'''Routes of Santiago de Compestela in France'''

Understand

The Routes to Santiogo de Compestala, that run through France have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List

The four main pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela in France began at Paris, Vezelay, Le Puy, and Arles respectively, and each of these was fed by a number of subsidiary routes. Thus, the start of the Paris route saw the convergence of routes from Boulogne, Tournai, and the Low Countries, whilst routes from Caen, Mont-Saint-Michel, and Brittany joined it at intermediate points such as Tours, Poitiers, Saint-Jean-d'Angely, and Bordeaux (which also served as the port for pilgrims coming by sea from England and coastal areas of Brittany and Normandy). Le Puy was the link with the Rhone valley, whilst those coming from Italy passed through Arles. The three western routes converged at Ostabat, crossing the Pyrenees by means of the Ibaneta pass, whilst the eastern route from Arles used the Somport pass; the two routes joined in Spain at Puente-la-Reina. The total length identified as being associated with the pilgrimage is over 5000km, but only seven short sections on the Le Puy route (the via podensis of the Codex) are coherent enough for inclusion in the nomination. The national survey of Santiago de Compostela routes in France has identified some 800 properties of all kinds that have associations with the pilgrimage. In this inscription, 71 properties were selected. In addition, seven stretches of the Chemin du Puy are included in the nomination.

Get around

The Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain has an important place in Western Euriopean history dating back to the middle ages. To be considered a true pilgrim the last 100 km must be covered on foot or the last 200km by bike or horse.

See

The Route runs through many of the most interesting places in France

Do

Buy

A scallop shell is the traditional symbol of Pilgrims to Santiago

Eat

Drink

Sleep

There are traditinal hostels along the route offering low cost accommodation to pilgrims

PILGRIMS'HOME HOSPITALET SAINT JACQUES 21 rue Felix Despagnet 40800 Aire sur l'Adour France Gites de France: classified and Compostelle label. Established and kept by two pilgrims. Just on _gle Puy_h way of Saint James (GR 65), 100m from the centre of the city and shops. 14 places in 5 bedrooms. Beds are not superimposed. Fares 2009: 12 ?/person, breakfast 3 ?, camping place 7 ?/person. Kitchen full equiped, central heating, veranda, garden. Quiet and rest place. Reservation: possible by phone 05 58 03 26 22 or e-mail . Only for pilgrims walking (also for those who ask to special company to carry their rucksack), with donkey.. Sorry it is impossible to welcome persons using a vehicle. Internet: [http://www.saintjacques-hospitalet.fr/]

Get out

78 sites are included on the World Heritage List Here is a full list of all the sites arranged by region.

  • Aquitane
  • Perigueux : Cathedral

    Saint-Avit-Senieur : Church

    Le Buisson-de-Cadouin : Abbay

    Bazas : Old Cathedral

    Bordeaux : Cathedrale Saint-Andre, Basilica of Saint-Seurin, Basilica of Saint-Michel

    La Sauve-Majeure : Abbaye, Church of Saint-Pierre

    Soulac-sur-Mer : Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Fin-des-Terres

    Aire-sur-l'Adour : Church of Sainte-Quitterie

    Mimizan : clocher

    Sorde-l'Abbaye : abbaye Saint-Jean

    Saint-Sever : abbaye

    Agen : Cathedral Saint Caprais

    Bayonne : Cathedral Sainte-Marie

    L'Hopital-Saint-Blaise : Church

    Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port : Bridge of Saint Jacques

    Oloron-Sainte-Marie : Eglise Sainte Marie

  • Auverge
  • Clermont-Ferrand : eglise Notre-Dame-du-Port

    Le-Puy-en-Velay : Cathedrale, Hotel-Dieu Saint-Jacques

  • Normandy
  • Mont-Saint-Michel

  • Bourgone
  • La Charite-sur-Loire : eglise prieurale Sainte-Croix-Notre-Dame

    Asquins : eglise Saint-Jacques d'Asquins

    Vezelay : ancienne abbatiale Sainte-Madeleine

  • Centre
  • Neuvy-Saint-Sepulchre : collegiale Saint-Etienne (anciennement collegiale Saint-Jacques)

    Bourges : cathedrale Saint-Etienne

  • Champagne
  • L'Epine : basilique Notre-Dame

    Chalons-en-Champagne : eglise Notre-Dame-en-Vaux

  • Ile de France
  • Paris : Tower of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie

  • Languedoc-Roussillon
  • Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert :ancienne abbaye de Gellone

    Aniane/Saint-Jean-de-Fos : Pont du Diable

    Saint-Gilles-du-Gard :ancienne abbatiale

    Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat : eglise Saint-Leonard

  • Midi-Pyrenees
  • Audressein : eglise de Tramesaygues Midi-Pyrenees

    Saint-Lizier : Old Cathedrale and cloister, cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Sede, Palace episcopal, rampart

    Conques : abbatiale Sainte-Foy, Bridge over the Dourdou

    Espalion : Pont-Vieux (old Bridge)

    Estaing : pont sur le Lot (Bridge over the Lot) Saint-Chely-d'Aubrac : pont dit " des pelerins " sur la Boralde

    Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges : Old Cathedrale Notre-Dame, PaleoChristian Basilica, chapelle Saint-Julien

    Toulouse : basilique Saint-Sernin, Hotel-Dieu Saint-Jacques

    Valcabrere : eglise Saint-Just

    Auch : cathedrale Sainte-Marie

    Beaumont-sur-l'Osse et Larressinge : Pont d'Artigue ou de Lartigue

    La Romieu : collegiale Saint-Pierre

    Cahors : cathedrale Saint-Etienne, pont Valentre

    Grealou : dolmen de Pech-Laglaire

    Figeac : hopital Saint-Jacques

    Rocamadour : Church of Saint-Sauveur and crypt of Saint-Amadour

    Aragnouet : hospice du Plan et chapelle Notre-Dame- de-l'Assomption, connue sous le nom de chapelle des Templiers

    Gavarnie : eglise paroissiale

    Jezeau : eglise Saint-Laurent

    Ourdis-Cotdussan : eglise de Cotdussan

    Rabastens : eglise Notre-Dame-du-Bourg

    Moissac : abbatiale Saint-Pierre et cloitre

  • Picardie
  • Amiens : cathedrale Notre-Dame

    Folleville : eglise paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste

    Compiegne : eglise paroissiale Saint-Jacques

  • Poitou-Charentes
  • Saintes : eglise Sainte-Eutrope Poitou-Charentes

    Saint-Jean-d'Angely : abbaye royale Saint-Jean-Baptiste

    Melle : eglise Saint-Hilaire

    Aulnay : eglise Saint-Pierre

    Poitiers : eglise Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand

    Pons : ancien hopital des Pelerins

  • Provence
  • Arles

  • Specific Routes, ''Chemin du Puy''
  • From Nasbinals to Saint- Chely- d'Aubrac (17 km) Languedoc-Roussillon to Midi-Pyrenees

    From Saint-Come-d'Olt to Estaing (17 km) Midi-Pyrenees

    From Montredon to Figeac (18 km) Midi-Pyrenees

    From Faycelles to Cajarc (22,5 km) Midi-Pyrenees

    From Bach to Cahors (26 km) Midi-Pyrenees

    From Lectoure to Condom (35 km) Midi-Pyrenees

    From Aroue et Ostabat (22 km) Aquitaine