Vézelay (Via Lemovicensis)
The Way of Vézelay (Vía Lemovicensis) starts from the basilica of Vézelay in Burgundy, France to the Pyrenees. A historic route through the center of France to Santiago.
Organize your Vézelay (Via Lemovicensis)General Description of Vézelay (Via Lemovicensis)
Connections of Vézelay (Via Lemovicensis)
Viae Turonensis
Distance:
913 km
Days:
38
Difficulty:
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The Way of Tours, known in France as the Via Turonensis (Voie de Tours), is the longest and westernmost of the four main Jacobean routes in France. Traditionally considered to start from Paris (although the city of Tours is an emblematic point and gives its name), it heads southwest, passing through regions such as the Loire Valley, Poitou, and Aquitania, until reaching Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where it joins the French Way. The route from Paris spans approximately 900-1000 km. It is a route with an important monumental heritage, including numerous churches and cathedrals, and varied landscapes. Although less crowded than the Via Podiensis, it has a long historical tradition.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: The City of Wood
Stage 2: The Village of Bois - Étampes
Stage 3: Étampes - Angerville
Stage 4: Artenay - Angerville
Stage 5: Artenuy-Orléans
The Puy (Via Podiensis)
Distance:
733 km
Days:
30
Difficulty:
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The Way of Le Puy, known in France as the Via Podiensis (Voie du Puy), is the most famous and traveled of the four main Jacobean routes that cross France. It begins in Le Puy-en-Velay, in the Auvernia region, and covers approximately 750 km southwest to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, in the Pyrenees Atlantics. At this point, it crosses the border and joins directly the Camino Francés. It is a route of great scenic beauty, which traverses regions such as Aubrac, Quercy, and Gascony, and boasts a rich monumental heritage and excellent infrastructure for pilgrims.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Puy-en-Velay - Saint-Privat-d'Allier
Stage 2: Saint-Privat-d'Allier - Saugues
Stage 3: Saugues - Wild Domain
Stage 4: Domain of the Wild - Aumont-Aubrac
Stage 5: Aumont-Aubrac - Nasbinals
Stages of Vézelay (Via Lemovicensis)
Etapa 1: Vézelay to Saint-Germain-des-Bois (Nièvre)
Description:
Leaving beautiful San Sebastián, this stage enters the Guipuzcoan coast. The route is a continuous rise and fall through hills and cliffs, with spectacular views of the sea. It's a day of great beauty...
Origen: Vézelay
Destino: Saint-Germain-des-Bois (Nièvre)
Etapa 2: Saint-Germain-des-Bois (Nièvre) to Champlemy
Description:
This stage continues along the Guipuzcoa coast, on a route that combines interior sections with spectacular views of the sea. It is a beautiful day that crosses the txakoli vineyards and charming vill...
Origen: Saint-Germain-des-Bois (Nièvre)
Destino: Champlemy
Etapa 3: Champlemy to La Charité-sur-Loire
Description:
This stage leaves the coast to venture into the mountains of Vizcaya. The route is a continuous up and down through a landscape of forests and farmhouses. It's a day of great beauty and physical deman...
Origen: Champlemy
Destino: La Charité-sur-Loire
Etapa 4: La Charité-sur-Loire to Baugy
Description:
This stage continues through the mountains of Vizcaya, on a route of great beauty and demand. The path crosses the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, a natural environment of great value. Arrival in Gernika-...
Origen: La Charité-sur-Loire
Destino: Baugy
Etapa 5: Baugy to Bourges
Description:
This stage is an on-going rise and fall through the hills preceding Bilbao. It's a demanding but beautiful day. The route goes through a rural and solitary landscape that contrasts with the approachin...
Featured Towns of Vézelay (Via Lemovicensis)
Explore the key towns and cities of this route.
Vézelay
The "Eternal Hill" and starting point of the Via Lemovicensis. Its Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, is a spiritual beacon for pilgrims.
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Bourges
Old capital of the Duchy of Berry and a monumental stop on the Via Lemovicensis. Its Gothic Cathedral of Saint-Étienne, World Heritage Site, is an absolute must-see.
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Châteauroux
French city in the region of Berry. Châteauroux, with its castle and lively centre, is an enjoyable stopover on the Via Vézelay route, which offers all services to pilgrims.
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Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat
Medieval town with a collegiate church, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Limoges
World capital of fire arts. Limoges, on the Via de Vézelay, is famous for its porcelain and enamels, a major cultural and artistic stop on the Way.
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Périgueux
Capital of Périgord and key stage of the Via Lemovicensis. Its Cathedral of Saint-Front, with Byzantine inspiration and UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a unique vision on the Way.
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Bergerac
Perigueux and birthplace of Cyrano de Bergerac. Famous for its wines and cuisine, it is a charming stop along the Via Vézelay, on the banks of the Dordogne River.
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Mont-de-Marsan
Capital of the Landes of Gascony. Mont-de-Marsan, "the city of three rivers," is a center for services and culture, with an animated atmosphere and a strong tradition of bullfighting.
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Millenary History of the Camino de Santiago: Origins and Evolution Vézelay (Via Lemovicensis)
Discover the origins and evolution of Vézelay (Via Lemovicensis)
The origin of the route lies on Vézelay's "eternal hill". In the 11th century, Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Vézelay announced that they possessed the body of Saint Mary Magdalene, brought from the Holy Land. This claim in a time of fervent religiosity transformed the abbey into an international pilgrimage center. Kings, nobles, and people from all over Europe came to Vézelay, a place so sacred that sermons were preached on both the Second and Third Crusades. For many of these pilgrims, after venerating Magdalena, the logical next step was to continue their journey to the other great center of Western Christendom: Santiago's tomb in Compostela.
Thus, the Way of Lemovicensis was born, taking its name from the Limousin region (Lemosín in French) and its capital, Limoges, a crucial milestone on the route. From Vézelay, the route heads southwest and is characterized by dividing soon into two major branches that advance parallel for hundreds of kilometers before reuniting. The northern branch passes through the city of Bourges with its spectacular Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The southern branch passes through Nevers.
Both branches traverse the heart of France, a land of forests, hills, and meadows. They arrive at the Limousin region, where the city of Limoges, famous throughout Europe for its exquisite medieval enamels and the tomb of Saint Martial, its evangelist apostle, offered pilgrims an important urban center to rest and regain strength. The route continues southward, delving into the beautiful Périgord region known for its gastronomy and rich heritage. The city of Périgueux with its singular Saint-Front Cathedral, featuring Byzantine-inspired cupolas and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the context of the Caminos de Santiago in France, is another major gem on the route.
After almost 900 kilometers of travel, the Way of Lemovicensis reaches the foothills of the Pyrenees in French Basque Country. At the famous crossroads of Gibraltar near Ostabat, pilgrims from Vézelay met those coming by the Via Turonensis and the Via Podiensis. Together, they faced the final stretch to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the entrance to Spain via Roncesvalles.
The modern revival (designated as GR 654) of this route has revitalized a path that offers a more solitary and contemplative pilgrimage experience than other French routes. It is a journey through "deep France," rural and timeless France, an itinerary that allows pilgrims to connect with monastic history, Romanesque and Gothic art, and serene landscapes in the heart of the country, following the trail of a millennia-old devotion.