Le Chemin de St. Jacques Part 2

Today’s walk begins from where we left off yesterday in the tiny hamlet of Corn. Trekking through the tranquil Valle de la Célé, wedged between high limestone cliffs, the terrain of the walking paths will vary – some along the river and others overlooking the valley floor. We end our walk today in the sleepy hamlet of Saint Suplice and return to Figeac for a second night in our hotel. (B= Breakfast)

We follow a hilly trail from Saint Suplice and hopefully time will allow us to visit several sites in the area – like the semi-ruinous abbey in Marcilhac-Sur-Célé with faded 15th-century frescoes.
Sleep in Cabrerets at a riverside hotel.

We leave our hotel in Cabrerets and begin a slight uphill climb to the prehistoric caves of Pech Merle where we step back 30,000 years in time… The ornate caves of Pech Merle are part of a multitude of a dozen caves located in a radius of 10-km which bears witness to the oldest traces of human settlements in the Quercy region. The trail then continues through an oak forest until it drops down to the Lot River, at the confluence of the Célé.
We’ll follow along the D662 for just one kilometer where we then cross the Lot River to the hamlet of Bouzies. From here, it’s a 4-kilometer climb up to one of the prettiest villages in France, Saint-Cirq-LaPopie. Sleep Cabrerets.

From the village of Bouzies, the journey alternates between wide tracks and small sunken paths between low walls, and thick wooded forests and lots of ups and downs as we follow the Lot River to the village of Vers located in the Lot Department and Occitanie Region.
Sleep in Cabrerets

From Vers, we continue paralleling the river through oak woodlands to the grand capital of the Lot department – Cahors, famous for its rich red Malbec wines. This old Roman town is nestled inside a flat loop of the Lot, thus surrounded on three sides by water. We’ll see the town’s signature piece, the fortified three-towered bridge of Le Pont Valentré. Sleep in Cahors

From Cahors, we continue our pilgrimage to Lascabanes, where at the end of the day we shuttle back to Cahors. As the River Lot descends gently towards the Garonne, the valley widens and becomes rich with vineyards and orchards. This is the land of the Chasselas grape. Sleep in Cahors

We continue our walk from Lascabanes to the bastide village of Lauzerte, first passing through the small hamlet of Montcuq where a 12th-century defence tower keeps watch over the town square. We’ll continue to Lauzerte where we slumber in for the night. Lauzerte, which dominates the Lendou valley, is one of those beautiful fortified medieval villages. Sleep near Lauzerte

From Lauzerte to Moissac, our longest day, will be of rolling landscapes, grapevines and orchards along country roads. Moissac was a major stopping point for pilgrims during the middle-ages with the beautiful Abbey of Saint Pierre, a former Benedictine monastery founded in seventh century. The Tarn River now flows into the Garonne. Sleep: Moissac.

A pleasant stroll through the countryside of the Lot Garonne-Tarn department brings us to the hill town of Auvillar with its unusual market “halle.” Sleep in Auvillar

We then continue along the Chemin to the hamlet of Saint-Antoine where we find beautifully preserved ceiling frescos in the church. In Flamarens, peek into the half-collapsed church and admire the imposing castle in the center of the village. At the end of day in Miradoux, cool off in the church of Saint-Orens and visit the covered market near the town hall. Sleep in Auvillar

We walk from Miradoux to Lectoure today. Lectoure is situated on the banks of the Gers River in the Department of Gers. Originally a Gallo-Roman settlement, it later become the seat of the Diocese of Lectoure. The cathedral was founded in the 12th century and the fortified walls date back to the 5th century. One can plan to soak in the thermal baths or visit one of the many museums, if there is time. Sleep in Lectoure

By walking out the front door of our hotel in Lectoure, we re-join the Chemin by turning right. Our trail leads us to an interesting hamlet called La Romieu with its collegiate church and fascination with Les Chats – Cats. The town was founded by two German monks returning from their pilgrimage to Rome in the 11th century.
We’ll finish our walk in Castelnau-sur-l’Auvignon before our transfer back to Lectoure where we celebrate with a farewell dinner.

Let’s set the record straight, there is no connection between the town and the contraceptive device!
Our last walk is along the GR 65 from Castelnau-sur-l’Auvignon to Condom. Condom, also referred to as Condom-en-Armagnac, is located on the river Baïse.
After lunch, we’ll drive you to the train station in Auch where you’ll find connections to Toulouse, Spain and to Paris.

*This itinerary may change slightly due to accommodation availability, rain, festivals, and spontaneous side trips.
**This is not an endurance race, nor a competition. Please be respectful of all the different paces and walks of life that come together on this group trip.