Welcome to Our Via Podiensis GR65 Blog
Via Podiensis GR65 Blog
Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle
Welcome to our blog about walking the Via Podiensis, part of the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle across France. From May to July, we spent 41 days walking 736 km from Le Puy-en-Velay to Roncesvalles, Spain. As a naturalist and a photographer, we set out not just to reach Santiago but to walk slowly, notice the birds and wildflowers, capture the light, and reflect on the ancient paths beneath our feet.
Thank you for reading, and 'Bon Chemin'!
Ready to start your own pilgrimage on the GR65? Scroll through the posts above, and feel free to comment or share your own experiences below.
Continuing Our Pilgrimage Journeys
Walking the Via Podiensis from Le Puy-en-Velay to Roncesvalles was an opportunity to experience the traditions of pilgrimage through a very different landscape. Over 41 days and 736 kilometres, we followed ancient pathways through the volcanic highlands of the Velay, the Aubrac Plateau, historic villages, river valleys, agricultural countryside, and the foothills of the Pyrenees. Along the way, we discovered a different rhythm of pilgrimage, shaped by French hospitality, regional cultures, changing seasons, and the many small encounters that made the journey memorable.
For us, one of the most meaningful moments came when we returned to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and began climbing toward the Pyrenees once again. Having previously followed the Camino Francés from the French border to Santiago de Compostela, we were now approaching familiar landscapes with experiences and expectations shaped by another pilgrimage. The mountains had not changed, but our understanding of the Way had. Returning to a place we already knew reminded us that walking the same path does not necessarily mean having the same experience.
Our exploration of the Camino de Santiago also continued two years later along the Camino Portugués Central, where we followed another historic pilgrimage route north from Lisbon through Portugal toward Santiago. We also travelled beyond Santiago along the Camino Finisterre and Muxía, where the Atlantic coast offered a different sense of arrival and another opportunity to reflect on the meaning of pilgrimage.
These journeys became part of a much larger collection of walks across Europe and Canada, each offering its own landscapes, natural history, challenges, and opportunities to discover the world at a slower pace. For more of our pilgrimage journals, long-distance walks, and journeys by trail, rail, and sail, we invite you to explore the wider Come Walk With Us travel collection.
Bon Chemin, Buen Camino, and see you on the trail!
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