Le Puy-en-Velay - Saint-Privat-d'Allier

(S) Leave the campsite and take Avenue de Bonneville southwards (on the right as you face the Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe rock).

(1) Follow the signs for Clermont-Ferrand. At the traffic lights, turn left twice to reach a small square, then head right onto Boulevard Carnot. At the Nack Bar l’Arlequin, turn left onto Avenue de la Cathédrale and walk up to Notre-Dame-du-Puy Cathedral to reach the official start of the Camino Francès. (Don’t forget to get your credential stamped).

(2) With your back to the cathedral entrance, walk down Rue des Tables. At the bottom, after the fountain, turn left into Rue Raphaël then right to reach Place du Plot.

(3) Turn right onto Rue Saint-Jacques, which continues as Rue des Capucins. Go under the railway line and continue to the end of the street.

(4) Turn right onto Rue de Compostelle, then left, following the red and white markings; at the left-hand bend, take the path on the right. Return to Rue de Compostelle and continue to the right. Leave the town of Le Puy-en-Velay and enter the village of Esparly-Saint-Michel. Continue to the Y-junction, with the Scoop Pântanille on your right and a signpost on your left.

(5) At the signpost, turn left onto the Chemin Saint-Jacques. Continue until you reach a large car park and a multi-way junction.

(6) Continue straight on towards the south-west, ignoring the^PR® signs, until you reach the D589.

(7) Cross the D589 carefully, continue straight ahead, then turn left to cross the hamlet of La Roche and, again carefully, the D589, and go down the small street to the junction.

(8) Turn sharply right, then at the Y-junction, head down to the left. At the^second right-hand bend, turn left into the picnic area and continue along the^GR®65; after the junction with a wide path coming from the right, you will reach the Y-junction of^{the GR®65}and a^PR®.

(9) Keep right on the^GR®65and continue to the village of Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaison, near the town hall.

(10) Turn right .Note: there is a shop and bread delivery point here. Continue along Rue du Château, then turn right after the long stone wall towards Tallode. Pass under the D906 and continue on the^GR®65. Cross the hamlet of Tallode and continue along the small tarmac road, following signs for Liac/Lic, until you reach the hamlet of Liac, at the signpost of the same name.

(11) Continue to the right towards Chemin de Saint-Jacques/Montbonnet, along the stony path to the hamlet of Lic.

(12) Turn right at the signpost, still following the direction of the Chemin de Saint-Jacques. Stay on this path for about 2.2 km, heading roughly west, until you reach the entrance to the village of Ramourouscle at the T-junction.

(13) Turn right. At the Y-junction, follow the sign for the chapel on the left, leave the village via the Route du Gray and continue to the Chapelle Saint-Roch, about 1.2 km further on.

(14) Continue to the Y-junction, then turn right to cross Monbonnet and join the D589 at the Stop sign.

(15) Follow the D-road to the left for 150 m, before crossing it (at the pedestrian crossing) and turning right at the Grange lodge onto an uphill path. Cross a plateau of vast meadows heading north-west until you reach a junction after a left-hand bend.

(16) Turn right and continue along the path climbing towards the dark ridge of fir trees until you reach a Y-junction.

(17) Head left towards the highest point of the route, Lac de l’Œuf, which you follow on the left.

(18) At the T-junction, continue left then turn right onto the first path to begin the descent and reach the D589 opposite a bus stop.

(19) Cross the D589 carefully and continue to the right until you reach the village of Le Chier. You will come to a crossroads opposite a cross

(20) Go round the cross to the left, follow the road and continue westwards to the junction with the D589 at Saint-Privat-d'Allier.

(21) Continue carefully along the D589 in the same direction. Pass through the village, go past the “Accueil randonneurs” and continue to the KOMPOST’L bar-tobacconist.

(22) Turn right onto the gently sloping road. Refreshments available on the right at the start of the climb. Pass the town hall and continue to the left-hand bend where you will find the sign for the campsite and your finish point (E).

Before setting off, I recommend heading to the cathedral at 7 am to attend the blessing of the pilgrims. It’s well worth it!
Provisions available in Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaison (10) and Saint-Privat-d'Allier (E)
Camping in Saint-Privat-d'Allier: Camping le Marchat, open from 1 May to 30 September, tel. 04 71 57 22 13
Info:
Accommodation for pilgrims in Saint-Privat in case of bad weather.
Bed and Breakfast, Welcoming Walkers Tel: 04 71 57 29 12 - Info:
La Cabourne Stopover Lodge Tel. 04 71 57 25 50 Info:
Le Kompost'L Lodge Tel. 04 71 57 24 78 - Info:
La Vieille Auberge Hotel and Restaurant Tel. 04 71 57 20 56

Transport:
Aumont-Aubrac SNCF station Information:
Aumont-Aubrac is the first SNCF station after Le Puy-en-Velay. It allows you to cover the first section of the route and continue the journey at a later date.

The Compostel’Bus Information:
The Compostel’Bus runs between Le Puy and Conques. It allows you to shorten a stage, return to a station or collect your car in Le Puy. Timetables can be found on the website. There are stops in the villages along the route. La Malle Postale also offers this service. The price depends on the journey undertaken.

Le Puy-en-Velay: the old town with its many Renaissance houses, the Cathedral, the Hôtel Dieu, and the Rocher Saint-Michel. In the old town, you can also visit the Camino, which traces the history of the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Place du Plot and its pilgrims’ fountain, from where Rue Saint-Jacques leads to Santiago de Compostela and Rue Saint-Gilles leads to La Régordane.

(10) Saint-Christophe sur Dolaizon: a beautiful little 12th-century church built of red volcanic stone

(14) Montbonnet: the 11th-century Saint-Roch Chapel: most of the chapels were originally called Saint-Jacques Chapel and were renamed Saint-Roch (in line with the pilgrimage to Rome).

(E) St-Privat-d'Allier: Priory founded in 1046. 13th-century church and remains of the feudal castle