France - Self-guided walking on the Puy Route from Conques to Cahors

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Self-guided walk on the Puy Route. GR65 between Conques and Cahors.

The via Podiensis or Puy Route is the itinerary that starts in Le Puy which has given its name to the route. The first French pilgrim was a bishop living in Le Puy who started the route in 950.

From Conques, this marvellous medieval place unchanged for centuries, the GR65 continues along the Lot Valley to Figeac a charming small city where Champollion was born and Cahors and its famous Pont Valentré.

Day 1

Arrival in Conques. Enjoy the afternoon to visit the historical city and abbey.

Day 2

Conques – Livinhac. 23km (14 miles)- 6 hour walk.
Conques is one of the nicest places of the via Podensis and is considered a jewel with its three tower basilica standing out of the pointed roofs. The Portal is an unforgettable real Roman treasure. The Way of Saint James leads to the Saint Roch chapel where the St James pilgrims can admire the Saint in pilgrim clothes. Decazeville is a coal mining city. In the past the Lot river enabled the transportation of coal on flat bottom boats to Bordeaux.

Day 3

Livinhac – Figeac. 25 km (15.5 miles)- 6h30 walk.
Visit the roman St Felix Church in Montredon and finish your day in the beautiful city of Figeac where Champollion was born.

Day 4

Figeac - Grealou. 20.5 km(12.8 miles) - 5h15 walk.
Can be split into 2 walks. We quickly leave the edges of the Cele to climb up the Causse, this limestone plateau where can be found the so charming dry-stoned shephard huts named Cazels or Bories. This stage is long but on the descent down to the Lot, do take the time to visit the romanesque Church of Grealou.

Day 5

Grealou - Limogne-en-Quercy. 28 km (17.5 miles) - 7h00 walk.
Here, the rain infiltrates in the heart of the earth to give shape to an underground network of streams running through caves some of which offer rupestrain paints. This stone kingdom also conceals a lot of dolmens and Limogne is famous for its truffles market.
This walk can be split into 2 via Cajarc

Day 6

Limogne-en-Quercy - Mas de Vers. 21km (13 miles)- 5h15 walk.
Ancient windmills, wells, wash houses..mark out the way along this stage. The barren loneliness of the Causse hides a discreet life in the hamlets and fortified farms.

Day 7

Mas de Vers-Cahors- 18 km (11 miles)- 4h15 walk.
The Cami Ferrat, this ancient way between Cahors and Caylus is the way you take to reach the Valentré Bridge in Cahors. Night in Cahors.

Day 8

Trip ends after breakfast