Via Podiensis

According to the A Guide for the Traveller compiled by Aymeric Picaud in the 12th century, four routes lead to Santiago de Compostela: • the via Turonensis, leaving from Paris, passing through Tours • the via Lemovicensis, leaving from Vézelay, passing through Limoges • the via Podiensis, leaving from Puy-en-Velay, passing through Cahors and Moissac • the via Tolosane, leaving from Arles, passing through Toulouse In 950 or 951, Godescalc, bishop of Le Puy-en-Velay, set off on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. He was the first non-Hispanic to undertake the pilgrimage, leading a large caravan that included members of the clergy, their staff and servants, various nobles and gentlemen, their retainers and men at arms. == The modern route ==

;In Haute-Loire The route leaves Le Puy-en-Velay and passes Vals-près-le-Puy, Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaison, Bains, Saint-Privat-d'Allier, Monistrol-d'Allier, Saugues, and Chanaleilles. ;In Lozère The route passes Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole, Aumont-Aubrac, Malbouzon, Rieutort-d'Aubrac, Marchastel, and Nasbinals. ;In Aveyron The route passes Aubrac, Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac, Saint-Côme-d'Olt, Espalion, Bessuéjouls, Estaing, Golinhac, Espeyrac, Sénergues, Conques, Noailhac, Decazeville, and Livinhac-le-Haut. ;In Lot The route passes through Montredon, Saint-Félix, Figeac, and Béduer. A variant route follows the valley of the river Lot, passing Gréalou, Cajarc, and Varaire. A second variation passes through the valley of the Célé, Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie, Marcilhac-sur-Célé, Sauliac-sur-Célé, Cabrerets, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. The two variants converge and pass through Cahors, Labastide-Marnhac, Lhospitalet, Lascabanes, Montcuq. A third variant running north of the route passes through Rocamadour. ;In Tarn-et-Garonne The route passes Lauzerte, Moissac, and Auvillar. ;In Gers The route passes Saint-Antoine-sur-l'Arrats, Flamarens, Miradoux, Lectoure, La Romieu, Condom, Valence-sur-Baïse, Larressingle, Beaumont sur l'Osse, the Abbaye de Flaran (off the route), Montréal-du-Gers, Lauraët, Lagraulet-du-Gers, Eauze, Manciet, Nogaro, Barcelonne-du-Gers. ;In Landes The route passes Aire-sur-l'Adour, after which hikers and pilgrims can pass by either Pécorade and Geaune or by Miramont-Sensacq. Those two routes converge once more at Pimbo. ;In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques The route passes Arzacq-Arraziguet, Vignes, Louvigny, Uzan, Pomps, Arthez-de-Béarn, Sauvelade, Navarrenx, Charre, Aroue to reach the stèle of Gibraltar (Xibaltarre hilarria) in the village of Uhart-Mixe. The distance from the stele of Gibraltar to Santiago de Compostela is 768 kilometers (477 miles). == Gallery ==

File:Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation, Le Puy en Velay.jpg|Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Le Puy-en-Velay. File:Rochegude.jpg|Perched chapel near Saint-Privat-d'Allier. File:Saint Mary Church of Nasbinals 01.jpg|Saint Mary’s Church in Nasbinals. File:2003 Conques arch IMG 6323.JPG|Arch way in Conques. File:Cele river in Figeac 04.jpg|Célé River in Figeac. File:Abbaye Saint-Pierre (façade).jpg|Saint Peter’s Abbey in Moissac. File:Arcades de la place de l'hôtel de ville - Montréal (Gers).jpg|Arcades in Montreal-du-Gers. File:Pimbo11.jpg|Collegial of Saint Barthélémy in Pimbo. Via Podiensis Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole.jpg|Via Podiensis near Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole. == References ==