Guide to the Camino de Santiago on two routes: Lyon - Arles and Gillonnay - Le Puy-en-Velay
Lyon-Arles Route: A major historical crossing of the Rhône Valley
The Lyon-Arles route follows in the footsteps of ancient pilgrimage paths linking northern Europe to the major southern routes. From Geneva, walkers would reach Lyon before following the Rhône Valley, a major thoroughfare since antiquity. This route boasts numerous proven historical traces, both religious and commercial, and crosses territories shaped by centuries of passage. The descent towards Arles, an emblematic city on the Camino de Santiago, offers a gradual immersion in the Rhône landscapes: vineyards, ancient villages, agricultural plains, and major heritage sites. This route provides an essential link for pilgrims wishing to join the Camino routes in southern France, while discovering a path of great cultural and historical value.
Gillonnay – Le Puy-en-Velay Route: An Ardèche Variant of the GR® 65
The Gillonnay – Le Puy-en-Velay route offers a more secluded alternative to the often very busy GR® 65. From Gillonnay, this path allows pilgrims coming from Geneva or the Rhône Valley to reach Le Puy-en-Velay directly, the iconic starting point of the Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago). This variant crosses the Ardèche region, offering a wilder and more authentic hiking experience, between plateaus, steep-sided valleys, and charming villages. Less urbanized and more preserved, this route appeals to hikers seeking tranquility, varied landscapes, and a strong connection to local history. It also allows pilgrims to reach Arles or to join a longer route to the west and southwest, depending on their pilgrimage plans. Rehabilitated and Structured Paths Since 2001: These two routes were created, structured, and promoted starting in 2001 by a dedicated association, under the leadership of Henri Jarnier. This work has restored coherence and visibility to ancient paths, based on historical research, appropriate signage, and precise documentation. Today, these routes offer pilgrims and hikers a credible, historical, and human alternative to the more frequented major routes.
Specifications:
- Publisher: Rhône-Alpes Association of Friends of Saint James
- Edition: 2023
- Pages: 208
- Dimensions: 12 x 19 cm
- Weight: 220 g
- Language: French
