Via Podiensis
Day 18 Cahors to Grizou (Lascabanes)
3rd May 2015
| Distance |
Time |
Elevation in meters |
Km |
Elapsed
Hrs-Mins |
Moving
Hrs-Mins |
Gain |
Loss |
Min |
Max |
| 21.34 |
5H47 |
4H50 |
456 |
304 |
113 |
303 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the first time ever on a Camino walk I decided to send my rucksack ahead with a transportation company. Perhaps I was getting weary after two and a half weeks of walking, or perhaps I anticipated a hard days walking to Grizou. But one of the thought in the back of my mind was that, as I get older, it may be more feasible to do long walks by restricting the amount I carry to say 5kg, and sending the rest ahead. My bag weighed around 12kg, which was a struggle if you are walking for 7 or 8 hours. It turned out to be 7 euro well spent, as it was a long, hot day's walking. |
Leaving Cahors via Pont Valentré
In 1306, the consuls of the city of Cahors decided on the construction of a bridge at a place called "Valandre" on the western part of the meander of Cahors. Two other bridges existed in Cahors: the Pont Vieux in the south and the Pont Neuf in the east.
The first stone of the new work was placed solemnly in 1308 by the First Consul Geraud de Sabanac. The project lasted nearly 70 years, giving birth to the legend that the devil assisted the architect. In 1345 it was possible to cross the bridge's table but the three towers were probably only completed around 1380, despite the crises of the Hundred Years War.
Pont Valentré was restored in 1880 by architect Paul Gout, who had a little devil carved at the top of the central tower by local artist Antoine-Cyprien Calmon.
With a length of 172 meters, the bridge has eight arches resting on piles which feature a front 'bec'. It has three towers, of which only the two placed on the banks were fortified with battlements and archery windows. Each end was originally protected by a gatehouse, these have almost disappeared today.
It is said that the architect could not finish his work, and therefore sold his soul to the devil. Satan agreed to help him in every possible way and he would obey him exactly upon command. When the work was finished, the architect would pay for this with his soul. But if the devil, for whatever reason, refused to help until the end he would lose all rights to the prize. The went very fast with such help.
When the bridge was once almost ready: - the architect said to himself, now is the time to think about my soul, to see if I have made a foolish pact. And he brought a sieve to his good companion: - Friend, he said, you have so far willingly helped, and you know you should be until the end, take this sieve, leave it as it is and use it to draw water to bring to the cement makers. The devil bit his lip in disappointment, yet he tried to draw water, but failed twenty times. The sieve would not hold water. Dismayed the devil came to admit defeat but he swore revenge Some time later, when the masons were almost finished with the construction of the central tower, they saw that the northwestern corner was broken, and there was nothing they could do to finish the tower.
Paul Gout, the architect who was commissioned to restore the bridge, immortalized this legend with a carved stone devil trying to tear off that the cornerstone of the bridge, but he fails because his fingers are stuck in the joints of the stone. |
Steep climb from the bridge upon leaving Cahors
View over Cahors
| We soon arrived at the Gîte at Mathieux and stopped for a coffee.
Unfortunately they don't serve drinks in the morning, presumably being
too busy setting up the rooms for the evening's guests. After
Domaine des Mathieux the path descends down a steep hill before climbing again. |
A pilgrim well, rather like that of St Brevita in Cornwall
Renée and Jean-Jacques brewing up a coffee with Jean-Jacques
mini stove at Labastide-Marnhac
Taking a break from the sun
Approaching Lascabanes
Really nice properties at Lascabanes
Lascabanes
| We had several kilometers to go after Lascabanes to get to Grizou;
it was really hot and we were tired, and we did not know what sort
of place we would find at Grizou. We need not have had any
concerns.....Le Grange de Grizou was a wonderful place |
This was a welcome sign as Grizou is just after the Chapelle St Jean le Froid
Chapelle St Jean le Froid
At last, a sign telling us that "La Grange de Grizou" is only 250 yards
But where is it?
Accommodation Notes
Dinner with owners Claire and Alan
|
