Rother

French Way of St. James Le Puy-Pyrenees hiking guide

<p>The pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela to the tomb of St. James the Apostle lead right across Europe. For over a thousand years, pilgrims from Central, Western and Northern Europe have been making their way through the southwest of France towards the Pyrenees mountain range in order to continue their pilgrimage towards Santiago. Of the four main routes that lead through France, the Via Podiensis, which starts in Le Puy-en-Velay in the southern Massif Central, is considered to be outstanding in terms of cultural highlights and scenic diversity.</p> <p>Bettina Forst travels this section of the Way of St. James in Europe time and again and also accompanies hiking groups. She describes the Via Podiensis, which is marked as the GR 65 long-distance hiking trail, in a total of 33 stages up to the connection to the Spanish Way of St. James in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port / Roncesvalles or at the Col de Somport. The route, which is popular with pilgrims and walkers alike, leads through the charming southern Massif Central via the lonely stretches of land of the Margeride and the Aubrac massif, through the lovely Lot valley, the limestone plateaus of the Causses and the hilly landscape of Gascony to the Pyrenees. The sparsely populated and sparsely farmed mountain regions and plateaus present a diverse flora between large wooded areas, streams and natural lakes. It is no wonder that the Via Podiensis is considered the most scenic of the French Way of St. James. Embedded in this varied region, churches, monasteries, castles, fortresses and medieval towns line the route.</p> <p>Detailed maps, precise descriptions of the individual sections of the route including informative altitude profiles and extensive information on the infrastructure along the way, such as medical care, shopping facilities and public transport, make it easier to plan individual routes, even if they deviate from the stages selected in the hiking guide. Comprehensive information is also provided on the location and facilities of the hostels along the way. General tips on tour planning and equipment at the beginning of the book round off the practical value of this handy Rother hiking guide, now in its third edition. Special attention is also paid to cultural, historical and scenic sights. A selection of informative pictures gives a first impression of the diversity of the Via Podiensis and makes you want to hike through one of the oldest cultural landscapes in Europe. </p> <p>Bettina Forst | Bergverlag Rother | 4th edition 2015 | 192 pages | 89 color illustrations, 38 hiking maps at a scale of 1:100,000, one map at a scale of 1:250,000, three city maps, 34 elevation profiles and two overview maps | format 11.5 x 16.5 cm | paperback with Polytex lamination</p>