Our Walk Along the Via Podiensis (GR 65)

Passage du Pelerin Via Podiensis Pilgrimage across France Today began with a communal breakfast at 6:00 AM, consisting of the usual orange juice, coffee, bread, jam, and fruit. This gite was very well set up for pilgrims who wanted to start early, and the cafeteria-style layout of breakfast was reminiscent of the Spanish portion of the Camino Frances . We shared the meal with two Danish ladies we had met at dinner last night and then headed off up the hill to the old town. We took a slight detour off The Way to the pilgrim garden to briefly enjoy the sunrise over the valley below. We then found the 'Passage du Pelerin' and started off with about 20 fellow hikers across the valley. We soon began climbing and were awarded with a spectacular view back over the city of Lauzerte. Pigeon Coops A few kilometres past the town, as we climbed along a shaded dirt pathway, we came across one of the first of several pigeoneries of the day.  Apparently, the pigeons used to be kept in...

Fields and Frescos along the Via Podiensis GR65 Pilgrimage Trek We spent a peaceful night in our tent but headed out early in an effort to avoid some of the heat. We made our way to the little kitchen building, where breakfast was already laid out, and after a quick meal of coffee and bread with jam, we continued uphill along the GR. When we reached the top of the first hill we were rewarded with wonderful panoramic views over a river valley with steep rocky sides, and later over the countryside which is more agricultural again. About 4 km past Lascabanes we came to the chapel of St. Jean de Froid. This was a simple but beautiful structure on the side of the GR, with a fountain located outside whose waters apparently are responsible for miraculous healing. Montcuq  The first large town we came to today was Montcuq, whose name was supposedly the fodder for a 1970s comedy sketch. This looked like a beautiful town, with a large Romanesque church and picaresque streets leadi...