Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

[Michael5SP]

# I've walked from Le Puy to Santiago, want to continue exploring the pilgrim roads in France, have decided to try the Arles route in September 08. What eperience have people had?
# It looks like the section from Arles to Montpellier would be hot, dry, lots of road walking, parallel to the Autoroute so I'm thinking of starting at Montpellier, walking to Castres through the hills, forests of Languedoc. A good idea or would I miss a lot not seeing Arles, St Gilles?
# Any hints on Montpellier to Castres - places to stay, avoid?
Many thanks, Michael

[mpprh]

Hi

I live locally.

There are a steady stream of pilgrims along this section.

I think it is worth doing. The route follows Via Domitia (ex Heracles Way) for part of the way which provides historical interest.





The weather in September is not too bad :



That section tends to have cooling breezes (it crosses the plain between the coast and Cevennes hills). Rainfall tends to arrive as rare, but heavy, overnight storms.

Links to more information : http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/tourism/pilgrimage-compostella.htm

Peter

[KiwiNomad06]

A friend just told me that the Anglican Dean of Christchurch, here in New Zealand, is about to start walking the Arles route.
"From 30 March to 5 June 2008 the Very Rev Peter Beck, Dean of Christchurch, with his wife Gay and friends Chris and Jean Richards are walking the ancient pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago de Compestella - some 1500 kilometres from Arles in Southern France to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain."
http://www.christchurchcathedral.co.nz/events/deanswalk.html

[sillydoll]

I have the CSJ guide book and up-date pages for Arles to Puente la Reina - the CSJ comments are:

A solitary route - very few pilgrims and much of the way is in forest - pilgrims need to be able to cope with loneliness. An expensive route - 80% of the way is in France (more expensive than Spain); there is virtually no free accommodation; and long distances between accommodation may require extended stays for sightseeing which prolongs the journey. Accommodation is difficult and barely sufficient - and may be full in season or closed outside. Hilly, tough terrain as the route crosses the grain of the land - especially hard for cyclists.

I am planning for next year to walk half of the Chemin du Piemont (which starts at Narbonne) to Oloron St Marie and then turning left to Somport to join the Aragones to Puente la Reina.

If you would like any info about the Guide please mail me off the Forum.

[StephenAtkinson]

Hi 'sillydoll',

Just got my flight ticket and should be in Arle at the end of Sept. Know nothing about the route but got a few weeks to get some info, phone if you can give some help.
Thanks Stephen
0835567743

[sillydoll]

Hi Stephen,
The CSJ UK sell a guide to the Via Tolosana - in two booklets:
Arles to Toulouse and Toulouse to Puente la Reina.
They only cost £5 each and would be invaluable for anyone walking the route.

You can read an overview of the route on their website:
http://www.csj.org.uk/route-arles.htm

They have this to say about theDistinctive features of the route.

A solitary route - very few pilgrims and much of the way is in forest - pilgrims need to be able to cope with loneliness. An expensive route - 80% of the way is in France (more expensive than Spain); there is virtually no free accommodation; and long distances between accommodation may require extended stays for sightseeing which prolongs the journey. Accommodation is difficult and barely sufficient - and may be full in season or closed outside. Hilly, tough terrain as the route crosses the grain of the land - especially hard for cyclists.

This website will give you links to other sites with info on the Arles route:
http://chemindarles.free.fr/liens_EN.php