I Love Walking in France

22/12/2024

Martel to Rocamadour
Day 1: Martel to Turenne (Saturday 8 June 2024)

One of many beautiful houses in Turenne.

21/12/2024

Camino Le Puy – days 2 & 3: Saint-Privat-d’Allier to Saugues to Le Sauvage

On days 2 and 3, Irina walks from Saint-Privat-d’Allier to Saugues and then to Le Sauvage. Neither day is particularly long, but both are challenging – for different reasons. The first half of the day into Saugues involves a lot of relentless descending and climbing, but also provides some magnificent views. Once the path levels out shortly after Chapelle de Madeleine at Montaur, the waking is much easier, but there’s no denying, it is a strenuous day! (The view as she approaches Saugues is one of my favourites along this walk.)

Despite September usually being one of the drier months to walk, on day 3 from Saugues to Le Sauvage, Irina endures an almost constant downpour. Although I can’t claim to enjoy walking in heavy rain, for Irina, they are conditions she enjoys 😊

Hi, I’m Irina, and this time, I’m walking the Camino Le Puy – one of the oldest and most scenic pilgrimage routes in France! 🇫🇷 This journey was completely...

20/12/2024

Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy
Day 8: Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac to Saint-Côme-d’Olt (06 June 2022)

Maison Pons de Caylus, one of the old gates as you enter Saint-Côme-d’Olt.

19/12/2024

Walking l’Échappée Jurassienne
Day 7 – Château-Chalon to Baume-les-Messieurs (1 September 2018)

Blois-sur-Seille.

Our furry friend was still tagging along and we were worried that he was now too far from home to find his way back. A kind lady in the village offered to phone the mairie in Château-Chalon and let them know we had someone’s dog and what direction we were headed.

18/12/2024

Camino Podcast Episode 65 – Figeac to Cahors along the traditional GR 65 route

Which path to follow between Figeac and Cahors is often a difficult decision. On this episode of the Via Podiensis Podcast Dave Whitson (author of the Cicerone Guide) talks to Bronwen Perry who makes a compelling case for the traditional route along the GR 65, passing through Cajarc and Limogne-en-Quercy.

Later Dave talks to Dr George Gale about the threat posed to the fabulous Malbec wines produced in the Cahors area when the phylloxera bug infiltrated vines 150 years ago.

Let's re-walk the Via Podiensis together! Whereas many of the pilgrim interviews on the podcast take a thematic approach, focusing on a few big picture issues, this series of episodes will dig more in

17/12/2024

Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy
Day 8: Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac to Saint-Côme-d’Olt (06 June 2022)

Also slightly off the path in Saint-Côme-d’Olt is l’Oradou, a memorial to victims of the plague which killed three-quarters of the population in 1586.

15/12/2024

Martel to Rocamadour
Day 1: Martel to Turenne (Saturday 8 June 2024)

Turenne. The ruins of the château are, of course, the highlight but climbing up to reach them is made ever so much more pleasant by the pretty streets leading up the hill.

14/12/2024

Coast of Brittany

From rugged headlands and dramatic cliffs, to swathes of dancing wildflowers, wide sandy beaches and quaint fishing ports—this 160-kilometre (100-mile) walk along the coast of Brittany has it all!

Although some Tourist Office websites describe the GR 34 path as being dangerous in many places, most of this walk follows a gentle route. There is very little strenuous climbing and, on a sunny day with a gentle breeze, I would rate this section from Camaret-sur-Mer to Audierne (and continuing along the GR 34 to Lorient) as my favourite walk in France!

Learn more at https://ilovewalkinginfrance.com/coast-of-brittany/

13/12/2024

Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy
Day 8: Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac to Saint-Côme-d’Olt (06 June 2022)

Chapelle des Pénitents in Saint-Côme-d’Olt is slightly off the path but well worth the short detour.

12/12/2024

Walking l’Échappée Jurassienne
Day 7 – Château-Chalon to Baume-les-Messieurs (1 September 2018)

Blois-sur-Seille.

11/12/2024

Camino Podcast Episode 63 – Estaing to Figeac

On this stage of the Chemin de Saint-Jacques, Dave Whitson (author of the Cicerone Guide) takes us from one ‘most beautiful village in France’ (Estaing) to another (Conques) before continuing on to the equally beautiful but much larger town of Figeac. Filled with interesting museums and monuments set among narrow streets and medieval buildings, Figeac is a common choice for a rest day.

Later, Dave calls upon two experts to discuss the theft of religious relics and their relocation to other sites along the chemin, and the history of Decazeville – a former mining town, often bypassed by walkers but well worth the short detour into the centre of town.

Let's walk the Via Podiensis together! Whereas many of the pilgrim interviews on the podcast take a thematic approach, focusing on a few big picture issues, this series of episodes will dig more into

10/12/2024

Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy
Day 8: Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac to Saint-Côme-d’Olt (06 June 2022)

The twisted spire of Église Saint-Côme et Saint-Damian towers above the roofline of Saint-Côme-d’Olt.

08/12/2024

Martel to Rocamadour
Day 1: Martel to Turenne (Saturday 8 June 2024)

Today’s walk finishes in Turenne. It was good to arrive in the early afternoon with plenty of time, and energy, to climb the narrow streets up to the castle.

07/12/2024

Camino Le Puy – day 1: Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Privat-d’Allier

In September (2024), Irina Shakhova left Le Puy-en-Velay to begin a walk along the Via Podiensis. With no preplanning or prebooking of accommodation beyond the first night, she set out to film and document her experience.

If you have walked the Camino in Spain and wondered whether walking in France could be for you, Irina’s YouTube videos (she has done both Caminos now) will help you decide. Remember as you follow along, that stage lengths are completely flexible and there is no need to do long days if you prefer to take it a little easier.

And if you’ve already walked this route, Irina will take you on a fabulous journey down memory lane.

Shout out to Sharon Livingstone for bringing this to my attention!

🌟 Join Me on an Unplanned Adventure! 🌟Hi, I’m Irina, and this time, I’m walking the Camino Le Puy – one of the oldest and most scenic pilgrimage routes in ...

06/12/2024

Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy
Day 8: Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac to Saint-Côme-d’Olt (06 June 2022)

Approaching Saint-Côme-d’Olt.

05/12/2024

Walking l’Échappée Jurassienne
Day 7 – Château-Chalon to Baume-les-Messieurs (1 September 2018)

Parish church in Blois-sur-Seille.

04/12/2024

Camino Podcast Episode 62 – Aumont-Aubrac to Estaing

In episode 62 of Rewalking the Via Podiensis, Dave Whitson (author of the Cicerone Guide) takes us from Aumont-Aubrac to Estaing – avec moi! It was a thrill and an honour to chat with Dave and relive my memories of walking in the summer of 2022.

The highlight though, of both this section and this episode, is Dave’s chat with Michelle Crawford who raises Aubrac cattle on her farm in Texas – such a fascinating insight into these beautiful beasts who allow us to share the path.

Let's walk the Via Podiensis together! Whereas many of the pilgrim interviews on the podcast take a thematic approach, focusing on a few big picture issues, this series of episodes will dig more into

03/12/2024

Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy
Day 8: Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac to Saint-Côme-d’Olt (06 June 2022)

Chez Muriel is known for serving a delicious farçous (a fritter made with chard leaves and onion). Unfortunately, by 3pm, she had run out. The tomato and mozzarella salad was did not disappoint !