Routes of Compostela (G65: from Geneva to Le Puy-en-Velay)

Today's route follows the base of Mont Salève, passes the Roman milestone at Neydens, then the Chartreuse de Pomier, and crosses the Col du Mont Sion. The hike offers beautiful views of Lake Geneva and the nearby Jura Mountains. You will spend the night at Mont Sion or in a neighboring village.

This stage takes you through a lovely rural landscape of rolling hills westward to Les Contamines-Sarzin (marker and bas-relief of St. James). You'll enjoy a view of the gorges above the Barbannaz Waterfall before reaching Frangy, a stopover town. Accommodation is available in Chaumont (3 km, 45 minutes).

Heading south through the agricultural valleys of Desingy, the path crosses the heights of Seyssel (a possible alternative route), passes through charming villages, and descends towards the Rhône at Pont du Fier, gateway to Savoy and its Chautagne vineyards. This stage is ecumenical, as it follows the "In the Footsteps of the Huguenots" route between the Drôme and Switzerland. Accommodation is available in Seyssel (the following day: +3 km, +45 min) or in Motz (+2 km, +30 min).

That day, you'll have time to stroll along the GR 65. Your route takes you past the Pont de la Loi and joins the GR 9 (Jura - Mediterranean) for a short stretch. Your journey then leads you to Chanaz, a village bisected by the Canal de Savières between the Rhône and Lake Bourget (a lovely boat trip is possible). The village's architecture and the canal's proximity will charm you at the end of your day.

From Chanaz to the summit of Butte Saint Romain , the route leaves the banks of the Rhône to gain altitude and cross the vineyards of Jongieux , at the foot of the Mont du Chat range. A short descent brings you back to the Rhône alluvial plain and leads you to Yenne (worth seeing: the 12th-century church).

After this medieval section, the terrain becomes mountainous. The path overlooks the Chartreuse de Pierre Chatel and climbs along a balcony overlooking the Rhône. It reaches Mont Tournier (877 m) before gradually descending to the plateau of St Maurice de Rotherens (650 m). The descent continues to the Truison river and then climbs back up to the Chapelle de Pigneux , which overlooks the village of Saint Genix sur Guiers, the land of the red praline brioche.

You leave the mountains of Savoy behind and enter Isère. You discover the first Dauphiné-style houses built of rammed earth. The Way of St. James follows the Guiers River and then hops from hill to hill in this rolling landscape that leads you to Charancieu (393 m), then to Valencogne (where you'll find a triptych of St. James in the church). Accommodation is available in Charancieu or Saint-Ondras .

This day welcomes you to the Bièvre-Valloire region. Your route passes near Lake Paladru. (At the level of Le Pin), the trail crosses the former Chartreuse de Sylve Bénite (a Carthusian monastery founded around 1116) and, after the climb to Le Soulier (702 m), leads to La Ferme de Futeau , surrounded by nature. A final steep descent takes you to Le Grand Lemps. Accommodation is available in Virieu or La Côte St André , with your host picking you up and dropping you off the following day in Le Grand Lemps.

The stage has very little elevation gain. The Way of St. James remains gentle at the foot of Mont Avallon. You'll pass no fewer than three castles overlooking the valley, and it's the castle of Louis XI that welcomes you to La Côte St André . Hector Berlioz was born there, and the town honors him with an autumn festival. Dinner is not included .

After this musical town, the GR65 trail invites you to pick up your walking stick again towards Balbins-Ornacieux. Behind Mont Cardon, a bocage landscape (canals, mills, a pond) leads you to Faramans, then to Pommier de Beaurepaire where the orientation table shows you the route you have already covered and your next destination. A shaded walk through the Bois Favan forest takes you to Revel Tourdan. You can stay overnight in Primarette (+3 km, +45 min) or in Moissieu sur Dolon (+6 km, +1 hr 30 min), otherwise a transfer will be arranged by the accommodation provider in La Chapelle de Surieu.

It is on the hillside, through fields and beautiful chestnut groves that you pass the villages of Moissieu sur Dolon (site of the former Hospice of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem), Bellegarde Poussieu (Chapel of Our Lady of La Salette 18th century) and reach your accommodation in La Chapelle de Surieu , 1.5 km from the GR65.

After passing through St. Romain de Surieu (249 m) and its magnificent Carmelite monastery, the Carrefour du Grand Chêne welcomes you to the Bois de Limone forest before you reach Assieu. With the Pilat Mountains on the horizon, you then cross the orchards of Auberive and Clonas-sur-Varèze to emerge into the Rhône plain. You reach the river that separates the Isère and Loire departments at Les Roches de Condrieu, or simply Condrieu, located on either bank of the Rhône. You discover the vineyards of the Condrieu appellation at the foot of the Pilat Mountains.

Condrieu - Bourg Argental (530 m)

After following the Rhône River along the Via Rhona, the route leaves the Rhône Valley and immediately climbs. The passage near the Calvary Chapel offers a beautiful view of the river's meanders. The route then winds through the apple orchards of Bessey and St. Appolinard. The final climb leads to the day's highest point at the Croix de Sainte Blandine (690 m), before descending to St. Julien Molin Molette . After a scenic climb, the route descends to Bourg Argental (530 m). Be sure to see the 12th-century Church of St. Andrew, whose portal is a listed historical monument.

Elevation gain: +890 m, -520 m Length: 32 km Time: 8 hours

To break up this long leg, it's possible to add an extra day by stopping in Roisey or the surrounding area. The itinerary would then be as follows:

Condrieu - Roisey: 14 km, Roisey - Bourg Argental: 20 km

After leaving the village, head towards the heights of St Sauveur en Rue, following an old railway line, before climbing to the Col du Tracol (1062 m), on the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Then, reach the perched hamlet of Les Sétoux . Accommodation is available in Lhermet (+2 km and -200 m).

After two more challenging stages and a 1000-meter ascent over two days, you'll now be traversing the gentler plateaus of the Massif Central. The route passes through the farming hamlets of Lhermet and Coirolles before entering the undergrowth of the Viallou forest. You'll arrive in Montfaucon via the charming hamlet of Les Chomats.

No villages to cross on this first part of the stage, traversing the granite plateau of Montfaucon, but the route passes by numerous isolated farms. We cross Tence, heading towards St Jeures, a small town where we stop for the night. Accommodation is available in Tence (-8 km, -2 hours).

It's time to head towards the highest point of this hike, Raffy, at 1276 meters . The route then offers beautiful views of the volcanic peaks of the Pays du Meygal. After the village of Queyrières nestled beneath its rocky outcrop, and Monedeyres with its "fake" church, the path reaches St Julien Chapteuil and its beautiful church of St Julien with its distinctive bell gable.

We finish this "Le Puy route" with a stage linking St Germain Laprade and its magnificent church, then Brives Charensac before immersing ourselves in this beautiful and large city of Le Puy en Velay with, at its center, the historic quarter and the cathedral, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The stay ended in the afternoon.