On the Way of St James from Le Puy-en-Velay to Chanaleilles

First stage of the Way of St James by bike, heading to Chanaleilles from Le Puy-en-Velay. This route follows the Way of St James, avoiding roads with traffic as much as possible and respecting pilgrims on foot. There are, however, a few technical sections that can be avoided by taking the road.

Details

94853075
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  • Touring/Gravel
    Activity: Touring/Gravel
  • ↔
    Distance: 57.47 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 6 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,285 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 821 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,163 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 590 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
  • ⚐ City: Le Puy-en-Velay (43000)
  • ⚑
    Start: N 45.034178° / E 3.888298°
  • ⚑
    End: N 44.85978° / E 3.490602°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2635E, 2636E, 2735E, 2735O, 2736E, 2736O, 2835OT

  • ◶
    Type of surface:
  •  
     
     
     91% Road  5% Byway  4% Path
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the route

Leave your car in the car park of the "Bon Secours" Clinic, Rue Henri Dunant.

(S) On leaving the car park, walk down Rue Henri Dunant, then, at the junction with Avenue Maréchal Foch, turn left. 70 metres further on, turn right onto Avenue du Val Vert, and stay on this road until the roundabout.

(1) Take the second exit (Avenue Jeanne d'Arc) and, at the next roundabout, turn left up Route des Carmels. Before reaching the top of the hill, turn right onto Avenue de l'Europe and continue until you reach a side road.

(2) Continue left (Chemin d'Eycenac), pass the hamlet of Bauzy, and come to a path on the right.

(3) Take this path and, when you reach the tarmac, keep right until you reach a multi-way junction with a wayside cross at No. 597.

(4) Continue to the right, cross Dolaizon and carry on along the D31 until you reach the junction with the D27, Place du Lavoir, in Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaison. Note the castle on your right.

(5) Ignore the D27 and head downhill to the right. Pass under the N102 road bridge, then through the hamlet of Tallode. Stay on the GR®65 and head towards Liac.

(6) Ignore the Chemin de la Rilhade to the right and left, then turn right straight away onto the GR®65. Continue along a track suitable for vehicles and, at Lic, keep right at the three-way junctions until you reach the next three-way junction.

(7) Turn left and head straight on to Ramourrouscle. Enter the hamlet and reach the junction with the fountain on your right.

(8) Turn left onto Route du Gray, heading towards Montbonnet. As you approach the village, note the Chapelle Saint-Roch on your left, and follow the road keeping to the right until you reach the four-way junction with a stone cross on your right.

(9) Turn left and follow the D589 to Saint-Privat-d'Allier.

(10) Continue on the D589 and join the D789 just before the bridge over the Allier at Monistrol-d'Allier.

(11) Turn right onto the D789, Rue des Jacquets, pass the town hall and cross the Eiffel Bridge. 300 m further on, turn right onto Montée de la Madeleine. Follow this road as it climbs and joins the D589 at the end of Route d’Escluzels.

(12) Follow this road uphill to the right until you reach the giant sculpture of the Gévandan wolf. There is a rest area just before Saugue.

(13) Continue downhill, staying on this B-road, until you reach the roundabout at the bottom of the village of Saugue.

(14) Take thesecond exit onto the D589, then quickly turn left onto the D33 towards Grées, and reach the three-way junction with the D337.

(15) Keep left and follow the D337 towards Grèzes until you reach the D335.

(16) Follow it to the left, passing through the villages of Grèzes, La Clauze and Le Falzet, until you reach the D587.

(17) Turn right, pass through Villeret d'Apchier, and follow the D587 until the next road, which descends to the left.

(18) Turn onto this road and, at Moulin du Pin, turn right. Keep right at the following junctions and reach the Refuge du Lodge du Pont in Chanaleilles (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 666 m - Bon Secours Clinic car park - Statue de La Fayette (Le Puy-en-Velay)
  2. 1 : km 1.11 - alt. 653 m - Roundabout
  3. 2 : km 2.47 - alt. 686 m - Cross-country route (Chemin d'Eycenac) - Dolaizon (ruisseau) - Affluent de la Borne
  4. 3 : km 4.13 - alt. 847 m - Path on the right
  5. 4 : km 5.03 - alt. 891 m - Multiple crossroads with a wayside shrine, no. 597
  6. 5 : km 8.02 - alt. 912 m - Place du Lavoir - Église de Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaison
  7. 6 : km 9.83 - alt. 943 m - Liac
  8. 7 : km 11.16 - alt. 981 m - Three-way junction
  9. 8 : km 13.23 - alt. 1,038 m - Route du Gray, towards Montbonnet
  10. 9 : km 15.54 - alt. 1,109 m - D589
  11. 10 : km 23.26 - alt. 871 m - Saint-Privat-d'Allier, D589
  12. 11 : km 28.26 - alt. 614 m - D789, Rue des Jacquets - Allier (rivière)
  13. 12 : km 31.07 - alt. 827 m - End of the Route d'Escluzels, D589 - Ance du Sud (rivière)
  14. 13 : km 37.73 - alt. 1,050 m - The wolf of Saugues
  15. 14 : km 42.13 - alt. 931 m - D589 - Seuge (rivière) - Affluent de l'Allier
  16. 15 : km 45.7 - alt. 1,067 m - D337, towards Grèzes
  17. 16 : km 47.99 - alt. 1,115 m - D335, towards Grèzes
  18. 17 : km 54.08 - alt. 1,113 m - D587 - Virlange (rivière)
  19. 18 : km 55.65 - alt. 1,105 m - Turn left
  20. E : km 57.47 - alt. 1,122 m - Jacquère du Pont Refuge

Notes

The refuge offers half-board to pilgrims on the Way of St James upon presentation of their credencial.

Worth a visit

The statue of the Gévaudan wolf before reaching Saugues.
The Allier Gorges on the descent along the road from Saint-Privat to Monistrol.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.