page_title: Via Podiensis
section_title: The modern route
hierarchical_section_title: Via Podiensis / The modern route
caption_attribution_description: English: Typical waymarking along the path of the GR 65 in France warning hikers that this is not the path.
context_page_description: The Via Podiensis or the Le Puy Route is one of the four routes through France on the pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James the Great in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwest Spain. It leaves from Le-Puy-en-Velay and crosses the countryside in stages to the basque village of Ostabat. Near there it merges with two of the other routes, the via Turonensis and the via Lemovicensis which merge a little earlier.
  The three then become the Navarre Route, passing via the French town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and crossing the Pyrenees and the Spanish border by one path or another to Roncesvalles in the Spanish province of Basse-Navarre. Together they serve as the principal pilgrimage route across Spain, known as the Camino frances. The fourth French route, the via Tolosane, crosses the Pyrenees at a different point, becomes the Aragonese Way when it enters Spain, and joins the Camino frances further to the west.
  Before le Puy, the via Gebennensis leaves from Geneva, gathering Swiss and German pilgrims and feeding into the via Podiensis.
context_section_description: In Haute-Loire
  The route leaves Le Puy-en-Velay and passes Vals-près-le-Puy, Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaison, Bains, Saint-Privat-d'Allier, Monistrol-d'Allier, Saugues, and Chanaleilles.
  In Lozère
  The route passes Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole, Aumont-Aubrac, Malbouzon, Rieutort-d'Aubrac, Marchastel, and Nasbinals.
  In Aveyron
  The route passes Aubrac, Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac, Saint-Côme-d'Olt, Espalion, Bessuéjouls, Estaing, Golinhac, Espeyrac, Sénergues, Conques, Noailhac, Decazeville, and Livinhac-le-Haut.
  In Lot
  The route passes through Montredon, Saint-Félix, Figeac, and Béduer.
  A variant route follows the valley of the river Lot, passing Gréalou, Cajarc, and Varaire. A second variation passes through the valley of the Célé, Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie, Marcilhac-sur-Célé, Sauliac-sur-Célé, Cabrerets, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. The two variants converge and pass through Cahors, Labastide-Marnhac, Lhospitalet, Lascabanes, Montcuq. A third variant running north of the route passes through Rocamadour.
  In Tarn-et-Garonne
  The route passes Lauzerte, Moissac, and Auvillar.
  In Gers
  The route passes Saint-Antoine-sur-l'Arrats, Flamarens, Miradoux, Lectoure, La Romieu, Condom, Valence-sur-Baïse, Larressingle, Beaumont sur l'Osse, the Abbaye de Flaran (off the route), Montréal-du-Gers, Lauraët, Lagraulet-du-Gers, Eauze, Manciet, Nogaro, Barcelonne-du-Gers.
  In Landes
  The route passes Aire-sur-l'Adour, after which hikers and pilgrims can pass by either Pécorade and Geaune or by Miramont-Sensacq. Those two routes converge once more at Pimbo.
  In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
  The route passes Arzacq-Arraziguet, Vignes, Louvigny, Uzan, Pomps, Arthez-de-Béarn, Sauvelade, Navarrenx, Charre, Aroue, Saint-Palais, or Garris, Ostabat, Larceveau-Arros-Cibits, Saint-Jean-le-Vieux, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The final stage passes via the Roncevaux Pass (elevation 1057 m.) to reach the village of Roncesvalles.
caption: Typical waymarking: "this is not the path".
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