The Via Podiensis or the Le Puy Route is one of the four routes through France on the pilgrimage to the tomb of
St. James the Great
James the Great, also known as James, son of Zebedee, Saint James the Great, Saint James the Greater, Saint James the Elder, or Saint Jacob (Aramaic ܝܥܩܘܒ ܒܪ ܙܒܕܝ, Arabic يعقوب, Hebrew בן זבדי , '' Yaʿăqōḇ'', Latin '' ...
in
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, as the destination of the Way of St ...
in
Galicia in northwest
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
. It leaves from
Le-Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, literally ''Le Puy in Velay''; oc, Lo Puèi de Velai ) is the prefecture of the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France.
Located near the river Loire, the city is famous for its cat ...
and crosses the countryside in stages to the basque village of
Ostabat
Ostabat-Asme (; ), Hostavalem in the Middle Ages, is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, in south-western France. It was the meeting point of 4 European ways to Santiago de Compostela, 3 of them joining together there, namely ...
. Near there it merges with two of the other routes, the
via Turonensis and the
via Lemovicensis which merge a little earlier.
The three then become the Navarre Route, passing via the French town of
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (literally "Saint John t theFoot of hePass"; eu, Donibane Garazi; es, San Juan Pie de Puerto) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. It is close to Ostabat in the Pyrenean foothi ...
and crossing the Pyrenees and the Spanish border by one path or another to
Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles ( , ; eu, Orreaga ; an, Ronzesbals ; french: Roncevaux ) is a small village and municipality in Navarre, northern Spain. It is situated on the small river Urrobi at an altitude of some in the Pyrenees, about from the French bord ...
in the Spanish province of
Basse-Navarre
Lower Navarre ( eu, Nafarroa Beherea/Baxenabarre; Gascon/Bearnese: ''Navarra Baisha''; french: Basse-Navarre ; es, Baja Navarra) is a traditional region of the present-day French ''département'' of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It corresponds to the ...
. Together they serve as the principal pilgrimage route across Spain, known as the
Camino frances. The fourth French route, the
via Tolosane, crosses the Pyrenees at a different point (
Somport
Somport or Col du Somport, known also as the Aspe Pass or Canfranc Pass, (el. 1632 m.) is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees on the border of France and Spain. Its name is derived from the Latin ''Summus portus''. It was one of the most popu ...
), becomes the
Aragonese Way
The Aragonese Way (, ) is a route of the Way of St. James beginning at the French-Spanish border at the pass of Somport and joining the French Way (or ''Camino Francés'') at Puente la Reina-Gares in Navarre. It is the continuation of the Arles W ...
when it enters Spain, and joins the Camino frances further to the west.
Before le Puy, the
via Gebennensis leaves from Geneva, gathering Swiss and German pilgrims and feeding into the via Podiensis. Though it bears a Latin name, the via Gebennensis is a modern route laid out in 1980-90, though the numerous ''hospitals'' it passes testify to the passage of pilgrims along this route in earlier ages.
From Geneva to the Pyrenees, the two routes (''via Gebennensis'' and ''via Podiensis'') are waymarked as one of the
French major hiking routes, the ''GR 65'', with a few local variations or detours, including ''GR 651'' through the valley of
Célé
The Célé is a long river in the Cantal and Lot departments in south-western France, a tributary of the Lot. Its source is near Calvinet in the Cantal. It flows generally west through the following departments and towns:
* Cantal: Saint-Consta ...
and ''GR 652'' via
Rocamadour
Rocamadour (; ''Rocamador'' in Occitan) is a commune in the Lot department in Southwestern France. It lies in the former province of Quercy.
Rocamadour has attracted visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne an ...
.
History
According to the
A Guide for the Traveller compiled by
Aymeric Picaud Aymeric Picaud was a 12th-century French scholar, monk and pilgrim from Parthenay-le-Vieux in Poitou. He is most widely known today as being the suspected author of the Codex Calixtinus, an illuminated manuscript giving background information for p ...
in the 12th century, four routes lead to Santiago de Compostella:
* the
via Turonensis, leaving from
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
, passing through
Tours
Tours ( , ) is one of the largest cities in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Indre-et-Loire. The Communes of France, commune of Tours had 136,463 ...
* the
via Lemovicensis, leaving from
Vézelay
Vézelay () is a commune in the department of Yonne in the north-central French region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. It is a defensible hill town famous for Vézelay Abbey. The town and its 11th-century Romanesque Basilica of St Magdalene are de ...
, passing through
Limoges
Limoges (, , ; oc, Lemòtges, locally ) is a city and Communes of France, commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region ...
* the via Podiensis, leaving from
Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, literally ''Le Puy in Velay''; oc, Lo Puèi de Velai ) is the prefecture of the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France.
Located near the river Loire, the city is famous for its ...
, passing through
Cahors
Cahors (; oc, Caors ) is a commune in the western part of Southern France. It is the smallest prefecture among the 13 departments that constitute the Occitanie Region. The main city of the Lot department and the historical center of the Quer ...
and
Moissac
Moissac () is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Occitanie region in southern France. The town is situated at the confluence of the rivers Garonne and Tarn at the Canal de Garonne. Route nationale N113 was constructed through the ...
* the
via Tolosane, leaving from
Arles
Arles (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Arle ; Classical la, Arelate) is a coastal city and commune in the South of France, a subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the former province of ...
, passing through
Toulouse
Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger region of Occitania. The city is on the banks of the River Garonne, from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Par ...
In 950 or 951,
Godescalc Gottschalk or Godescalc (Old High German) is a male German name that can be translated literally as "servant of God". Latin forms include ''Godeschalcus'' and ''Godescalcus''.
Given name
*Godescalc of Benevento, 8th-century Lombard duke
*Godescalc ...
, bishop of
Le Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, literally ''Le Puy in Velay''; oc, Lo Puèi de Velai ) is the prefecture of the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France.
Located near the river Loire, the city is famous for its ca ...
, set off on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella. He was the first non-Hispanic to undertake the pilgrimage, leading a large caravan that included members of the clergy, their staff and servants, various nobles and gentlemen, their retainers and men at arms.
The modern route
![Waymarking no Via Podiensis](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Waymarking_no_Via_Podiensis.JPG)
;In
Haute-Loire
Haute-Loire (; oc, Naut Léger or ''Naut Leir''; English: Upper Loire) is a landlocked department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France. Named after the Loire River, it is surrounded by the departments of Loire, Ardèche ...
The route leaves
Le Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, literally ''Le Puy in Velay''; oc, Lo Puèi de Velai ) is the prefecture of the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France.
Located near the river Loire, the city is famous for its ca ...
and passes
Vals-près-le-Puy
Vals-près-le-Puy (, literally ''Vals near Le Puy-en-Velay, Le Puy''; oc, Val delh Puèi), is a Communes of France, commune in the Haute-Loire Departments of France, department in south-central France.
Its inhabitants are called ''Valladiers'' ...
,
Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaison,
Bains,
Saint-Privat-d'Allier,
Monistrol-d'Allier
Monistrol-d'Allier (, literally ''Monistrol of Allier''; oc, Monistròl d'Alèir) is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Haute-Loire department
The following is a list of th ...
,
Saugues
Saugues (; oc, Saug) is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.
Geography
The town lies west of Le Puy-en-Velay.
History
A former stronghold of the Gévaudan, Saugues grew in the 12th century under the authority of ...
, and
Chanaleilles.
;In
Lozère
Lozère (; oc, Losera ) is a landlocked department in the region of Occitanie in Southern France, located near the Massif Central, bounded to the northeast by Haute-Loire, to the east by Ardèche, to the south by Gard, to the west by Aveyron, ...
The route passes
Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole
Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole (; oc, Sent Auban) is a commune in the Lozère department in southern France. It is situated in the northern parts of the Lozère department.
See also
*Communes of the Lozère department
The following is a list of ...
,
Aumont-Aubrac,
Malbouzon,
Rieutort-d'Aubrac,
Marchastel, and
Nasbinals.
;In
Aveyron
Aveyron (; oc, Avairon; ) is a department in the region of Occitania, Southern France. It was named after the river Aveyron. Its inhabitants are known as ''Aveyronnais'' (masculine) or ''Aveyronnaises'' (feminine) in French. The inhabitants o ...
The route passes
Aubrac Aubrac is a small village in the southern Massif Central of France. The name is also applied to the surrounding countryside, which is properly called L'Aubrac in French. The Aubrac region has been a member of the Natura 2000 network since August 200 ...
,
Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac
Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac (; Languedocien: ''Sanch Èli d'Aubrac'' or ''Sench Eli d'Aubrac'') is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France about 7 kilometres from Aubrac.
Population
Location
The town is in a large and beautiful gre ...
,
Saint-Côme-d'Olt
Saint-Côme-d'Olt (, literally ''Saint-Côme of Olt''; oc, Sant Cosme) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is one of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (most beautiful villages of France).
Geography
The commune is ...
,
Espalion
Espalion (; oc, Espaliu) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.
Population
Sights
* Château de Calmont d'Olt
*The Pont-Vieux (Old Bridge) is part of the World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in Fr ...
,
Bessuéjouls,
Estaing,
Golinhac,
Espeyrac,
Sénergues,
Conques
Conques (; Languedocien dialect, Languedocien: ''Concas'') is a former Communes of France, commune in the Aveyron Departments of France, department in Southern France, in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania Regions of France, region. ...
,
Noailhac,
Decazeville
Decazeville ( oc, La Sala) is a commune in the Aveyron department in the Occitanie region in southern France.
The commune was created in the 19th century because of the Industrial Revolution and was named after the Duke of Decazes (1780–186 ...
, and
Livinhac-le-Haut.
;In
Lot
Lot or LOT or The Lot or ''similar'' may refer to:
Common meanings Areas
* Land lot, an area of land
* Parking lot, for automobiles
*Backlot, in movie production
Sets of items
*Lot number, in batch production
*Lot, a set of goods for sale togethe ...
The route passes through
Montredon,
Saint-Félix,
Figeac
Figeac (; oc, Fijac) is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France. Figeac is a sub-prefecture of the department.
Geography
Figeac is on the via Podiensis, a major hiking medieval pilgrimage trail which is part of the Way of St. ...
, and
Béduer
Béduer ( Languedocien: ''Beduèr'') is a commune in the Lot department in southwestern France.
Pilgrimage
Béduer is situated on the Via Podiensis route that is followed by those making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella and so receive ...
.
A variant route follows the valley of the river
Lot
Lot or LOT or The Lot or ''similar'' may refer to:
Common meanings Areas
* Land lot, an area of land
* Parking lot, for automobiles
*Backlot, in movie production
Sets of items
*Lot number, in batch production
*Lot, a set of goods for sale togethe ...
, passing
Gréalou,
Cajarc
Cajarc () is a commune in the Lot department, Occitania, France.
It is a stopping place on the Via podiensis, the medieval pilgrimage route from Le Puy-en-Velay to Santiago de Compostela, but also attracts tourists on account of its medieval to ...
, and
Varaire. A second variation passes through the valley of the
Célé
The Célé is a long river in the Cantal and Lot departments in south-western France, a tributary of the Lot. Its source is near Calvinet in the Cantal. It flows generally west through the following departments and towns:
* Cantal: Saint-Consta ...
,
Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie,
Marcilhac-sur-Célé,
Sauliac-sur-Célé,
Cabrerets
Cabrerets (; Languedocien: ''Crabairet'') is a commune in the Lot department in southwestern France.
The village of Cabrerets derives its name from ''cabre'', meaning goat in the Occitan language.
Population
Geography
The village lies at the c ...
,
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. The two variants converge and pass through
Cahors
Cahors (; oc, Caors ) is a commune in the western part of Southern France. It is the smallest prefecture among the 13 departments that constitute the Occitanie Region. The main city of the Lot department and the historical center of the Quer ...
,
Labastide-Marnhac
Labastide-Marnhac ( Occitan: ''La Bastida de Marnhac'') is a commune in the Lot department in the Occitania region in Southwestern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,244.
See also
*Communes of the Lot department
The following is a list ...
,
Lhospitalet
Lhospitalet (; oc, L'Espitalet) is a Communes of France, commune in the Lot (department), Lot Departments of France, department in south-western France.
Geography
The Barguelonne forms part of the commune's southern border.
See also
*Comm ...
,
Lascabanes,
Montcuq
Montcuq ( or ; Lengadocian: ''Montcuc'') is a town and former commune in the Lot department in south-western France, lying outside Cahors. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Montcuq-en-Quercy-Blanc. Its residents are kno ...
. A third variant running north of the route passes through
Rocamadour
Rocamadour (; ''Rocamador'' in Occitan) is a commune in the Lot department in Southwestern France. It lies in the former province of Quercy.
Rocamadour has attracted visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne an ...
.
;In
Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne (; oc, Tarn e Garona ) is a department in the Occitania region in Southern France. It is traversed by the rivers Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its name. The area was originally part of the former provinces of Quercy and ...
The route passes
Lauzerte
Lauzerte (; Languedocien: ''Lausèrta'') is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Occitanie region in southern France.
Etymology of the name: Two interpretations include the possible Latin root of “Villaserta” and more likely, ...
,
Moissac
Moissac () is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Occitanie region in southern France. The town is situated at the confluence of the rivers Garonne and Tarn at the Canal de Garonne. Route nationale N113 was constructed through the ...
, and
Auvillar.
;In
Gers
Gers (; oc, Gers or , ) is a department in the region of Occitania, Southwestern France. Named after the Gers River, its inhabitants are called the ''Gersois'' and ''Gersoises'' in French. In 2019, it had a population of 191,377.
The route passes
Saint-Antoine-sur-l'Arrats,
Flamarens,
Miradoux
Miradoux (; oc, Miradors) is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.
Geography
The river Auroue
The Auroue is a long river in the Gers, Lot-et-Garonne and Tarn-et-Garonne '' départements'', south western France. Its so ...
,
Lectoure
Lectoure (; Gascon: ''Leitora'' ) is a commune in the Gers department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France.
It is located north of Auch, the capital of the department, south of Agen and approximately northwest of Toulouse.
Geograph ...
,
La Romieu
La Romieu (; oc, L'Arromiu) is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and terr ...
,
Condom
A condom is a sheath-shaped barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both male and female condoms. With proper use—and use at every act of in ...
,
Valence-sur-Baïse
Valence-sur-Baïse (; Gascon: ''Valença de Baïsa'') is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.
Geography
Population
See also
*Communes of the Gers department
* Flaran Abbey
* Baïse
The Baïse () ( oc, Baïsa) is a ...
,
Larressingle
Larressingle (; oc, Larressingla) is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.
Geography
Population
Sights
* Château de Larressingle
The Château de Larressingle is a ruined castle in the '' commune'' of Larressingle in ...
,
Beaumont sur l'Osse, the
Abbaye de Flaran (off the route),
Montréal-du-Gers,
Lauraët,
Lagraulet-du-Gers
Lagraulet-du-Gers is a Communes of France, commune in the Gers Departments of France, department in southwestern France.
Geography
The Auzoue flows north through the middle of the commune.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Gers departmen ...
,
Eauze
Eauze (; Gascon: ''Eusa'') is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.
History
Located in the heart of south-west France, 130 kilometers from the Spanish border, Eauze is originally a proto-Basque city that became Roman. It was t ...
,
Manciet
Manciet is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americ ...
,
Nogaro
Nogaro (; Gascon: ''Nogaròu'') is a commune in the Gers department, Southwestern France. It is the site of a distillery of Armagnac brandy.
Geography
The commune is bordered by six other communes: Caupenne-d'Armagnac to the northwest, Sain ...
,
Barcelonne-du-Gers.
;In
Landes
''Landes'', or ''Lanas'' in Gascon, means moorland or heath.
''Landes'' and ''Lanas'' come from the Latin ''plānus'' meaning “‘flat, even, level, plain’”. They are therefore cognate with the English plain (and plane), the Spanish word '' ...
The route passes
Aire-sur-l'Adour
Aire-sur-l'Adour (; oc, Aira d'Ador or simply ) is a commune in the Landes department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France.
It lies on the river Adour in the wine area of southwest France. It is an episcopal see of the Diocese of Aire and D ...
, after which hikers and pilgrims can pass by either
Pécorade and
Geaune
Geaune (; oc, Gèuna) is a commune in the Landes department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Population
References
See also
*Communes of the Landes department
The following is a list of the 327 communes of the Landes depa ...
or by
Miramont-Sensacq. Those two routes converge once more at
Pimbo
Pimbo () is a commune in the Landes department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Landes department
The following is a list of the 327 communes of the Landes department of France.
The commun ...
.
;In the
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques (; Gascon Occitan: ''Pirenèus Atlantics''; eu, Pirinio Atlantiarrak or ) is a department in the southwest corner of France and of the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Named after the Pyrenees mountain range and the Atlanti ...
![Roncevaux les bâtiments des pélerins](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Roncevaux_les_b%C3%A2timents_des_p%C3%A9lerins.jpg)
The route passes
Arzacq-Arraziguet,
Vignes,
Louvigny,
Uzan,
Pomps
Pomps is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département in south-western France. An individual from Pomps is known as ''Pompsois''.
Geography
Pomps is located in the northeast of the département, and lies about 20 kilometers to the north ...
,
Arthez-de-Béarn
Arthez-de-Béarn (, literally ''Arthez of Béarn''; oc-gsc, Artés) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in southwestern France.
It took its name from the county of Artois (''Artés'' in Occitan, adapted in French as ''Arthès ...
,
Sauvelade
Sauvelade (; oc, Seuvalada) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.
See also
*Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department
The following is a list of the 546 communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiqu ...
,
Navarrenx
Navarrenx (; oc, Navarrencs, ; eu, Nabarrengose, eu, label=Zuberoan dialect, Zuberoan, Nabarrenkoxe) is a town and communes of France, commune in the departments of France, French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Béarn) and the region of ...
,
Charre
Charre ( eu, Xarra; oc, Sharra) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.
See also
*Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department
The following is a list of the 546 communes of the Pyrénées-Atlan ...
,
Aroue,
Saint-Palais, or
Garris,
Ostabat
Ostabat-Asme (; ), Hostavalem in the Middle Ages, is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, in south-western France. It was the meeting point of 4 European ways to Santiago de Compostela, 3 of them joining together there, namely ...
,
Larceveau-Arros-Cibits,
Saint-Jean-le-Vieux,
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (literally "Saint John t theFoot of hePass"; eu, Donibane Garazi; es, San Juan Pie de Puerto) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. It is close to Ostabat in the Pyrenean foothi ...
. The final stage passes via the
Roncevaux Pass
Roncesvalles Pass, Ronceval Pass or Roncevaux Pass (; ; ; elevation 1057 m) is a high mountain pass in the Pyrenees near the border between France and Spain. The pass itself is entirely in Spain.
Location
The pass is located between the towns of ...
(elevation 1057 m.) to reach the village of Roncesvalles.
The distance from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela is 738 kilometers (459 miles).
Gallery
File:Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation, Le Puy en Velay.jpg, The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Le-Puy-en-Velay.
File:Rochegude.jpg, Perched chapel near Saint-Private-d’Allier.
File:Saint Mary Church of Nasbinals 01.jpg, Saint Mary’s Church in Nasbinals.
File:2003 Conques arch IMG 6323.JPG, Arch way in Conques.
File:Cele river in Figeac 04.jpg, Célé River in Figeac.
File:Abbaye Saint-Pierre (façade).jpg, Saint Peter’s Abbey, Moissac.
File:Arcades de la place de l'hôtel de ville - Montréal (Gers).jpg, Arcades in Montreal-du-Gers.
File:Pimbo11.jpg, Collegial of Saint Barthélémy in Pimbo.
File:San Juan Pie de Puerto 05.jpg, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
References
External links
*Hiking map and Gps trac
4UMaps
{{coord missing, France
Hiking trails in France
European Cultural Routes