benedictine abbey church, then Sauliac and Cabrerets. In Conduché, you will find the Lot river again and discover the gorgeous village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, perched on a rocky spur and your hotel nearby in Bouzies.

An easier day of cycling today. The approach to Cahors and its famous bridge 'Pont Valentré' is via the limestone plateaus and the Lot valley. En route you will come across 'cazelles' (dry-stone walls huts), crosses, as well as locks still in use for sailing. Since Celtic times, the town of Cahors has had a rich history. It is known as the centre of AOC 'black' wine which has been produced since the Middle Ages and exported via Bordeaux, long before that famous region developed its own viticulture industry.

The route continues to Labastide-Marnhac and Chateau de Bonnac. Typically, the houses here are built on a hill. The last part of the day crosses the 'Quercy Blanc' (White Quercy, in reference to the white calcareous rocks located in the ground) up to Lauzerte. The town of Lauzerte is spectacularly located on a hill overlooking a landscape of vineyards, limestone plateaus and green valleys. Spend some time wandering the upper village with its medieval architecture, ramparts and picturesque town square.

The day begins with a great descent to Moissac, a former major stage of The Way of St James, before continuing into the Lomagne or 'hunchback Gascogne', an area of natural beauty. Straddling the Tarn et Garonne and the Gers, this former dependency of the duchy of Gascony is the land of white garlic, interesting houses and churches. Later you reach Auvillar, built on a promontory and classified as one of the 'most beautiful villages in France'. With its circular market built in 1824, clock tower and old stone houses, there is much to see around the town.

Along this stage, you will leave the département of 'Tarn et Garonne' and enter the 'Gers' département. The route is lined with quaint villages: Flamarens, Miradoux, Lectoure, Marsolan, and La Romieu. Leaving La Romieu, the expansive views of the open countryside of the Gers are inspiring. The area represents the transition between the 'haute' Armagnac around Lectoure and the 'bas' Armagnac around Eauze. Condom is one of the principal Armagnac towns and is located on a spur of the rivers Gele and Baise. The key attraction is the Gothic styled cathedral of St Peter's, the last built in the Languedoc style.

The cycle route this morning takes you to Montréal-du-Gers, one of the most ancient walled towns of Gascogne (1289). On the way, we recommend a little detour through Larresingle, another of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in France'. Continue to Eauze, the capital of the current Gascogne. Take time to admire the slender steeple of St Luperce and the half-timbered house of Jeanne d’Albret. At the end of the day, you will come out on the Adour plain, a very open and intensively cultivated landscape. Aire sur l'Adour is separated into two parts; the lower section which is by the river and dominated by the cathedral of St Jean Baptiste, and the high town or Mas d'Aire, which is dominated by the Eglise de Sainte Quitterie where a Benedictine monastery once stood.

This hilly stage first leads to Arzacq-Arraziguet. En route, you will discover the church of Miramont-Sensacq as well as Pimbo, one of the most ancient walled towns in the Landes area. Further on, you enter the Béarn area and its many highlights including the village of Morlanne which is dominated by a fortified castle and has an amazing view over the Pyrénées mountain range. Continue to the village of Arthez-de-Béarn and cross the Gave de Pau river before reaching the small village of Maslacq.

Today you will transition between the Béarn area and the Basque country, in the very heart of the Pyrenean foothills. After the ancient fortified village of Navarrenx, you will cross the Gave d’Oloron. Along the way discover the Montgaston and Joantho castles before reaching St Palais, a cultural town which plays host to colourful festivals and markets. Here the street signs are in the Basque language which is typical of the region. This is also the entry point into the Lower Navarre, formerly the Kingdom of Navarre. There are a number of sights to visit including a museum containing historic pilgrim relics and a statue of St James the pilgrim.

The last spins of the wheel before the Spanish border! You will ride through Ostabat, a former important connecting point for pilgrims still housing remnants of great hospitals and ancient buildings. Not long after, the pretty pilgrimage town of St Jean Pied de Port is entered via the Porte Saint-Jacques. With its ornate Basque style houses and wealth of sights to visit, take the time and walk around this evening.

Your unforgettable journey concludes after breakfast. We hope you enjoyed your time exploring the beautiful landscapes, historical sites, and local culture of France. Safe travels!