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Via Podiensis from le Puy
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Jan Koelstra (jan cabrio)
Last edit: 13-12-2024
Route Summary
The connecting route from the South of France to the pilgrimage route El Camino De Santiago is known as the Via Podensis. It has been the pilgrimage route par excellence from le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port for over a thousand years.

Classified as European cultural heritage, the route stretches from the volcanic landscape of the Haute Loire to the foot of the Pyrenees in the French Basque Country. The motorised version is no less impressive, as you will discover.
This trip follows the route between Le Puy-en-Velay and Senergues.

Today, the Via Podensis is best known for the beautiful nature you ride through. This and the medieval towns and villages with beautiful monuments you pass, earns a maximum rating of five stars.
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Verdict
Duration
9h 24m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
246.75 km
Countries
Chaudes-Aigues
RouteXpert Review
There are several roads that can lead to the same destination.
In the Middle Ages, many pilgrims traveled along several well-trodden (but not always easy or safe) routes to the pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela, located in the northwestern corner of Spain. This city boasted of having the body of Saint James in its possession. The pilgrimage route through northern Spain formed a single line. Prior to that route, four major routes ran through France.
One of these supply routes starts from the Massif Central in France and runs through the Pyrenees to the Spanish border. This route is called the Via Podiensis and is 740 km long. The Via Podiensis passes through several southern French centres of great religious importance, such as Le Puy, Conques, Cahors, Moissac and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

In terms of landscape, it is a very varied route, which partly leads through gorge valleys (such as the Allier or Célé valley). It is a winding route, so you will not cover many kilometres per day. If you only do the part to Moissac, you will pass through the main religious sites. The last part leads through the plains located south of the Garonne and through the beginning of the Pyrenees. In terms of distance, you can roughly divide this route into three equal parts.

The first section, this route, runs from Le Puy-en-Velay to Senergues.
Religion dominates the pilgrimage centre of Le Puy-en-Velay. The basalt 'pointed caps', rock needles that rise from the town, are both occupied by religious symbols: a lovely chapel and a pompous statue of the Virgin Mary, made from melted down cannons. The cathedral tower reaches less high.
Le Puy is the starting point of the Via Podiensis. Because the pilgrims gathered here before starting their great journey on foot, the cathedral had to be spacious. The large nave is closed off with domes and in the Chapelle des Reliques a famous painting, the 'Arts Libéraux', shines.

You drive to St.-Privat d'Allier, where you can refuel and from there through the gorge valley of the Allier. After Aubazat, where coffee is ready, you leave the Allier and drive to Chastel and St.-Flour.

Then you drive south to the spa town of Chaudes Aigues. Already in ancient times, Chaudes-Aigues was known for its warm water, a blessing for health and with the warmest water in Europe. There are about thirty sources, the most famous of which is the Source du Parc, one of the hottest sources in Europe (82 °C)!

You will now climb steeply and on the plateau you will reach Saint-Urcize for lunch. The mountain village is located at an altitude of 1000 m on a basalt rock that dominates the valleys of the Hère and the Bes. The old houses, narrow streets, small squares decorated with fountains, the remains of fortifications and the ruins of the old fortress give the town its medieval character and bear witness to its ancient origins. The roofs of grey slate and slate merge into the remarkable Romanesque church from the 12th century, whose combed bell tower dominates the town. The small bell from 1583 is said to be one of the oldest in France, and the ambulatory guarantees that the town was a stage on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in the Middle Ages.

You continue across the plateau through the Aubrac regional park and then descend through the Lot valley until you reach Saint-Côme d'Olt, which is located on the Lot river.
This village is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France. The almost round city tower and the fortified walls that have now become the facades of houses give a special impression. The heart of the village has retained its medieval character with the three fortified gates and small streets. In the village you will find historical monuments, a great place for a short visit and a cup of coffee.

On to the next place: Espalion. The Santiago pilgrims used the river crossing of the Lot there in the Middle Ages. Old tanneries are reflected in the water of the river. The pilgrims usually took a longer rest break in Espalion. Just like you, they had the inaccessible Aubrac hills behind them, but they had travelled through them on foot. The town is the beginning of the Rouergue. There is a regional museum on the Place des Platanes. Another, larger museum is called Joseph Vaylet and shows a lot of diving equipment. The inhabitants of Espalion have contributed considerably to the development of diving equipment.

Further along the Lot lies Estaing, another village that is among the most beautiful in France. The Gothic bridge from the early sixteenth century and the Chateau d'Estaing are the first things that catch your eye. But do not forget to walk into the small centre with its narrow streets, with beautiful facades of houses from the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Hôtel Crayon, now the town hall, is also very beautiful. The Office du Tourisme is located in the basement, and is worth a visit for the vaults alone. In the Église Saint-Fleuret there are beautiful altarpieces, tables and statues. The modern stained glass windows were made by the famous French glass artist Claude Baillon.

You follow the Lot further to Entraygues-sur-Truyère. Pilgrims used to go here towards Vieillevie, but you will now use the new bridge over the Lot towards Conques. From here a winding but pleasant road leads to Sérnergues. Your end point of this trip. There are several overnight accommodation options in this town, such as L'Ancien Poste and various gîtes. Also places to eat, for example the Auberge du Castel.
The church of Sérnergues is the main historical monument in the centre of the village and has a very simple stone façade, interrupted only by a central Gothic style entrance and a small window above the door, in the shape of a four-leaf clover. At the rear of the church is a square stone tower with a gallery just below the roof level. You will also see some pretty houses in the centre of Sénezergues, some interesting wooden statues, a war memorial and a beautiful view over the countryside of the Cantal department.
In the valley below the centre of Sénezergues you can see the Chateau de Réghaud. Although the castle cannot be visited (it is now an imposing private residence) you can still admire the architecture of the castle.


Le-Puy-en-Velay
Senergues
Links
The Santiago de Compostela route
about le Puy-en-Velay
The Massif Central
The Aubrac Regional Nature Park
about Senergues
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.

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Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Auvergne Rhone Alpes
About this region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (ARA; French: [ovɛʁɲ ʁon‿alp] (listen); Arpitan: Ôvèrgne-Rôno-Ârpes; Occitan: Auvèrnhe Ròse Aups; Italian: Alvernia-Rodano-Alpi) is a region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into effect on 1 January 2016, after the regional elections in December 2015.The region covers an area of 69,711 km2 (26,916 sq mi), making it the third largest in metropolitan France; it had a population of 7,948,287 in 2017, second to Île-de-France. It consists of twelve departments and one territorial collectivity (Lyon Metropolis) with Lyon as the prefecture.
This new region combines diverse geographical, sociological, economic and cultural regions, which was already true of Rhône-Alpes, as well as Auvergne, to a lesser extent. While the old Rhône-Alpes and Auvergne regions each enjoyed a unity defined by axes of communication and the pull of their respective metropoles, the new combination is heterogeneous; it sustained lively opposition from some local officials after its creation.
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Route Collections in this region
The 24 Most Beautiful Alpine Routes
The Alps, The Alps are a mountain range in Europe, stretching from the French Mediterranean coast in the southwest to the Pannonian Plain in the east. The area of the mountain range is more than 200,000 km².

In other words Passes and Mountain Roads!

Driving through the mountains is great! Especially over the mountain passes with hairpin bends and narrow winding roads. Every bend a different view where you can enjoy. There are many beautiful mountain passes in the Alps.

A selection that has also been incorporated into these routes:
The Stlevio Pass:
The Stelvio Pass, also known as Passo dello Stelvio, is mainly known for the stage in the Giro d'Italia. Due to the length and the difference in height, this pass is seen as one of the toughest tests in cycling. The Stelvio Pass reaches a maximum height of 2758 meters and is therefore one of the highest in the Alps. The pass connects the towns of Bormio and Prato Allo Stelvio. In winter the pass is closed due to heavy snowfall.

The Reschenpass:
The Reschenpass, also known as Passo di Resia, connects the Austrian state of Tyrol with the Italian province of South Tyrol. The pass reaches a maximum height of 1,504 meters and has been one of the most important north-south connections in the Alps in recent centuries. The pass was used long before Roman times. Along the way you will pass several highlights and historical relics. One of the highlights is the Reschensee. This lake was created after the construction of the dam and has completely submerged the village of Graun. The only thing that reminds of that is the clock tower in the middle of the lake.

Col du Galibier:
The French mountain pass Col du Galibier connects the towns of Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Briançon via the Col du Lautaret in the south and the Col du Télégraphe in the north. The mountain pass is part of the Tour de France and very much feared, due to the fact that it can only be reached via the other two mountain passes. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2646 meters. From there you can take a walk to the viewpoint at 2704 meters. You can admire the peaks of the Grand Galibier, Mont Blanc and La Meije here.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road:
With a height of 3798 meters the Grossglockner is the highest mountain in Austria. To fully enjoy this impressive mountain, you can drive over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the accompanying pass. The route starts from Bruck am Grossglockner and ends in Heiligenblut. Of course you can drive in two directions. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2504 meters and is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall. Along the way you pass several stops with fun activities, information points, mountain huts and viewpoints. A visit to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe and Pasterzen Glacier is highly recommended.

The Col d'Izoard:
Just like the Col du Galibier, the Col d'Izoard is also part of a stage of the Tour de France. The mountain pass connects Briançon with the valley of the river Guil. The pass is partly located in the Regional Natural Park du Queyras and reaches a maximum height of 2360 meters. What is special about the Col d'Izoard is the barren and rocky landscape. Sometimes it feels like driving a car over the moon! Along the way you can stop at several points to enjoy the beautiful view.

The Bernina Pass:
The Bernina Express is one of the most famous rail trains in Switzerland and the Alps. The route is beautiful and partly included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Parallel to the railway lies the Bernina pass, which connects the Veltlin valley with the Egandin valley. This beautiful Alpine road has a total length of 56 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2328 meters. Along the way you can enjoy views of the Morteratsch Glacier.

The Sella Pass:
The Sella Pass, also known as Passo di Sella, takes you over one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Dolomites: the Sella massif. The pass connects Valle di Fassa with Val Gardena and reaches a maximum height of 2236 meters. At this height is also the border of the Italian provinces of Trentino and Bolzano. Along the way you can enjoy the view of this spectacular mountain world. Admire, for example, the three peaks of the Sasso Lungo massif, the Sella massif or the peaks of the Marmolada. You can also drive the Sella pass in combination with the Gardena pass, Pordoi pass and Campolongo pass.

The Grimsel Pass:
The Grimsel Pass connects Goms in Wallis with the Halis Valley in the Bernese Oberland. The pass reaches a maximum elevation of 2165 meters and is closed in winter due to snowfall. Over the centuries, the mountain pass has played an important role in trade between Switzerland and Italy. Now it is mainly the reservoirs that have an important function. These are used to generate electricity. The landscape you drive through is rugged, rocky and impressive. On top of the pass is a hotel and a restaurant with a special marmot park. The Dodensee (Totensee) is also located here. This lake owes its name to the many soldiers who died in the time of Napoleon.

The Gotthard Pass:
The Gotthard Pass, also known as Passo del San Gottardo and Saint Gotthard, connects the Swiss towns of Airolo and Andermatt. The mountain pass and associated tunnel are especially known among holidaymakers driving from Switzerland to Italy. But where the majority opt for the tunnel, it is precisely the pass that really completes the holiday. The Gotthard Pass has a length of about 26 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2106 meters. The route is beautiful and takes you along old villages and beautiful views.

The Silvretta High Alpine Road and Silvretta Pass:
The Paznaun Valley in Tyrol and the Montafon in Vorarlberg are connected by the Silvretta High Alpine Road. The route has a length of 22.3 kilometers and leads from Galtür to Partenen in 34 hairpin bends, via the 2032 meter high Bielerhöhe. The Silvrettasee is also located at this point, where you can enjoy a lovely walk. The pass is closed in winter due to snowfall.

The Simplon Pass:
Just like the Gotthard Pass, many holidaymakers also travel over the Simplon Pass every year. This mountain pass connects the Rhone Valley in the canton of Valais with the Valle d'Ossola in Piemonte. The pass is open all year round and reaches a maximum height of 2005 meters. Along the way you pass a number of buildings, including the well-known Simplon Hospiz from 1825. The hospiz is managed by the monks of St. Bernard. From the highest point on the pass, all kinds of hiking routes are possible and you will also come across a hotel where you can spend the night.

The Gerlos Pass:
The Gerlos Pass connects the Salzach Valley in the Salzburgerland with the Zillertal Valley in Tyrol. The pass is part of the Gerlos Alpenstraße and runs right through the Hohe Tauern National Park. Along the way you can enjoy beautiful views of the surroundings. The pass has a length of 12 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 1531 meters. A ride over the Gerlos Pass can be ideally combined with a visit to the Krimmler Wasserfälle.

The Great St. Bernard Pass:
The Great St. Bernard Pass, better known as Col du Grand Saint Bernard, connects the Italian province of Valle d'Aosta with the Swiss canton of Valais. The pass is one of the highest in Switzerland and reaches a maximum height of 2469 meters. Like a number of other mountain passes in this list, the Great St. Bernard Pass has also been used as a connecting road for centuries. The pass is named after the St. Bernard dogs that used to help stranded travelers along with the monks. The pass is closed in winter.

The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road:
The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road connects the towns of Sölden in the Ötztal and Meran in South Tyrol. Tolls must be paid on the Hochgurgl - Moos route. Via a mountain road with about 60 hairpin bends you drive through a beautiful mountain world. With the Timmelsjoch Experience you can learn more about the history, the road and the environment via various stations. You can also visit the Top Mountain Crosspoint museum.

Col de l'Iseran:
With a maximum pass height of 2770 meters, the Col l'Iséran is one of the highest mountain passes in the Alps. The pass connects Bourg-Saint-Maurice with Bonneval-sur-Arc. Via a road full of hairpin bends you pass, among other things, Val-d'Isère and a side valley of the Maurienne that lies entirely in the National Park de la Vanoise. You can spot animals such as marmots and chamois and there is also a restaurant with a chapel on top of the pass.

The Gavia Pass:
The Gavia Pass (Italian Passo di Gavia) is a mountain pass in the Italian Alps, in the Lombardy region.
It is one of the highest pass roads in Europe. The road leads through the unspoilt Stelvio National Park. The road was built in the First World War to supply Italian soldiers who fought in the Italian-Austrian border area. The pass height is one of the most beautiful in the Alps. Here is the large Lago Bianco with, to the north, the mountain San Matteo (3684 meters). Lago Nero is slightly lower on the south side of the pass. Here the mountain group of the Adamello determines the view. There are many well-marked walks in the area. During the winter the pass is closed due to the heavy snowfall. The pass is often closed until May and June due to the large amount of snow.


Promoter has made a selection of the 24 Most Beautiful Alpine routes that they have set out in recent years.

The routes go through:
France
Austria
Switzerland
Italy

The most beautiful roads, the most beautiful views, the most beautiful viewpoints. The highest mountains, the fastest descents, hairpin bend after hairpin bend, you name it you can't get enough of it.

If you go on holiday in this region, take advantage of it, ALL routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.

Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Alps and the Dolomites have to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.

I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).



View Route Collection
24 Routes
8059.29 km
171h 24m
25 Magnificent trails in France
This MRA route collection contains 25 beautiful motorcycle routes in different parts of France, such as the Ardennes, the Alsace, Vercors, the Drôme, the Ardèche, Cote d'Azure, Gorges du Verdon, the Ariège, the Dordogne and Brittany.

The routes have been carefully created by Bert Loorbach, who is an enthusiastic motorcyclist himself. He lived in France for a year and a half, during which time he devoted himself to mapping the unknown and beautiful back roads of France especially for motorcyclists.

The routes are bundled in the Motortourgids France part 1 of Kosmos publishing house and now also available in MyRouteApp.

I have taken over the routes in MRA and sometimes adjusted them slightly to make them even more interesting for the motorcyclist.

View Route Collection
25 Routes
4106.1 km
106h 0m
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