- L’Autre Chemin
- Séjours
- Act 3 bis – The Saint-James way from Conques to Cahors via the Célé valley
€1035 / pers
With luggage transfer & journey back
The Camino de Santiago from Conques to Cahors via the Célé Valley
Hike the Camino de Santiago from Conques to Cahors via the Célé Valley route, which follows this beautiful river and offers wonderful heritage discoveries, with Saint-Cirq-Lalopie as the highlight of your hike. You’ll discover the English castles, these cliffside fortifications. During your hike, you’ll explore Figeac and numerous villages along the Célé River before reaching Cahors, a charming town bathed by the Lot River, the Pont Valentré, and its neighborhoods blending heritage and modernity.
Two options for this trip:
- 10-day trip: Program described below
- 9-day trip: The Vers stage of day 8 in the itinerary is removed, and a stage directly from Bouziès to Cahors is added, a 33km walk (-3.5km with variations) – 645m elevation gain – 7 hours 40 minutes of walking. The return to Conques is then on day 9.
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Highlights of your trek:
- You travel independently and follow the provided travel diary.
- Take advantage of our guide app to download to your smartphone (guidance, tourist information).
- Your accommodation is booked on a half-board basis (excluding the Figeac stopovers, which is booked with B&B basis).
- Your luggage is delivered at each stopover (one bag, max. 13kg/person).
- Your journey back to the starting point is included in our packages.
A big thank you to Lot Tourisme and its photographers (C. Asquier) for providing their photo library.
Your route:
- Elevation gain +4,020 m
- Self-guided hike Route accessible to most hikers
- Accommodation: in a private room (B&B, cottage, hotel, or alternative accommodation)
- What’s the climate like? See our Frequently Asked Questions
Note: The steps are given for information purposes only and may be modified depending on host availability.
Welcome to Conques, a magnificent village in the Rouergue region of Aveyron. Discover its center and the magnificent Sainte-Foy Abbey.
Discover:
> The Sainte-Foy Abbey and its tympanum depicting the Last Judgment
> The Treasure of Conques
> The general architecture of the village and its atmosphere
> The Joseph Fau Museum
> The peaceful Dourdou Valley
Day 2: Conques - Livinhac-le-Haut - 22,5km - 6h30 - D+750m
On the Camino de Santiago! It's a wonderful time to get back on the Camino, which offers magnificent views of the city. You'll begin your journey with a climb to reach the Sainte-Foy Chapel. Then, descend towards the town of Decazeville before heading back up to Livinhac-le-Haut.
Discover:
> Barry Bridge
> Sainte-Foy Chapel
• Decazville
> Pierre Vetter Museum
> Mining & Industrial Heritage Museum
> Notre-Dame de Decazville Church and Gustave Moreau's Stations of the Cross
• Livinhac-le-Haut
> Saint-Roch Chapel
Continuing along the path, you reach the village of Montredon, where the route now gently winds towards the Célé Valley (view of Lake Enguirande) and Figeac, your stopover.
Photo: © www.tourisme-lot.com - Photographer: C. Asquier
Places to discover:
• Montredon
> Notre Dame de la Pitié Chapel
> Saint-Michel Church
• Figeac
> The historic center
> The Champollion Museum
> The Ratier Propeller and Aeronautical Products Museum
> Hôtel de Laporte
Your day begins with a beautiful climb and then leads you to the village of Faycelles. Your route continues along a small road to reach Mas de la Croix, where you leave the GR65 to continue its variant, the GR651, towards the village of Béduer. Your path then follows the Célé River and leads you gently to Boussac.
Places to discover:
• Faycelles
> The village of Faycelles and its church
• Béduer
> Béduer Castle
• Boussac
> Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church
• Corn
> The Corn Resurgence
> The Caves
> The Cavarroc Mill
• Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie
> The Val Paradis Priory
> The Churches of Espagnac and Sainte-Eulalie
A day rich in heritage discoveries. First, visit Espagnac Sainte-Eulalie and its Val Paradis, before discovering the Château des Anglais overlooking the Célé Valley. Your journey will take you to Marcilhac-sur-Célé, where you can admire its working watermill and, more importantly, the remains of Saint-Pierre Abbey.
Things to discover
• Brengues
> The English Castle
> The Churches of Espagnes and Sainte-Eulalie
• Saint-Sulpice-sur-Célé
> The Ruins of the Medieval Castle
> The Church
• Marcilhac-sur-Célé
> Saint-Pierre Abbey
> The Watermill (in operation)
> The Cazelles and the Dolmens
The trail takes you to explore the heights of the Célé Valley before descending towards Saulaie-sur-Célé, walking between drystone walls and pechs overlooking your walk. You return to the river as you reach the village of Cabrerets, the end of today's stage.
Discover:
• Sauliac-sur-Célé
> Promontory
> Cuzals Castle and its Ecomuseum
> The Cazelles and the dolmens
• Cabrerets
> The Pech-Merle Cave
> The Rochechourbe Cliff
> The Cazelles and the dolmens
Today, a short leg leads to Bouziès, but you'll also want to consider the loop that will take you to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, an incredible village perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Lot River. But first, discover the Pech Merle cave on the heights of Cabrerets.
Things to see:
• Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
> Medieval town
> Lapopie Rock
> Cardaillac Castle
> Sainte-Croix Chapel
> Gothic church
A stage that runs along the Lot River and then climbs to the heights before plunging back down to its waters towards Pasturat, then reaching Vers at the foot of high limestone cliffs, on a small terrace located at the confluence of two rivers, the Lot and the Vers stream.
9-day stay option: Direct stage from Bouziès to Cahors - 33km - 7h40 - D+ 645m (-3.5km via alternative routes)
Discover:
• Vers
> The Chartreux Tower
> The English Castle
> The Saint-Crépin Church in Vers
> The 13th-century Notre-Dame de Velles Church
Today, you'll gain altitude again as you leave Vers and follow the GR36 before returning to the Lot River at Arcambal. A little further on, you'll leave the GR36 to follow the river's course and reach the beautiful city of Cahors.
9-day stay option: Return to Cahors via the 10.30 a.m shuttle (arrival 1.30 p.m)
Things to see:
• Arcambal
> Medieval Church
> Bousquet Castle
• Cahors
> Valentré Bridge
> 12th-century Saint-Etienne Cathedral
Meet at 10:30 a.m. in the SNCF train station parking lot, where a minibus will take you to Conques. Arrival is expected at 1:30 p.m., depending on road conditions.
This price includes:
- Accommodation in a private room (with sheets and towels) according to the configuration selected at booking: twin, double, triple, multiple, or single (with supplement)
- Half-board accommodation (excluding the Figeac stopovers which is booked with the B&B basis)
- Tourist taxes
- Luggage transport (maximum 13 kg/person)
- Your digital travel and guidebook
- The guidebook (1 copy per 3 travelers)
- Journey back to Conques by regular shuttle
- Telephone assistance
Available options:
- Multi-risk cancellation insurance
- Single room
- No return from Cahors
This price does not include:
- Transportation and transfers to the starting point,
- Parking
- Meals other than those specified in the chosen package,
- Drinks,
- Pocket money,
- Possible visits or activities,
- GPX tracks (we do not provide GPX tracks – app guidance)
- Multi-risk cancellation insurance
- More generally, anything not listed in the “This price includes” section
Administration fees
- €12/person if ordered online
- €15/person via quote
As an option, L’autre Chemin offers:
- If you wish to hike and carry your own backpack If you wish to carry your backpack, benefit from a €60 discount on your trip.
- If you do not wish to take advantage of the return shuttle to Conques, benefit from a €40 discount on your trip.
The Credential The pilgrim’s passport to be stamped at each stop.
We offer the Credential of the Friends of the Way of Saint James as an option. No need to travel; it will be sent to you with your travel diary before your departure. However, if you plan to attend the Pilgrims’ Mass at 7 a.m. at Le Puy Cathedral, you can find credential on site. Price: €7 / credential when booking your hike
L’Autre Chemin has developed numerous partnerships with guesthouses and small traditional hotels to offer you comfort and authenticity, ensuring that each stage is an opportunity to discover the architecture, the art of living, and the gastronomy, as well as a moment of exchange and encounters. Note: The stages along the trail are determined by the walking pace that we feel is most appropriate. We strive to offer you stages that offer comfort, discovery, and authenticity in hotels, guesthouses, cottages, or unusual accommodations. However, the Camino Trail offers a range of amenities. Generally, bathrooms are integrated into the rooms, but they may be located on the landing or shared in some accommodations.
By Train
Conques-en-Rouergue does not have a train station. However, if you arrive by train, here is some information on how to get to Conques.
- From Paris: Arrival at Saint-Christophe train station, then take a taxi to Conques.
- From Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse, or Marseille: Arrival at Rodez train station, then take bus line 223 (during school term) or a taxi.
By Car
Conques is accessible by road. Here are the main mileage indicators:
- Paris: 630 km – A20 or A71 Lyon: 360 km Marseille: 370 km
- Toulouse: 185 km – A68 then RN88
- Montpellier: 205 km
Where to park in Conques?
Long-term parking at the river – Free parking
Whether you want to book your stay or ask us any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
with L'Autre Chemin
€750 / pers
With luggage transfer & journey back
Act 2 – The Saint-James way from Nasbinals to Conques
The Saint-James way from Nasbinals to Conques
€755 / pers
with luggage transfer
Act 1 – The Saint-James way, from Puy-en-Velay to Nasbinals
Act 1 - The Saint-James way, a week on the Way of Saint James from Puy-en-Velay to Nasbinals
€880 / pers.
with luggage transfer & journey back
Act 4 – Way of Saint James, from Cahors to Lectoure
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