16-day French Way of St James Cycling Holiday

Arrival in Le Puy-en-Velay, capital of Haute-Loire. Located in the South-East of the Massif Central, surrounded by a volcanic landscape which is dominated by rocky peaks rising from the valley floor, this Auvergne town is a major pilgrimage site, with its Romanesque Cathedral of Notre Dame and Hôtel-Dieu listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is the starting point of the famous Via Podiensis, one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela, since the Middle Ages. Don't forget purchase your pilgrim passport to have it stamped throughout the journey to your final destination!

You start your first cycling day from the cathedral, the route climb out to leave the town of Le Puy. It goes through the Monts du Velay, where green lentils are grown, before going down into the Haut-Allier gorges. Then the itinerary takes you through a variety of landscapes and terrain before reaching the Plateau de la Margeride and its ascent just before Saugues, the last difficulty of this stage. You are ending your day in Saugues which is famous for the mysterious Beast of Gévaudan and its mushrooms!

Challenge: 46km / 29 mi, 1050m ascent, 625m descent

Today, you start from Saugues, a small town famous for its English Tower, its Mushroom Fair and the legendary Beast of Gévaudan. The route continues into the Margeride plateau and through the Truyère valley before reaching the charming village of Aumont-Aubrac. Pass front of St Roch Chapel, highest point of your stage with an altitude of around 1300m and cross pretty hamlets of Le Rouget, St Alban sur Limagnole and Les Estrets. You stay for the night in the town of Aumont-Aubrac, located in the heart of Lozère, an important point on the pilgrimage route.

Challenge: 44km / 27 mi, 800m ascent, 730m descent

Leaving Aumont-Aubrac, the route goes through pine groves before reaching the Aubrac plateau, you cycle above an altitude of 1000m, covered with pastures as far as the eye can see. Just after the village of Nasbinals, famous for the "transhumance" (end of May), you pass the highest point of the Way of St James (col d'Aubrac - altitude 1340m). Continue to the nice village of Aubrac where starts the long steep descent of almost 30 km!! Further down, in Saint Côme d’Olt (labeled one of the most beautiful villages in France), route becomes "flat" and you discover the Lot Valley and the lovely village of Estaing.

Challenge: 78km / 48 mi, 655m ascent, 1375m descent

Get ready, because today it's one of the shorter stage but probably the most difficult (but what a beautiful!). You leave Estaing and the Lot valley with a very steep ascent to Campuac. Continue direction Espeyrac, nice village with its ruined castle of the Middle Ages. Few kilometers later, you reach Sénergues also very interesting with its castle and the Tour Carrée. Then, a spectacular route takes you downhill towards Conques, jewel of Romanesque art, and a must on the Via Podiensis!

Challenge: 36km / 22 mi, 680m ascent, 440m descent

Start today along the river Dourdou de Conques which brings you back along the Lot river. You follow the river to Livinhac-le-Haut and from there the road becomes uphill and goes on the next valley, the Célé valley. Last section on a steep ascent before reaching Figeac, a pretty town of Art & History, by the Célé river. This is a very important pilgrimage connecting point, and the home town of Champollion (the ‘Father of Egyptology’ who first deciphered hieroglyphics).

Challenge: 43km / 27 mi, 430m ascent, 740m descent

Welcome to the secret Célé valley! Follow the road that winds the river through typical quercy villages like 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 with its prehistoric cave of Peche Merle. A bit further down the road, in Conduché, you will find the Lot river again and you will just have to cross the bridge for the overnight in Bouziès.

Challenge: 54km / 34 mi, 80m ascent, 150m descent

What a day for your last cycling day! First, join the common track with hikers before starting a breathtaking route, cut in the rock on the edge of the Lot to reach Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Take your time and discover this gorgeous village perched on a rocky, labeled one of the most beautiful villages in France. Leave Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and the valley on a steep ascent with panoramic views. Recommendation: have a break in the village of Aujols. Then, continue towards Flaujac-Poujols ang go for a beautiful 5 km descent, which will take you to your final destination, the medieval town of Cahors.

Challenge: 35km / 22 mi, 540m ascent, 550m descent

Today, you start by leaving Cahors on the Valentré bridge. After an ascent to leave the suburbs, you reach the village of Labastide-Marnhac to meet other hikers. Continue on small tracks and roads to Lascabannes. After a few kilometers, you enter in the Tarn et Garonne on a road up to Lauzerte. The town of Lauzerte is spectacularly located on a hill overlooking fields of vineyards, limestone plateau and green valleys. Spend some time wandering the upper village with its medieval architecture, ramparts and picturesque town square.

Challenge: 39km/ 24.5 mi, 285m ascent, 185m descent

You begin this cycling day 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. Between the Tarn et Garonne and the Gers, this former dependency of the duchy of Gascony is the land of white garlic and interesting houses and churches. Then you reach Auvillar, built on a promontory and classified as one of the "most beautiful villages in France". There is much to see around the town, with its circular market built in 1824, clock tower and old stone houses.

Challenge: 47 km / 29 mi, 245m ascent, 370m descent

Today, you leave the département of Tarn et Garonne and enter the Gers départment. On the way you will cycle through quaint villages as Flamarens, Miradoux, Lectoure, Marsolan, and La Romieu. When 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, where thick black oak woods are found and 57% of the wine crops of Armagnac are located. Condom is one of the principal Armagnac towns and is located on a spur of the rivers Gèle and Baïse. The Gothic styled cathedral of St Peter's is the key attraction, the last built in the Languedoc style.

Challenge: 59km / 37 mi, 555m ascent, 590m descent

This morning, the cycle route takes you to Montréal-du-Gers, one of the most ancient walled towns of Gascogne (1289). We recommend, on the way, a little detour through Larresingle, another of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in France". Continue to Eauze and 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. You will sleep this evening just near in Aire sur l'Adour; in Barcelonne du Gers.

Challenge: 79km / 49 mi, 220m ascent, 240m descent

You start the day on a small departmental road between farms and cornfields until Troussin, Latrille then Miramont-Sensacq after finding again the Way of St James, still marked with shells. Later on your way, you enter the Béarn area, the relief gradually changes to make way for chestnut and ferns, announcing your entry into the Pyrénées-Atlantiques before arriving at Arzacq-de-Béarn before reaching the small village of Maslacq.

Challenge: 67km / 42 mi, 660m ascent, 655m descent

Today you will transition between the Béarn area and the Basque country, in the very heart of the Pyrenean. 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 Saint 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.

Challenge: 48km / 30 mi, 380m ascent, 415m descent

Today, it's your last cycling day, and you don't have many kilometers left. You are in the beautiful Basque country, with its white houses and their typical red tinted half-timbering. You have to cross the Col des Palombières. After enjoying an exceptional view, the descent is very beautiful and will lead you to Jaxu, before descending a valley to reach Bustince-Iriberry, then Saint-Jean-le-Vieux. The last kilometers will lead you to the gate of Saint-Jacques, at the entrance of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where you will not fail to visit this very picturesque fortified citadel.

Challenge: 34km / 21 mi, 385m ascent, 255m descent

It is the end of your trip after breakfast. We advise you to extend your stay in order to take the time to visit the pretty town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.<