Via Podiensis

Day 1 Le Puy en Velay to Saint-Privat d'Allier

16th April 2015

Distance	Time		Elevation in meters
Km	Elapsed Hrs-Mins	Moving Hrs-Mins	Gain	Loss	Min	Max
23.95	5H56	5H25	609	409	662	1,213

Stiff climb up Rue de Capucins at the start of the day's walk

Looking back over Le Puy en Velay as the climb flattens out

You soon learn to pick up the signs..... turn right in this case

Good signage. 2.5 km out of Le Puy and 6.2 km to go to St Christophe sur Dolaizon

Not the way to go!

Croix de Pouvignac (761m) - the first of many crosses on the route

Forever the optimist with sun hat on!

Only 1,517 km to Santiago de Compostela!

Trail passes over broken rock

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The 12th century church at St Christophe sur Dolaizon, built in pink basalt.
No coffee shop here but at least there is a public toilet in the square.

The country landscape is loosely structured by low thick stone walls alongside winding paths which mark the boundaries of fields or support slopes and terraces. The stones which originally came from the fields during ploughing are assembled without mortar. The walls also provide places of shelter for species such as the green lizard.

17th century stone cross at Ramourouscle

The first of many "Metier a ferrer les boefs", a device for holding oxen in place whilst they
are fitted with shoes.Note that the buildings are built from volcanic tufa.

Chapel of St. Roch, Montbonnet. Early 13th century Romanesque chapel, the first of many along
the way dedicated to the patron saint of pilgrims. It was originally dedicated to St James,
then St Bonnet (a local saint) and then , in the 17th century, to St Roch.

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At last, a cafe where you can get a drink! One of few, this one is in Montbonnet

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Approaching the village of Le Chier

Arriving at Saint-Privat d'Allier. Somebody ought to clean the town sign!

The Romanesque church at Saint-Privat d'Allier

Looking across to the church from Gîte d'etape La Cabourne

Waiting for Gîte d'etape La Cabourne to open at 4 p.m. Fortunately they allowed us in an hour early.

Accommodation Notes

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Gîte d'etape La Cabourne

The dorm. Although there were places for 6, I was the only person in this room