Via Podiensis

That is the name of the route we took. Last September we walked from Le Puy en Velay to Conques. This year we returned to Conques and walked to St. Jean Pied de Port. We left Conques on May 21 and arrived SJPDP on Thursday, June 20. The total distance is 453.6 miles. Here’s a map:

This map names most of the main cities and villages on the route.

This map shows other routes. France has a widespread hiking system beyond the Chemin routes.

We had rain, mud, lots of sunshine, greenery and flowers, wooded paths, and toward the end a lot of asphalt, cows, donkeys, horses.

There was one band playing at a restaurant near us for summer solstice and la fête de la musique. I couldn’t go, but could hear it just fine from our room. It was an oom-pa band playing 60s top hits. I didn’t recognize any songs.