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 in
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela, simply Santiago, or Compostela, in the province of Province of A Coruña, A Coruña, is the capital of the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city ...
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
. It leaves from
Le-Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, ; , before 1988: ''Le Puy'') 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 cathedral, for a kind of le ...
and crosses the countryside in stages to the stele of Gibraltar in the basque village of
Uhart-Mixe
Uhart-Mixe (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.
It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.
. 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
t the
T, or t, is the twentieth letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''tee'' (pronounced ), plural ''tees''.
It is d ...
Foot of hePass"; ; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments of France, department in south-western France. It is close to Ostabat in the Pyrenean f ...
and crossing the Pyrenees and the Spanish border by one path or another to
Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles ( , ; ; ; ; ) 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 border as the crow flies, or by road.
Histo ...
in the Spanish province of
Navarre
Navarre ( ; ; ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a landlocked foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and New Aquitaine in France. ...
. Together they serve as the principal pilgrimage route across Spain, known as the
Camino francés
The French Way (, , ) follows the GR 65 and is the most popular of the routes of the Way of St. James (), the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of th ...
. 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 po ...
), becomes the
Aragonese Way
The Aragonese Way (, ) is a walking 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 th ...
when it enters Spain, and joins the Camino frances further to the west.
Before le Puy, the
via Gebennensis
Via or VIA may refer to the following:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Via'' (Volumes album), 2011
* Via (Thalia Zedek album), 2013
* VIA (music), Soviet and Russian term for a music collective
Businesses and organisations
* Via Foundation, a Cze ...
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- ...
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. It is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Associati ...
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, passing through
Tours
Tours ( ; ) is the largest city 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 inhabita ...
Vézelay
Vézelay () is a Communes of France, commune in the Departments of France, 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 Ro ...
, passing through
Limoges
Limoges ( , , ; , 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. Situated o ...
* the via Podiensis, leaving from
Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, ; , before 1988: ''Le Puy'') 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 cathedral, for a kind of le ...
, passing through
Cahors
Cahors (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the western part of Southern France. It is the smallest prefecture among the 13 departments that constitute the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Region. The capital and main city of t ...
and
Moissac
Moissac () is a Commune of France, commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region in southern France. The town is situated at the confluence of the riv ...
Arles
Arles ( , , ; ; Classical ) is a coastal city and Communes of France, commune in the South of France, a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône Departments of France, department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Reg ...
, passing through
Toulouse
Toulouse (, ; ; ) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Garonne department and of the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania region. The city is on the banks of the Garonne, River Garonne, from ...
Le Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, ; , before 1988: ''Le Puy'') is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Loire Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region of south-central France.
Located near the rive ...
, 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
;In
Haute-Loire
Haute-Loire (; 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, Lozère, Canta ...
The route leaves
Le Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, ; , before 1988: ''Le Puy'') is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Loire Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region of south-central France.
Located near the rive ...
Saint-Privat-d'Allier
Saint-Privat-d'Allier (, literally ''Saint-Privat of Allier''; ) is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France. On 1 January 2017, the former commune of Saint-Didier-d'Allier was merged into Saint-Privat-d'Allier.
,
Monistrol-d'Allier
Monistrol-d'Allier (, literally ''Monistrol of Allier''; ) is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Haute-Loire department
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional c ...
,
Saugues
Saugues (; ) is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.
Geography
The municipality lies in the Margeride mountains, with its highest point reached at the summit of Montchauvet at an altitude of 1,485 meters.''IGN m ...
Lozère
Lozère (; ) is a landlocked Departments of France, department in the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie in Southern France, located near the Massif Central, bounded to the northeast by Haute-Loire, to the ...
Malbouzon
Malbouzon (; ) is a former commune in the Lozère department in southern France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the new commune Prinsuéjols-Malbouzon.Rieutort-d'Aubrac, Marchastel, and
Nasbinals
Nasbinals (; ) is a commune in the Lozère departement in southern France.
Climate
See also
*Communes of the Lozère department
The following is a list of the 152 communes of the Lozère department of France
France, officially the F ...
.
;In
Aveyron
Aveyron (; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southern France. It was named after the river Aveyron (river), Aveyron. Its inhabitants are known as ''Aveyro ...
The route passes
Aubrac
Aubrac () is a volcanic and granitic plateau located in the south-central Massif Central of France. This region has been a member of the Natura 2000 network since August 2006. It straddles three ''départements'' (Cantal, Aveyron and Lozère) an ...
,
Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac
Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac (; Languedocien dialect, Languedocien: ''Sanch Èli d'Aubrac'' or ''Sench Eli d'Aubrac'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Aveyron Departments of France, department in southern France about 7 kilometres from Aubrac ...
,
Saint-Côme-d'Olt
Saint-Côme-d'Olt (, literally ''Saint-Côme of Olt''; ) 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 located in ...
,
Espalion
Espalion (; ) 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 France.
*Ch ...
,
Bessuéjouls
Bessuéjouls (; ) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Aveyron department
The following is a list of the 285 communes of the Aveyron department of France. Out of the land ar ...
Conques
Conques (; Languedocien: ''Concas'') is a former commune in the Aveyron department in Southern France, in the Occitania region. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Conques-en-Rouergue.
Geography
The village is located at t ...
Decazeville
Decazeville () 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 (1780–1860), the ...
Montredon
Montredon is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in ...
Figeac
Figeac (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the southwestern French Departments of France, department of Lot (department), Lot. Figeac is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the department.
Geography
Figeac is on the via Podiensis ...
, and
Béduer
Béduer (Languedocien dialect, Languedocien: ''Beduèr'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Lot (department), Lot Departments of France, department in southwestern France.
Pilgrimage
Béduer is situated on the Via Podiensis route that is f ...
.
A variant route follows the valley of the river Lot, passing
Gréalou
Gréalou (; ) is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France.
See also
*Communes of the Lot department
The following is a list of the 312 communes of the Lot department of France
France, officially the French Republic ...
,
Cajarc
Cajarc () is a commune in the Lot department, Occitania
Occitania is the historical region in Southern Europe where the Occitan language was historically spoken and where it is sometimes used as a second language. This cultural area rou ...
, 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- ...
Marcilhac-sur-Célé
Marcilhac-sur-Célé (, ; ), commonly referred to simply as Marcilhac, is a commune in the Lot department in the Occitania region in Southwestern France. It has many historic buildings, including the ruined 9th-century Abbey of St Peter. As of ...
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 t ...
,
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (; ) is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France. It is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The most beautiful villages in France) association.
Its position on a steep cliff 100m above the rive ...
. The two variants converge and pass through
Cahors
Cahors (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the western part of Southern France. It is the smallest prefecture among the 13 departments that constitute the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Region. The capital and main city of t ...
Lhospitalet
Lhospitalet (; ) is a former commune in the Lot department in south-western France. On 1 January 2025, it was merged into the new commune of Pern-Lhospitalet.
Geography
The Barguelonne forms part of the commune's southern border.
See ...
, Lascabanes, Montcuq. 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. It is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Associati ...
.
;In
Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne (; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania Regions of France, region in Southern France. It is traversed by the rivers Tarn (river), Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its n ...
Moissac
Moissac () is a Commune of France, commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region in southern France. The town is situated at the confluence of the riv ...
, and
Auvillar
Auvillar (; ) is a commune in the department of Tarn-et-Garonne and the Occitanie region, situated at the edge of the Lomagne region on the banks of the Garonne river. Since 1994, Auvillar has been a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ( ...
.
;In
Gers
Gers (; or , ) is a departments of France, department in the regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southwestern France. Gers is bordered by the departments of Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques to ...
Miradoux
Miradoux (; ) is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.
Geography
The river Auroue forms most of the commune's western border and the Arrats all of its southeastern border.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Gers depa ...
,
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.
In 1 ...
Condom
A condom is a sheath-shaped Barrier contraception, barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a Sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both external condo ...
,
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 (; ) is a long riv ...
,
Larressingle
Larressingle (; ) is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France. It is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Association.
Geography
Population
Sights
* Château de Larressingle ...
Lauraët
Lauraët is a Communes of France, commune in the Gers Departments of France, department in southwestern France.
Geography
Population
See also
*Communes of the Gers department
References
Communes of Gers
{{Gers-geo-stub ...
Eauze
Eauze (; Gascon language, Gascon: ''Eusa'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Gers Departments of France, department in southwestern France.
History
Located in the heart of south-west France, 130 kilometers from the Spanish border, Eauze i ...
,
Manciet
Manciet (; ) is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.
Geography
Population
See also
*Communes of the Gers department
The following is a list of the 458 communes of the Gers department of France.
The communes coope ...
,
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, ...
, after which hikers and pilgrims can pass by either Pécorade and Geaune or by Miramont-Sensacq. Those two routes converge once more at Pimbo.
;In the
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques (; Gascon language, Gascon Occitan language, Occitan: ''Pirenèus Atlantics''; ) is a Departments of France, department located in the Regions of France, region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the southwest corner of metropolitan ...
Pomps
Pomps (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département in south-western France.
,
Arthez-de-Béarn
Arthez-de-Béarn (, literally ''Arthez of Béarn''; ) 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'' or ''Arthez' ...
Navarrenx
Navarrenx (; ; , ) is a town and commune in the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
The demonym is Navarre. Since 2014, the town has been in the association Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.
It is ...
, Charre, Aroue to reach the stèle of Gibraltar (''Xibaltarre hilarria'') in the village of
Uhart-Mixe
Uhart-Mixe (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.
It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.
.
The distance from the stele of Gibraltar to Santiago de Compostela is 768 kilometers (477 miles).
Gallery
File:Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation, Le Puy en Velay.jpg, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation in
Le Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, ; , before 1988: ''Le Puy'') is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Loire Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region of south-central France.
Located near the rive ...
.
File:Rochegude.jpg, Perched chapel near
Saint-Privat-d'Allier
Saint-Privat-d'Allier (, literally ''Saint-Privat of Allier''; ) is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France. On 1 January 2017, the former commune of Saint-Didier-d'Allier was merged into Saint-Privat-d'Allier.
.
File:Saint Mary Church of Nasbinals 01.jpg, Saint Mary’s Church in
Nasbinals
Nasbinals (; ) is a commune in the Lozère departement in southern France.
Climate
See also
*Communes of the Lozère department
The following is a list of the 152 communes of the Lozère department of France
France, officially the F ...
.
File:2003 Conques arch IMG 6323.JPG, Arch way in
Conques
Conques (; Languedocien: ''Concas'') is a former commune in the Aveyron department in Southern France, in the Occitania region. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Conques-en-Rouergue.
Geography
The village is located at t ...
.
File:Cele river in Figeac 04.jpg, Célé River in
Figeac
Figeac (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the southwestern French Departments of France, department of Lot (department), Lot. Figeac is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the department.
Geography
Figeac is on the via Podiensis ...
.
File:Abbaye Saint-Pierre (façade).jpg, Saint Peter’s Abbey in
Moissac
Moissac () is a Commune of France, commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region in southern France. The town is situated at the confluence of the riv ...
.
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.
Via Podiensis Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole.jpg, Via Podiensis near Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole.