9-day French Way of St James Cycling Holiday (Part 2)

After check-in at your hotel in Cahors, you can visit the beautiful historic capital of Quercy, its old center and the splendid Valentré bridge, the most beautiful bridge in France. After seeing this medieval bridge with its 3 fortified towers from the 14th century, you can only agree. When you cross the Valentré bridge on foot (it is pedestrian), its 700-year-old history will transport you ... Impossible to remain indifferent to this masterpiece.

Today, you start by leaving Cahors on the Valentré bridge. After an ascent for to leave the suburbs, you reach the village of Labastide-Marnhac and meet the hikers. Continue on small tracks & roads to Lascabannes. After 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 a landscape 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 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, 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: 47km / 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). Wwe recommend, on the way, 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. 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 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.

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.