Via Podiensis / Chemin du Puy

The Via Podiensis, or Chemin du Puy, is the first half or prefix to the Camino Frances.  It covers 735 kilometers (455 miles) from Le Puy en Velay to Saint Jean Pied-de-Port, which is the traditional start of the Camino Frances.   The route is labeled in France as Grande Randonnée GR65 with red and white bars on the trail markers.

In May 2024, I walked the first half of the Chemin du Puy (375 kilometers, 233 miles, 16 days) from Le Puy en Velay to Moncuq.  While I had planned to walk the entire route (31 days) to St. Jean Pied-a-port, life intervened.  I completed the walk in May 2025, repeating the Cahors to Moncuq stage, and walking an additional 392 kilometers/243 miles.  Lodging and bag transfer were arranged by Follow the Camino.

The final stage into St. Jean Pied-de-Port is similar to the final stage into Santiago de Compostela.  Everyone has an extra spring in their step, and eager to finish or go on to the next stage.  There are many "new" hikers in St. Jean, fresh from their international travels and ready to start the Camino Frances.

If you walk in the Spring season, be prepared for mud ("la boue", "la gadoue", etc.) on the non-paved sections. 

My stages are as walked, and do not necessarily reflect the stages listed in the guidebooks.

Stage 1 - Le Puy en Velay to Saint-Privat d'Allier - photos

Stage 2 - Saint-Privat d'Allier to Saugues - photos

Stage 3 - Saugues to Les Faux - photos

Stages 4, 5 & 6 - Les Faux to Aumont-Aubrac to Nasbinals - photos

Stage 7 - Nasbinals to Saint-Chely d'Aubrac - photos

Stage 8 - Saint-Chely d'Aubrac to Espalion - photos

Stage 9 - Espalion to Golinhac - photos

Stage 10 - Golinhac to Conques - photos

Stage 11 - Conques to Decazeville - photos

Stage 12 - Decazeville to Figeac - photos

Stage 13 - Figeac to Cajarc - photos

Stage 14 - Cajarc to Limogne en Quercy - photos

Stage 15 - Limogne en Quercy to Lalbenque - photos

Stage 16 - Lalbenque to Cahors to Moncuq - photos

Stage 17 - Moncuq to Lauzerte - photos

Stage 18 - Lauzerte to Mossaic - photos

Stage 19 - Mossaic to Auvillar - photos

Stage 20 - Auvillar to Lectoure - photos

Stage 21 - Lectoure to Condom - photos

Stage 22 - Condom to Montreal du Gers

Stage 23 - Montreal du Gers to Eauze - photos

Stage 24 - Eauze to Nogaro - photos

Stage 25 - Nogaro to Aire sur l'Adour - photos

Stage 26 - Aire sur l'Adour to Miramont Sensacq - photos

Stage 27 - Miramont Sensacq to Arzacq Arraziguet - photos

Stage 28 - Arzacq Arraziguet to Uzan - photos

Stage 29 - Uzan to Maslacq - photos

Stage 30 - Maslacq to Navarrenx to Sismiou - photos

Stage 31 - Sismiou to Saint Palais - photos

Stage 32 - Saint Palais to Larceveau - photos

Stage 33 - Larceveau to St. Jean Pied-de-Port - photos