Le Puy Camino
Elevation profile
Overview
The Le Puy Camino is a 745km pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, typically completed in 29 days. It offers a transformative journey combining spiritual reflection, natural beauty, and cultural immersion.
Highlights
The Via Podiensis, or Le Puy route, begins in Le Puy-en-Velay in central France and crosses the volcanic plateaus of the Massif Central, the Aubrac moors, and the Quercy countryside before reaching Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where it connects with the Camino Francés. It is the most popular of the French pilgrimage routes to Santiago.
Terrain & Difficulty
The route features diverse and dramatic landscapes: the volcanic plugs of the Velay region, the high, open moorland of the Aubrac plateau (1,300 m), the deep river gorges of the Lot and Dordogne valleys, and the rolling farmland of Gascony. Elevation changes are significant, with several sustained climbs of 400+ m.
History
Le Puy-en-Velay has been a major pilgrimage starting point since the 10th century, with its cathedral and the famous Black Virgin drawing pilgrims from across France. The route was a key artery for French pilgrims heading to Santiago, and its infrastructure of gîtes d'étape (pilgrim hostels) is among the best-maintained on any Camino route.
Best Time to Walk
May–September. The Aubrac plateau can be dangerous in fog and storms. Late spring and early autumn offer the best balance of weather and solitude.
Practical Tips
Book gîtes in advance during July–August, particularly in the popular Conques and Figeac sections. The volcanic landscape around Le Puy is worth an extra day. Carry a warm layer—nights on the Aubrac can drop below 10°C even in summer.
Towns & Waypoints
Le Puy-en-Velay
0 km cumulative
Saint-Privat-d'Allier
23.3 km cumulative
Saugues
42.8 km cumulative
Domaine du Sauvage
62.1 km cumulative
Aumont-Aubrac
90.3 km cumulative
Nasbinals
116.1 km cumulative
Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac
133 km cumulative
Espalion
155 km cumulative
Golinhac
181 km cumulative
Conques
203.9 km cumulative
Decazeville
217 km cumulative
Figeac
251.4 km cumulative
Cajarc
282.2 km cumulative
Limogne-en-Quercy
294 km cumulative
Varaire
316 km cumulative
Cahors
341.8 km cumulative
Lascabanes
364.6 km cumulative
Lauzerte
389.1 km cumulative
Moissac
416.8 km cumulative
Auvillar
438.2 km cumulative
Miradoux
455 km cumulative
Lectoure
470.4 km cumulative
Condom
501.6 km cumulative
Éauze
535 km cumulative
Nogaro
556 km cumulative
Aire-sur-l'Adour
583.4 km cumulative
Arzacq-Arraziguet
617 km cumulative
Arthez-de-Béarn
647 km cumulative
Navarrenx
678.5 km cumulative
Saint-Palais
703.5 km cumulative
Larceveau
720.5 km cumulative
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
744.6 km cumulative
Stages
Day 1
Le Puy-en-Velay → Saint-Privat-d'Allier
23 km
Day 2
Saint-Privat-d'Allier → Saugues
19 km
Day 3
Saugues → Domaine du Sauvage
19 km
Day 4
Domaine du Sauvage → Aumont-Aubrac
28 km
Day 5
Aumont-Aubrac → Nasbinals
26 km
Day 6
Nasbinals → Espalion
39 km
Day 7
Espalion → Golinhac
26 km
Day 8
Golinhac → Conques
23 km
Day 9
Conques → Decazeville
13 km
Day 10
Decazeville → Figeac
34 km
Day 11
Figeac → Cajarc
31 km
Day 12
Cajarc → Limogne-en-Quercy
12 km
Day 13
Limogne-en-Quercy → Varaire
22 km
Day 14
Varaire → Cahors
26 km
Day 15
Cahors → Lascabanes
23 km
Day 16
Lascabanes → Lauzerte
25 km
Day 17
Lauzerte → Moissac
28 km
Day 18
Moissac → Auvillar
21 km
Day 19
Auvillar → Lectoure
32 km
Day 20
Lectoure → Condom
31 km
Day 21
Condom → Éauze
33 km
Day 22
Éauze → Nogaro
21 km
Day 23
Nogaro → Aire-sur-l'Adour
27 km
Day 24
Aire-sur-l'Adour → Arzacq-Arraziguet
34 km
Day 25
Arzacq-Arraziguet → Arthez-de-Béarn
30 km
Day 26
Arthez-de-Béarn → Navarrenx
32 km
Day 27
Navarrenx → Saint-Palais
25 km
Day 28
Saint-Palais → Larceveau
17 km
Day 29
Larceveau → Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
24 km
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Distance: 745 km
Duration: 29 days
Stops: 32 towns
💡 View info
📍Click on the ▶ start and 🏁 finish markers to see the start and end points of the route.
📈Hover over the elevation chart to see the altitude and total distance at each waypoint along the route.
🏘️Browse the Towns & Waypoints and Stages lists below for detailed guides on each town, stage, and point of interest.
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