In summary
-
Sports
-
Duration7 days
-
LevelConfirmed
-
DestinationHaute-Loire / Le Puy-en-Velay
-
AgeFrom 16 - 90 years
-
CO₂-Emissions61.86 kg CO2
-
Type of stayIndependent traveler
In a few words
You'll cross the Pilat Regional Natural Park and the Meygal plateaus, following in the footsteps of German and Swiss pilgrims. This section of the route is undoubtedly one of the most interesting in terms of its historical context, natural beauty, and hiking experience. For centuries, these paths have been used by pilgrims and hikers.
You have reached the end of your hike in Le Puy-en-Velay. It was from the Notre-Dame du Puy cathedral, perched atop its volcanic peak, that Godescalc, Bishop of Le Puy, set off for Santiago de Compostela. He was the first non-Spanish pilgrim to complete the pilgrimage in the year 950. This is where the Via Podiensis begins.
The highlights
-
A varied and interesting hiking trail away from the crowds
-
The vineyards of the Rhône Valley
-
Crossing the plateaus of Mézenc and Velay
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 6h
- Average distance/day: 23 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 572 m
- Average daily descent: 515 m
Management
Program
-
Condrieu
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Arrival at your accommodation in Condrieu or Les Roches de Condrieu, villages located on each bank of the Rhône, in the late afternoon, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 1 -
Condrieu - Bourg Argental
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 8h
- Distance 34 km
- Positive elevation gain 890 m
- Negative elevation 520 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
After following the Rhône along the Via Rhona, we leave the Rhône valley, immediately gaining altitude.
The passage near the Calvary Chapel offers a beautiful view of the meanders of the river.
The route then winds through the apple orchards of Bessey and St Appolinard. The final climb leads to the highest point of the day at the Croix de Sainte Blandine (690 m), before descending to St Julien Molin Molette.
After a climb along a balcony path, your 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.
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: 21 km, Roisey – Bourg Argental: 20 km
You will find the price of this additional step in the Dates and Prices section.
Day 2 -
Bourg Argental - Les Sétoux
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h45
- Distance 20 km
- Positive elevation gain 830 m
- Negative elevation 370 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Once out of the village, we head towards the heights of St Sauveur en Rue by taking an old railway line, before climbing to the Col du Tracol (1062 m), on the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
We then reach the hilltop hamlet of Les Sétoux .
You can be accommodated in Lhermet (+ 2 km and - 200 m).
Day 3 -
Les Sétoux - Montfaucon
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h15
- Distance 18 km
- Positive elevation gain 440 m
- Negative elevation 670 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
After two more challenging stages and the ascent of 1000 meters of elevation gain in two days, you are now moving through the plateaus of the Massif Central with gentler terrain.
We pass through the farming hamlets of Lhermet and Coirolles before reaching the undergrowth of the Viallou forest. We arrive at Montfaucon via the beautiful hamlet of Les Chomats.
Day 4 -
Montfaucon - St Jeures
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 20 km
- Positive elevation gain 490 m
- Negative elevation 350 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
No village to cross for this first part of the stage traversing the granite plateau of Montfaucon, but the route passes by many isolated farms.
We pass through Tence, heading towards St Jeures, a small town where we stop for the night. Accommodation is available in Tence (- 8 km, - 2 hours).
Day 5 -
St Jeures - St Julien Chapteuil
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 21 km
- Positive elevation gain 530 m
- Negative elevation 730 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
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 under its rock and that of Monedeyres and its "false" church, the path joins St Julien Chapteuil and its beautiful St Julien church with comb-shaped bell tower.
Day 6 -
St Julien Chapteuil - Le Puy en Velay
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h30
- Distance 20 km
- Positive elevation gain 250 m
- Negative elevation 450 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
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.
Day 7
Note
The times were calculated based on a pace of 300 meters of elevation gain per hour uphill, 500 meters of elevation loss per hour downhill, and 4 km per hour on flat terrain, in order to allow for a comparison of the different hikes on the same basis. They only include actual walking time; all meal breaks, rest stops, or periods of quiet contemplation must be added.
We may need to modify your itinerary if the planned accommodations are unavailable during your travel dates. The alternative accommodations offered will be of a similar category and their location will have minimal impact on your route. Rest assured, these changes are always made in your best interest, for your safety and comfort!
Note : On this section of the Camino de Santiago, accommodations are limited and small. Depending on closure days, the various possible accommodations at certain stages are often several kilometers apart. The stage lengths mentioned in this guide are based on typical locations along the route and are therefore only indicative. Once you have the complete itinerary, you will have all the information needed to recalculate the actual distance.
Accommodation
Access
Go to the starting point
St Clair les Roches SNCF train station (2 km from Condrieu)
On the Lyon - Valence line.
Numerous connections.
It is very close to your starting point.
SNCF information at 36 35 or www.oui.sncf or www.ter-sncf.com/rhone_alpes .
Avoid traveling on weekends or public holidays as SNCF services are much more difficult on those days.
Price details
The price includes
- Organization fees
- Food and accommodation on a half-board basis
- The provision of a complete hiking file
- The provision of the FFRP guidebook
- Tourist taxes
The price does not include
- Luggage transport
- The “solo supplement” if you are travelling alone
- Lunch (except for full board)
- Wine during meals
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Individual equipment
- Possible visits
- Shuttles or taxis to retrieve your car or to shorten certain steps
- The journeys to and from the reception location.
- The different types of insurance: Cancellation and/or Search and Rescue Costs - Assistance - Repatriation - Trip Interruption
- Luggage transport
- All options not included in the price
- Anything not listed under "Price includes"
Options
- Single room : CHF137.22 / person
- Luggage transfer for 1 person : CHF361.35 / person
- Luggage transfer for 2 people : CHF205.83 / person
- Luggage transfer for 3 people : CHF141.79 / person
- Luggage transfer for 4 or more people : CHF105.20 / person
- Return transfer Le Puy – Condrieu by taxi : CHF301.88 / reservation
- Extra night in Condrieu - Single room : CHF73.18 / person
- Additional night in Condrieu - Room for 2 (double or twin) : CHF56.72 / person
- Additional night in Le Puy-en-Velay - Single room : CHF91.48 / person
- Extra night in Le Puy-en-Velay - Double room : CHF64.04 / person
- Additional stopover in Roisey in a single room : CHF141.79 / person
- Additional stopover in Roisey in a room for 2 (double/twin) : CHF91.48 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (
For example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return date. Consider visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to take into account any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
⚠️ For this stay, you must also bring your health insurance card.
Equipment
Equipment to bring
- 1 backpack of 35/40 litres with a flexible frame, equipped with a waist belt.
- A large plastic bag to protect the inside of the backpack.
- 1 pair of excellent quality sunglasses with side protection.
- A water bottle (1.5 liters minimum).
- 1 Opinel-type pocket knife.
- 1 small pouch (preferably waterproof) to put your money, identity card, health insurance card and assistance contract in.
- Toilet paper
- Sunscreen + lip balm.
- Airtight plastic container (minimum capacity 0.5 litre) + cup + cutlery.
- 1 survival blanket.
- Camera, binoculars (optional).
- A pair of poles is recommended.
Clothing to bring
The principles:
For the upper body, the 3-layer principle allows you to manage almost all situations:
- A long-sleeved undershirt made of breathable material (hollow fiber).
- A warm fleece fur jacket.
- A windproof, waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex type jacket.
When hiking in calm, sunny weather, a base layer may be sufficient. In rain, snow, or wind, simply add a waterproof jacket. In very cold weather or during breaks, a fleece jacket is an essential addition.
Choose quick-drying clothes , so avoid cotton. Opt for wool (merino wool underwear is comfortable and doesn't develop unpleasant odors), silk, and synthetic fibers that will keep you dry and warm for as long as possible.
Remember to dress warmly before you get cold , but especially to remove layers before you get too hot . Sweat is a hiker's enemy, as it dampens clothing that quickly becomes icy during breaks. Therefore, it's very rare to undertake a climb wearing a fleece jacket.
The ideal list : (to be adapted according to the hike and the season)
- 1 sun hat or cap.
- 1 scarf or neck warmer.
- Short-sleeved T-shirts in breathable material preferred (1 for 2 to 3 days of walking).
- 1 long-sleeved undershirt in breathable material or a shirt.
- 1 fleece fur jacket.
- 1 windproof, waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex type jacket with hood.
- 1 rain cape or a bivvy bag if you own the jacket above.
- 1 pair of loose-fitting trekking trousers.
- 1 pair of shorts or bermudas.
- Hiking socks (1 pair for 2 to 3 days of hiking). Opt for wool or hiking-specific socks. Be careful with cotton as it can cause blisters.
- 1 pair of high-top hiking boots with good ankle support and waterproof soles (Vibram type). Remember to test new shoes and those that haven't been used for a long time beforehand.
- Underwear.
- At the beginning and end of the season (April and October), it may be useful to also have gloves and a hat.
They traveled with us
