Self-guided hiking on the Camino de Santiago : from Puy-en-Velay to Aumont-Aubrac

First night in your accommodation in Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire

Take advantage of this day to buy the traditional credenciale or pilgrim's book at Le Puy-en-Velay cathedral. This document, stamped by accommodations, tourist offices, town halls, etc., will attest to your passage along the Compostelle pilgrimage route and provide you with a wonderful souvenir of your journey!

Overnight in Puy-en-Velay.

5h walking. Ascent/descent : +450m/-50m. Distance: 15 km

On your first day's walk, you'll leave Le Puy-en-Velay with a panoramic view over the entire basin. You'll then cross the Velay, a region renowned for its lentils and black sheep, passing through La Roche and Saint Christopher sur Dolaizon before reaching Montbonnet. Crossing the Devès mountain range, you can enjoy the volcanic landscapes of the Velay mountains.

Dinner and overnight in Montbonnet.

4h walking. Ascent/descent : +150m/-650m. Distance: 15 km

After skirting Lac de l'Oeuf, not far from Montbonnet, you start the long descent to the Allier gorges, which mark the border between Velay and Gévaudan. This is the birthplace of the legend of the Gévaudan, a ferocious wolf-like beast that terrorized the inhabitants for over 100 years. You'll pass through several villages with remarkable churches and remains, including Saint Privat d'Allier and Rochegude.

Dinner and overnight in Monistrol d'Allier.

4h walking. Ascent/descent : +500m/-150m. Distance: 14 km

Today, the greatest challenge will be to climb the Margeride plateau. Once over this plateau, a new landscape and architecture emerges with the arrival of granite. You'll then arrive in Saugues, where you can spend the afternoon visiting this typical village. We recommend a visit to the 14th-century "Tour des Anglais" and the collegiate church of Saint-Médard, perched on a block of granite.

Dinner and overnight in Saugues.

4h30 walking. Ascent/descent : +250m/-100m. Distance: 14 km

You'll set off for a day with little height difference, but plenty to see, such as the tower nestled on a granite boulder at La Clauze. You'll then join the Virlange river valley to reach Chanaleilles. Here you can visit the 12th-century Romanesque church with its 6-bell bell tower.

Dinner and overnight in Chanaleilles.

5h30 walking. Ascent/descent : +200m/-400m. Distance: 18 km

The path gradually takes you to La Chapelle Saint-Roch, where you'll discover the Domaine du Sauvage and its former hospital for travellers, whose building was refurbished in 1901. Gradually descend to Saint-Alban, entering the Margeride region with its massive granite farms and acidic soils, where you may find red fruit (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries...).

Dinner and overnight in Saint-Alban.

4h30 walking. Ascent/descent : +250m/-150m. Distance: 16 km

The GR65 will take you through the Truyère Valley before ending the stage on a vast Margeride plain. Along the way, you can visit the little church of Les Estrets, with its double-arched bell tower. You'll finally arrive in Aumont-Aubrac in the afternoon. The church of Saint-Etienne, the town hall and the fountain topped by a sculpture of the Beast of Gévaudan are must-sees in this charming village.

Our services end when you arrive in Aumont-Aubrac.