Le Puy Camino: Conques to Cahors

From Conques to Cahors on the Le Puy route

This third section of the Via Podiensis links Conques and Cahors, two of the prettiest towns on the whole Le Puy route. You leave the cobbled streets of Conques and its Romanesque abbey and cross the Pont sur le Dourdou. The Camino then runs through the gentle hills of the Aveyron before crossing the river into the Lot. The walking here is gentle, which leaves plenty of time for looking around once the day's hike is done. Typical days mean following wall-lined tracks across the high plateaux, stopping for coffee on shaded terraces in peaceful villages and visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites.

There are a lot of those on this section. Besides the abbey at Conques, the whole stretch from Montredon to Figeac is listed as a World Heritage site, and so are the sections between Faycelles and Cajarc and between Lalbenque and Cahors.

Cajarc and the Lot Valley

Cajarc sits on a bend in the river in the Lot Valley, and both its old buildings and its natural setting are well preserved. Saint-Etienne church is simple but beautiful. The tourist information centre was once a neo-Gothic chapel. Down by the river, the old railway station is now a railway museum with model trains, and a suspension bridge crosses the Lot. If you're interested in modern art, the Maison des Arts Georges and Claude Pompidou honours the statesman, who had a holiday home here.

Cahors and its cathedral

Many pilgrims say Cahors is worth an extra night. The town has Roman origins but really flourished in the Middle Ages. Its medieval streets of red brick, grey limestone and ochre sandstone make a good backdrop for photographs. Don't miss the cathedral at the centre of town. It's a national monument and a fine example of the shift from late Romanesque to early Gothic architecture.

What's included and what to carry

The holiday includes bed and breakfast in hand-picked accommodation, a holiday or pilgrim pack, 24/7 on-call support and a virtual face-to-face briefing before you leave. Luggage transfers between hotels aren't included in the starting price but can be added.

There are enough facilities along the way, though with some noticeable gaps. Carry at least two or three snacks, or a light lunch or sandwich, for the longer stretches, and drink plenty between stops.