8-day French Way of St James Walking Holiday (Part 3)
Self-guided Conques to Cahors walking tour
- Discover a section of the Via Podiensis to Cahors
- Plenty of charismatic villages all along breathtaking landscape
- A travelling museum of Romanesque art with a backdrop of forests and green fields
- Different landscapes by walking through the Aveyron department and the Lot region
- Tasting the culinary delights of the region and the hospitality of your accommodation hosts
Start: Conques Finish: Cahors
Conques has a girdle of walls with fortified gateways, flanked with several towers, delimiting a network of tiny streets which led to holy places and various living quarters. The economic activity was concentrated down by the Dourdou and L'Ouche rivers where there were mills and tanneries and artisan workshops. Whilst in Conques it is worth visiting Saint Faith Abbey and The Treasury (Le Tresor).
You will leave the charming village of Conques walking down to the Dourdou river and crossing its medieval bridge. From here you will climb gradually to the chapel of Sainte Foy. The water from the small spring beside the chapel is said to cure tired eyes. You will get fantastic views of the village as you leave it behind. At the end of the day, you will reach Livinhac-le-Haut, where you will spend the night.
Challenge: 24 km / 14,9 mi, 710 m ascent, 790 m descent
Today, you will notice the change in the landscape as you move from the Aveyron region into Le Lot. You will be climbing steadily for the first part of the day and will reach a great viewing point looking back at Decazeville.
Challenge: 24 km / 14,9 mi, 360/360 m ascent/descent
From Figeac, the route climbs up to a high plateau so there is quite some climbing today; but is rewarded with fantastic views. The landscape is rough. Tonight you will sleep in the village of Gréalou.
Challenge: 20,5 km / 12,7 mi, 360 m ascent, 160 m descent
Today is through forests. There will be less climbing. You will pass ancient dolmens (a type of megalithic tomb), stone shelters unique to the region and stone crosses, including the oldest on the whole route. Cajarc is a cute little village surrounded by very high limestone cliffs, situated on the banks of the Lot River.
Challenge: 11 km / 6,8 mi, 80 m ascent, 300 m descent
Today’s walk takes you through lovely woods and the agricultural lands of the “Causses du Quercy”. “Les causses” means group of limestone plateaus in the Massif Central. It is quite an easy day’s walk, allowing you plenty of time to pace yourself, enjoy the walk and take in the lovely scenery.
Challenge: 17 km / 10,6 mi, 290 m ascent, 140 m descent
Today’s walk will be mainly flat on woodland tracks, as you continue your journey across “le parc naturel regional des Causses de Quercy”. The forest here are very large. They are dissected by myriads of paths going in all directions. Without a compass, maps or signs it would be very easy to get lost. On your way to Mas-de -Vers you will pass more dolmens and stone structures. If you get the chance, taste the region’s most celebrated delicacy: the black truffle.
Challenge: 22 km / 13,7 mi, 90 m ascent, 130 m descent
This stage starts from Lalbenque / Mas-de-Vers and leads to the beautiful city of Cahors, built into a meander of the Lot. The slightly undulating path runs through cultivated countryside and passes several villages. You will pass many stone shepherd shelters, which they call ‘caselle’, unique to the region. The town of Cahors has been awarded the "Villes d'art et d'histoire" label. It has an impressive historical heritage. Admire the Valentré Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, or the Cathedral of Saint-Etienne de Cahors, a listed historic monument.
Your journey will end in the town of Cahors. You have the possibility to book an extra night in this charming town.
Challenge: 18 km / 11,2 mi, 170 m ascent, 310 m descent
You will mainly be housed in bed and breakfasts or gites. The accommodations along the Compostela route are usually stopover places, and unfortunately we sometimes have limited choice, we have tried to select the accommodations that provide the best services and atmosphere.
Extra nights:
Extra nights can be booked at any of the accommodations along the way.
Our bedrooms reflect our life journey: a place to travel, each with its own story. Each room has its own entrance.
When you arrive at Le Pont de Livinhac, you'll discover a large building comprising a barn and a house that was completely renovated in 2020, close to the River Lot, on the route of the GR 65 pilgrimage route between Conques and Livinhac.
Our charming hotel offers spacious and warm rooms and has all the amenities and comfort you need to feel at home during your stay. We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Oltarcie is a group of stone buildings renovated and fitted out to combine charm and comfort in a sustainable spirit. Nestling in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional des Causses du Quercy, this hamlet overlooks the Célé valley, offering an exceptional natural setting where it's not unusual to see a few roe deer wandering around...
Located in a secluded valley in the 'Parc Naturel Régional des Causses de Quercy'. Le Picarel offers an oasis of peace and quiet under a blue sky!
Hotel restaurant Les Falaises 3*, located in Bouziès, in the centre of the village, in the department of Lot (46).
www.hotel-falaises-bouzies46.fr
The spirit of a warm family home in the heart of the Causses Regional Park. Imagine a pretty garden at the entrance of a small village with a Southwestern feel, an elegant 14th century Quercy house transformed into a coaching inn in 1888 then into a hotel-restaurant and tavern ... and you obtain the Truite Dorée.
Welcome to Brit Hotel Cahors - Le Valentré, our 2-star hotel near the historic city centre of Cahors.. Located in the heart of the city of Cahors, 200 meters from the station, our hotel is composed of 31 air-conditioned rooms. We are open 24 hours a day with the presence of a night watchman.
You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between April 1st and October 10th.
The best airports of arrival are Toulouse airport (Blagnac) and Brive airport.
Arrival in Conques: From the airport of Toulouse, you can go to the train station of Toulouse Matabiau, get a train to Rodez, then take a taki from Rodez to Conques. From the airport of Brive, you can go to the train station of Brive and also get a train to Rodez, then take a taki from Rodez to Conques.
Departure from Cahors: On the end of your trip you can take a train from Cahors. You can also take a regular shuttle bus "Compostela" at the end of your trip to reach a train station or to travel back to the starting point (more information on request).
For timetables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
Parking informations on request
GPS tracks are available on request
Included
- 8 nights' accommodation with breakfast
- 6 dinners
- Luggage transport between accommodations
- Digital detailed route notes and maps in English
- Access to the trip in GUIBO, the digital guidebook and navigation App
- 24-hour telephone assistance
Not Included:
- Other lunches & dinners
- Transport to first and from last accommodation
- Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, additional transfers, etc.
- Tourist tax
Extras
- Single room supplement(s)
- Extra nights at any of the standard accommodations along the route
- Shipment of printed documents to the first accommodation
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8-day French Way of St James Walking Holiday (Part 3)
Contact
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Edificio Sovega bajo, Crta General s/n
33554 Arenas de Cabrales
Asturias , Spaininfo@s-capetravel.eu
+34 (0) 985 846 455
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Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am – 6:00pm (CET)
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am – 6:00pm (CET)