Jacques Clouteau on the Way of St. James of Compostela…
The GR 65 is an iconic hiking trail for all walkers and pilgrims. Whether undertaken for spiritual reasons, to reconnect with oneself, or simply to traverse breathtaking landscapes, one never leaves the same person after traveling the Way of St. James. This long-distance hike is a pilgrimage aimed at reaching the tomb of the apostle Saint James the Great, located in the crypt of the imposing Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The apostle James was reportedly beheaded on the orders of King Agrippa in Palestine upon his return from a preaching mission in the West. His companions collected his remains and took them to the Mediterranean in a skiff “guided by an angel.” They ran aground after crossing the Strait of Gibraltar in Galicia, where they built his tomb. The tomb, forgotten until the 9th century, was rediscovered, according to legend, by the hermit Pelagos, who was guided by a shower of stars. The relics were recognized by the ecclesiastical authorities of the time as those of Saint James.
The pilgrimage to Santiago reached its peak in the 8th century, then declined thereafter, before regaining true popularity starting in the 20th century. Due to the success of the pilgrimage, reception facilities were subsequently developed to support walkers along their route. The Way of Saint James was declared the first cultural route by the Council of Europe. Each year, approximately 200,000 pilgrims travel this path for spiritual reasons, but increasingly, they are seeking a break from everyday life and a desire to challenge themselves both physically and spiritually.
And the shell tradition?
The shell is a testament to the journey to Santiago. Tradition dictates that pilgrims bring back a scallop shell attached to their coat or hat from their journey. Therefore, the shell is normally only worn at the end of the pilgrimage on the Way of Saint James as a sign of a new person.
The credencial or pilgrim’s logbook
This is a true pilgrim’s passport. It grants pilgrim status to the walker, who has their Credential stamped at each stage. It is important to take this pilgrim’s booklet with you to access the Jacquier accommodations in particular. Note: The Credential is valid for life, so keep it if you are only walking the first stages of the Camino.
La Compostela, c’est quoi ?
This is the certificate of completion of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. It is obtained at the pilgrim reception office by presenting your stamped Credential (at least for the last 100 kilometers) and answering “yes” to the question: Did you complete the Camino for a religious reason? This is a Latin attestation of the completion of your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. If you wish to apply for the Christian (or “spiritual”) Compostela, upon arrival in Santiago de Compostela, you will present your Credencial to the pilgrim reception office at 33, Rùa Carretas, a stone’s throw from the Cathedral of Santiago.
The Pilgrimage to Santiago offers many departure points from France, even though it is customary to close the door of one’s “home” and set off for Santiago. In Le Puy-en-Velay, we are fortunate to benefit from a magnificent departure point from the Notre-Dame du Puy Cathedral. It is indeed under its porch that we measure the full extent of the route and its more than 1,500 km to cover, starting from Haute-Loire before crossing into Lozère, Aveyron… Crossing the Pyrenees mountain range to arrive in Navarre… La Meseta before returning to green Galicia. If you can, travel this emblematic route where the path combines spirituality, incredible landscapes, self-improvement, and enriching encounters!
Les séjours de L’Autre Chemin
L’Autre Chemin offers you the opportunity to experience the pilgrimage in a formula organized especially for you:
From Le Puy to Conques
From Le Puy to Nasbinals
From Nasbinals to Conques
From Conques to Moissac
De Conques to Cahors via The Quercy
From Conques to Cahors through the Cele Valley
From Cahors to Lectoure
Organized hiking trips with shorter stages
But also versions with shorter stages to give you time to discover each stage of the GR65 at your leisure:
From Le Puy to Conques with lightened stages
From Le Puy to Aumont-Aubrac with lightened stages
From Aumont-Aubrac to Conques with lightened stages
The Compostela adventure can also be experienced by bike
Since the creation of the L’Autre Chemin agency, we have identified the Camino de Santiago routes and created variations of the pilgrimage by bicycle. We therefore offer you the opportunity to set off on hybrid bikes, gravel bikes, or mountain bikes, whether electrically assisted or not, on the trails, tracks, and small roads of the Camino de Santiago.
To discover
From Cahors to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to follow the adventure to the Pyrenees
Ultréïa, The camino bike tour from Le Puy to Conques
Ultreïa zen, the Camino bike tour from le Puy to Conques with lightened stages
The small Camino bike tour from le Puy to Nasbinals
Aubrac destination, the variation of the Small Camino with a more peaceful route
