Stage five of the Way of St. James Pilgrimage Route.
This seven-night, eight-day walking tour is the fifth stage of the legendary Way of St. James Pilgrim Route – one of the most famous pilgrimages in all of Christianity.
Price:
£885 per person
Single room supplement – additional £220
Solo walker supplement on request
Included:
*Dinners are set menus – supplement payable locally for a la carte menu.
Difficulty:
4 to 7 hours walking a day, easy route with 150 m of altitude change per day
Luggage:
Your luggage is transferred from accommodation to accommodation every day.
Day 1: Arrival at Lectoure (overnight and dinner)
Day 2: Lectoure – La Romieu, 19 km/11.9 miles.
Altitude at departure: 186m/614ft.
Initially head west, passing Marsolan (171m/564ft) and then the chapel at Abrin, at which point the route goes northwards for La Romieu. This is not the historic route (pilgrims would in the past have headed directly for Condom) but La Romieu, with its collegiate church of St. Peter, served as a staging post for pilgrims coming from Rocamadour and Agen and it is where we pass the night.
Altitude at arrival: 167m/551ft. 19 kms/11.9 miles. 4 hours 45.
Day 3: La Romieu – Condom, 16 km/10 miles.
Altitude at departure: 167m/551ft.
A short section to Condom, via Castelnau sur L’Auvignon, and the old Romanesque chapel of St. Germaine. Conoisseurs may like to try a glass of Armagnac, for which Condom is famous.
Altitude at arrival: 81m/267ft. 16 kms/10 miles. 3 hours 45.
Day 4: Condom – Montreal du Gers, 16.3 km/10.2 miles.
Altitude at departure: 81m/267ft.
Into the heart of Gascony, with its gastronomic and rural traditions. It is worth making a short detour to Larresingue and its ramparts, before crossing the Osse via the ancient bridge at Artigues and heading to Montreal, ancient bastide overlooking the Auzoue.
Altitude at arrival: 135m/446ft. 16.3 kms/10.2 miles. 4 hours.
Day 5: Montreal du Gers – Eauze, 16.3 km/10.2 miles.
Altitude at departure: 135m/446ft.
The route heads due south across country. From Lamothe (167m/551ft) the path is along the former railway line, guaranteeing good, easy walking.
Altitude at arrival: 142m/469ft. 16.3 kms/10.2 miles. 4 hours.
Day 6: Eauze – Nogaro, 20km/12.5 miles.
Altitude at departure: 142m/469ft.
Today, undulating landscapes, vineyards, fields of maize, forests…half way is Manciet, the old meeting point of the Via Podiensis and the route from Auch.
Altitude at arrival: 98m/323ft. 20 kms/12.5 miles. 5 hours.
Day 7: Nogaro – Aire-sur-Adour, 30 km/18.75miles.
Altitude at departure: 98m/323ft.
Gradually the landscape changes from woodland to, in the Landes department, the Adour plain. A curiosity here are the dovecotes hidden in the treetops.
Altitude at arrival: 81m/267ft. 30 kms/18.75 miles. 7 hours.
Day 8: End of the trip after breakfast.
SAMPLE ACCOMMODATION LIST:
LECTOURE – Hôtel de Bastard
LA ROMIEU Le Domaine de PelleCahus
CONDOM Hotel Le Continental
MONTREAL DU GERS – Chambres d’hôtes du Couloumé
EAUZE – Hôtel Triana
NOGARO Hotel Solenca
AIRE SUR ADOUR Hotel Natura
