The Via Podiensis is the classic among the French caminos. You start at the cathedral in Le Puy-en-Velay and walk more than 700 kilometres to the foot of the Pyrenees. It is the best-known and busiest route in France, so you will rarely walk alone. Unless you want to, of course. The route is moderately demanding: long days with plenty of ups and downs, but rarely anything you can’t handle.
The landscape keeps surprising you. Early on you already face a solid climb, for example towards Saugues. Then comes the wide, open plateau of the Aubrac. After that you descend to the abbey church of Conques and follow the valleys of the Lot and the Célé. In Cahors you cross the Pont Valentré, and Moissac has its famous cloister. Further southwest, the hills of the Gers and the Landes become softer and broader. Your pace slows down naturally. At Ostabat the routes from Vézelay and Tours join yours, and that’s when you know the end is near.
September is the best month to walk. It isn’t too hot then and the light is beautiful. From January to March and in November it is cool and often rainy. You won’t necessarily be finished in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: this is where the Camino Francés begins, continuing on to Santiago. You can also branch off onto the Voie Nive-Bidassoa, towards the Camino del Norte.