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Reception updates Lourdes – Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

After more than a year from the release of "Cento Giorni in Cammino" in the bookshop, I publish some updates on the accommodation facilities available for those who walk in the stretch from Lourdes to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. For these updates, as always, I have to thank some pilgrims who give me the great gift of sharing with me their travel experience. Among these the first is the great friend Fabio Sebastiano, who walked last autumn the Aragonese Way from Lourdes and the French: if you want to see some really beautiful photos, do not miss his site.

I also thank Maria Corno who sent her comments supplementing what is reported in this article.

Updates

  • In Asson the reception in the parish indicated in the guide has closed due to Covid.A good alternative can be the following:

CSO MaliThe proceeds of the reception activity benefit the Association Humanitaire CSO Mali which promotes access to care for the native populations of Mali.

Capacity : 4-6 places
Pets: not allowed
Participation in costs: 10 €/night per person
On request: possibility of dinner, breakfast and packed lunch for the next day.
Address: 14 chemin de Brune 64800 ASSON
Information and reservations:
Claire et Claude SICRE +33 5 59 71 01 14 / +33 6 80 82 37 81
Email: ong.cso@gmail.com

  • In Arudy the parish priest who guaranteed the welcome to pilgrims for many years with his very nice cat has retired. His successor will continue to welcome pilgrims to the parish, but he cannot guarantee the evening dinner. In the village there are all the services to be able to supply and dine; however, 3 km before Arudy there is the possibility to stay in Sainte Colome:

Gîte pèlerin CAZET
Please note that the property is only open in the summer months (from mid-May onwards). Very important to book at least 2 days in advance because the owners do not live nearby.
Capacity: 5-6 beds in 2 rooms
Participation in the costs recommended: 33€ for bed, dinner and breakfast
Address: 41 rue principale – SAINTE COLOME
Information and reservations:
Helene et Christian Colinet +336 51 76 52 11 et +336 74 06 99 16- Credenzal request

Alternatively, for those traveling as a couple or on a more comfortable budget, in the center of Arudy you will find this property:

Logis Hotel de France
This is a normal hotel, clean and comfortable, which also offers the possibility to dine. You can also book through the most common online booking platforms.
Address: 1 place de l'Hotel de Ville, 64260 ARUDY
www.logishotel.com
Reservations: +33 5 59 05 60 16

For the time being, these are all available updates. In case you become aware of further variations, they will be published on this same page, so do not lose sight of it and, if you have news, do not hesitate to report them to me to help future pilgrims.

Update Arles-Carcassonne: Accommodations and GPS tracks

In recent years, I have had the privilege and the good fortune to follow and accompany the journey of several exceptional pilgrims who have followed my own course reported on this site. This experience has allowed me to accumulate new information and update the old ones, which, I hope, will continue to be useful to future pilgrims.

The most important update is the section that in 2014 created more difficulties for the daily search for accommodation: the segment from Arles to Carcassonne. In these years, fortunately, things have changed and continue to change: new structures dedicated to pilgrims with credential have been opened and others are being set up.

In addition, you can now choose from several possible routes, starting from Arles. In particular, the directions for Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer of which I had spoken here in an old post remain valid, or the itinerary to Saint-Gilles, Aigues mortes and Palavas-les-flots along the canal linking the Rhone to Sète, which I had followed in 2014, but there is Another chance. The work for the extension of the GR 78 towards the sea is proceeding with the creation of the GR 781, currently being discussed. Here I propose the GPS tracks freely downloadable of what will be the probable tracing of the GR: Remember, however, that still the signage on the ground was not put.

The route continues from Saint-Gilles to Montpellier, then down to Balaruc-le-Vieux, where there is a bifurcation: either continue towards Sète and the sea, as I did in 2014, or continue inland, following the path of the Roman road to Béziers.

The two routes between Montpellier and Béziers.

Along the new route, there are new accommodation dedicated to pilgrims with the credential, which you can find by clicking here. Other accommodation options are listed on the website: HTTP://WWW.CHEMINS-COMPOSTELLE.COM/HEBERGEUR/VOIE/8.

Below, however, you find the GPS tracks of the new stages to Carcassonne.

1. Montpellier – Gigean

Total distance: 21.44 km
Max elevation: 92 m
Min elevation: 15 m
Download file: 1-Montpellier-Gigean.gpx

1a. Montpellier – Gigean (variante asfalto)

Total distance: 20.4 km
Max elevation: 54 m
Min elevation: 15 m
Download file: 1-Montpellier-Gigean_varAsfalto.gpx

2. Gigean – Sète

Total distance: 18.51 km
Max elevation: 225 m
Min elevation: 1 m
Download file: 2 - Gigean - Sète.gpx

2a. Balaruc-le-Vieux – Saint-Thibéry

Total distance: 30.5 km
Max elevation: 69 m
Min elevation: 1 m
Download file: 2 - Balaruc-le-Vieux - Saint-Thibéry.gpx

3. Saint-Thibéry – Béziers

Total distance: 23.95 km
Max elevation: 59 m
Min elevation: 5 m
Download file: 3 - Saint-Thibéry - Béziers.gpx

(La tappa Béziers – Capestang è invariata rispetto alla vecchia traccia, che trovate qui)

5. Capestang – Bize Minervois

Total distance: 22.53 km
Max elevation: 197 m
Min elevation: 26 m
Download file: 5 - Capestang - Bize-Minervois.gpx

6. Bize Minervois – Rieux Minervois

Total distance: 30.14 km
Max elevation: 202 m
Min elevation: 45 m
Download file: 6 - Bize-Minervois - Rieux-Minervois.gpx

7. Rieux Minervois – Carcassonne

Total distance: 28.31 km
Max elevation: 195 m
Min elevation: 73 m
Download file: 7 - Rieux-Minervois - Carcassonne.gpx

Time to get back on its Path

It's been a while since the end of my journey and, although I never really stop, it's time to get back in gear, this time heading for the new year, and discovering new paths.

This time, I will walk in Sardinia, on the road to Santu Jacu. Unfortunately, having only a few days left, I'll follow just a sliver: from Macomer to Cabràs, in the former territory of the Giudicato of Arborea. I will walk for 5 days and I'll keep you updated, if you like, with some pictures and a few comments about the beauty of the trail.

Meanwhile, here's the itinerary that I will follow and the link to the official website of the Association Friends of the Camino de Santu Jacu, from which you can download descriptive, GPS tracks and everything you need to follow this path!

Accommodation Arles-Carcassonne

After several requests, I think it is useful to publish here the list with references of the places where I've updated along the way, in Arles-Carcassonne. Being a segment out of "walk" is not official welcome pilgrims, but of tourist facilities, with the exception of la Maison du Pèlerin de Saint-Gilles.

GPS tracks Lourdes-Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (path of Pyrenean Piedmont-GR78)

GPS tracks of the second stage of the journey of Pyrenean Piedmont (GR 78), from Lourdes to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where the French way.

ATTENTION: when using the GPS you may not switch off your brain! Remember to always pay attention to what you are doing and where you put your feet. The best judge of the path to be followed must be your head, not GPS.

Continue reading GPS tracks Lourdes-Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (path of Pyrenean Piedmont-GR78)

GPS tracks Carcassonne-Lourdes (path of Pyrenean Piedmont-GR78)

GPS tracks of Pyrenean Piedmont Journey from Carcassonne in Lourdes (GR78).

ATTENTION: when using the GPS you may not switch off your brain! Remember to always pay attention to what you are doing and where you put your feet. The best judge of the path to be followed must be your head, not GPS.

Continue reading GPS tracks Carcassonne-Lourdes (path of Pyrenean Piedmont-GR78)

Look back and remember

These days I'm putting hand to gps tracks made during my walk. When I offered to fix it for a pilgrim, I imagined it as a task that I might like. It is actually much more than that.
Anyone who knows me knows that I work everyday on cards, tracks, maps, satellite photos and amenities maps varied, and this often puts me in a position to imagine in my mind's eye the ground I see drawn to the screen of your pc or on a paper "paper". This helps me a lot when I walk: understand that a number of airlines are a dune at the foot of which runs the path that I must follow is critical, if I don't want to end up splattered on a provincial. Follow, step by step, dot after dot, the steps taken two years ago is moving.
Because it is no longer imagine but to relive. Review and breathe the cornfields, ripe in the Sun, the water of large canals, straights as the eye can see, and blinding colours in the Sun and tormented by the rain, feel on the tongue the smell of fresh water, so different from that of seawater. Hear in your ears the screeching of Seagulls that I felt I was going to commit an indiscretion that could cost a lot more than a scare.
Review the white peaks of the mountains that are approaching more and more. The rock on which we did break with Roberto, eating chocolate, as our accompanying dog was waiting for us. The water of the Durance which greet you on a bridge at dawn, after having followed for so many days and crossed several times. Review the giant antenna Repeater that made us a benchmark for 3 days. Feel the warmth of the Sun beat me on the face just before attacking the climb towards Notre Dame du Laus and feel an urgency to get fresh water to a private housing. The reflection of the Lake Serreponçon with the sun still asleep there is reflected inside. The break banana wrought iron of a cemetery at the foot of the cross. The dreadful idea of crossing a Gorge passing on the pipes of a pipe for water and stinging nettles on her legs, once you get there. Taste like cherries, more good because educated people with my own hands. The smell of the Earth of rice paddies, the gray sand of "sabbioni". The warmth of the affection of those who welcomed me into her home. The joy of seeing my parents, sitting in a bar in Peyruis. The frustration of loneliness in Beziers, the great depression. The fear of truck approaching and the relief of the miracle. The direction of magpies that yelling at us while we trudge uphill with Roberto in the footsteps you crawl from the cows in the mud. And where are the cows? MAh! Lost in the Woods and other underwear coming out of a castle … good thing those I recovered, though! The warm and human places including didn't know existed: Argeliers, Homps, Marseillette. Gluten-free bread of Marseillette, so good! The coolness of the House of Georges and the affection of his family. The snails attached to the dry stems of grass in front of a church. The taste of the cheese with the laughing cow spread on a corn cake and topped off with a little magic dust with chili. My shoes greet in front of the Church of St.-Gilles.
Enough of dots on a screen to relive this? Sometimes it takes … Maybe because the places you see walking you are engraved in my soul as you do the little things I enjoy. I will always be grateful for this trip. All the time.

GPS Tracks Arles-Carcassonne

Here's the gps tracks of Arles-Carcassonne, following the Canal du Rhône à Sète and then the Canal du Midi from Agde up in Carcassonne. This is a shorter route than the Via Tolosana and more sheltered from the Sun and wind, created and opened by Flavio Vandoni in 2010 and made freely available, along with many other paths, on the website camminando.eu. The path is easy and quite flat, but no welcome pilgrims, so you need to get organized.

ATTENTION: when using the GPS you may not switch off your brain! Remember to always pay attention to what you are doing and where you put your feet. The best judge of the path to be followed must be your head, not GPS.

Continue reading GPS Tracks Arles-Carcassonne

GPS tracks Monginevro-Arles (GR 653D)

GPS tracks of Via Domitia (GR 653D), Monginevro in Arles.

ATTENTION: when using the GPS you may not switch off your brain! Remember to always pay attention to what you are doing and where you put your feet. The best judge of the path to be followed must be your head, not GPS. Continue reading GPS tracks Monginevro-Arles (GR 653D)

GPS Tracks Milano-Briançon

More and more people write to me for suggestions on how to follow the path that I described on this site two years ago. It will take me a while, but I think it is useful to provide the GPS tracks of my journey: some days I was wrong, others went off the GPS … In short, we have to work on, but then you will find them all here, ready to download. We start from the Italian side: from Milan to Briançon.

ATTENTION: when using the GPS you may not switch off your brain! Remember to always pay attention to what you are doing and where you put your feet. The best judge of the path to be followed must be your head, not GPS.

Continue reading GPS Tracks Milano-Briançon