Conques to Moissac in 8 Days

Give yourself 8 days for walking (if it were me this is how I'd do it for the fourth time).  
Take some cup-a-soup with you in your packs for those times when you can't find a
store at night.  Remember shops close from noon to 2pm or 3pm, and usually all
Wednesday afternoon in smaller places, and all day Sunday.  Very few bars along the
way that will be open in the day to get cafe/food, so be prepared.  Make sure to use
a  32 oz water bottle and fill whenever you get a chance to fill.  Ask in each village the
night you get there if there is a market the next day - they usually start around 8-8:
30am and are worth seeing.  For peace of mind and not feeling as though you have
to rush to get to a gite, I'd phone 1 to 2 days in advance to make a reservation. You
will probably be able to find a Office du Tourisme that can help you out each day or
the person who runs the gite you're staying at the night before, or fellow pelerin.  
There are a few places to take short cuts on this trip, and I've mentioned them where
necessary.  

Great books to have are ( and can be bought at the book store in Le Puy, ask for
directions):  Le Chemin du Puy vers Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle - by Georges
Veron, Lousis Laborde-Balen and Jacqueline Veron.  Miam-Miam-dodo  Le Chemin de
Compostelle by Jacques Clouteau and Lauraine Clouteau - both in paperback and in
French, but you'll be able to figure out the info that you need with no trouble.

Where to stay in Conques - you'll enjoy staying in Conques - there is a Gite at the
Abbey - they have private rooms and bathrooms and great food also lots of hotels
and restaurants - mass is at 8pm - don't miss it!!!  Gite to stay at here is:  Centre d'
accueil de l' abbaye Sainte-Foy, wonderful, peaceful place to stay right behind the
Abbey.  Lots of exploring to do in Conques.


Day 1 - Conques  to Livinhac-le-Haut = 23.5km - 6 hours - bit of an uphill hike
leaving Conques and then it is all downhill to Decazeville. Not a difficult walk, just nice
and slow. No food and water before Decazeville.  Nice, easy, scenic walk from
Decazeville to Livinhac-le-Haut. Livinhac has a couple of restaurants and a small
grocery store. The gite d'etape communal is in the town square, next to the church
(the bells chime all night long) and is a great location for buying food to cook or going
out for dinner.


Day 2 - Livinhac-le-Haut to Figeac = 25.4km - 6.5 hrs - no where to get food and
drink during this section, so stock up before leaving Livinhac. It is a pleasant, easy
and mainly flat walk. Some parts are through farmers fields and others are along
quiet country roads. The gite d'etape in Figeac is 20-30 minute walk outside of the
town, so find a central place to stay as it is a nice town to explore, lots of cafes,
restaurants, take-aways. The tourism office is in the center of town.

*Day 3 - Figeac to Marcilhac-sur-Cele = 29 km - 7.5 hrs - follow some of GR651 but
best to walk the road from Figeac to Cahors along the River CELE - Le Cele. This a
scenic country road that is very quiet and peaceful with very little traffic.

Note: The GR651 from Figeac to Cahors takes walkers way off the beaten path and isn't
worth the effort and extra kms. Plus, you'll miss many of the best sights that are along
the river Cele.

Walk the route (GR65) to Beduer. Then follow the signs to Boussac. From Boussac
walk the country roads (D41) to Marcilhac-sur-Cele. Marcilhac has a few places to stay
including a gite, hotel and chambre d'hote.

Day 4 - Marcilhac-sur-Cele to Saint-Gery or Pasturat = 23 -25km - 6.5 hrs -
continue to follow the D41 country road to Bouzies where the road becomes D10. At
this point the walk is along the River Lot. Saint-Gery has a chambre d'hote,
restaurant, grocery store and sometimes there is a market in the morning. Great
place to buy fresh cheese from the region - the tiny-round Chevre is amazing! Make a
reservation for the chambre d'hotes the day before, or plan on walking a little more
to Pasturat (on the other side of the Lot from Saint-Gery). TIP: Whichever place you
decide to sleep in, make a prior reservation - they both get busy. If you go to
Pasturat, have the meals included. They are very good and there isn't anywhere to
get food otherwise.

Day 5 - Saint-Gery/Pasturat to Cahors = 28km - 7.5 hrs - Pick-up lunch in Saint-
Gery as there isn't much along the way - except for the occasional more pricey
restaurant.  Follow the route from Pasturat to Arcambel, and then at this point walk
the road (D911) to Cahors. Or from Saint-Gery stay on the road in the direction of
Vers along the D653 - this is a scenic route along the Lot, but the traffic does start to
get busier.
*NOTE: If for any reason you need to hitch-hike in this area, many people happily
pick-up pilgrims (just tell them you have a sore foot or blisters;-).

*The routes from Figeac to Cahors are probably the part I dislike the most - only
because the trail takes hikers off into nowhere and very large distances between
towns/villages with services. So, after walking the Cele/Lot twice and the Cajarc
route once, I prefer the Cele/Lot - but, I stay off the trail, walking the quiet country
road and cutting off a lot of miles each day.

Note: Walking from Cahors to Moissac - France - you can pre-book all these
accommodations a couple of days before, so that you know you've got a bed for
each night.

Cahors website: http://www.mairie-cahors.fr/

Where to stay in Cahors:
I've stayed at both and would pick #2 due to location and more people to meet. Make
reservation in advance if you want to stay at either of these.

1 - Foyer des Jeunes en Quercy: 129 rue Fondue-Haute
(tel: 05-65-35-29-32  fax: 05-65-53-69-68)
Dorms of various sizes from 2-10 beds - good way to meet other pilgrims and
travelers

2 - Auberge de Jeunesse et Foyer de Jeunes Travailleurs: 20 rue Frederic Suisse
(tel: 05-65-35-64-71  fax: 05-65-35-95-92)
http://www.fuaj.org/Cahors?var_recherche=cahors
Dorms of various sizes - this is in a bit more central location to the main street, train
station and easier to find. Plus, the reception is open longer hours.

If you decide to stay in a hotel in Cahors there are plenty to choose from, but it can
start to get expensive. Tourism office can point out the options and prices (tel: 05-65-
53-20-65) or just wander around and pick one. Near train station there are a few  
less expensive options.


Day 6 - Cahors to Lascabanes = 22km - 6 hrs - Follow GR65 signs and symbols
Make sure to have enough water and food with you for the day as there isn't
anywhere along the way. This is a walk on paths and country lanes after you leave
Cahors and as you arrive in the hamlet of Lascabanes.

Stay at gite in Lascabanes - make advance reservation and include dinner and maybe
breakfast for the next day. Note: It is a 9km walk from Lascabanes to Montcuq - can
purchase food and drink here the next day.
Gite d'etape: tel: 05-65-31-49-12 or 05-65-31-86-38. 17 beds.
There is an evening pilgrims service at the small chapel next door and it is worthwhile
attending (regardless of religious belief).
Gîte communal de Lascabanes
46800 - Lascabanes
Tél. : 05 65 31 49 12
Fax : 05 65 31 86 38

Another option (haven't stayed here) is: Chambres a la Ferme, L'Happy-cool-teur. tel:
05-65-24-99-82). 2 rooms. You can purchase dinner and breakfast here also. It is a
bit further than Lascabanes and on a farm.


Day 7 - Lascabanes to Lauzerte = 24km - 6 hrs - You will pass through some small
villages and towns as well as walk through the countryside. First main town is
Montcuq - 9km after Lacabanes. There are bars and restaurants in Lauzerte and it is
a very pretty hillside town.

Stay at: Gite d'etape: Book with Office of Tourisme in Lauzerte:
Office de Tourisme
Place des Cornières
82110 Lauzerte
tél.: 05 63 94 61 94
fax 05 63 94 61 93
email: accueil@lauzerte-tourisme.fr

- Halt for the hikers and pilgrims, in the middle of the medieval city. With the rdc,
kitchen equipped, living room, relaxation, 2 ch. (3 and 5 beds), 2 WC, 1 water room.
On the 1st floor, 4 ch. (2, 3 and 4 beds), 2 WC and 1 water room. No service of
restoration. Night: 10€/pers. On arrival, to present itself to the tourist office or, at
closing times, the coffee (Pl. of the Angles). Opened of the 1/3 to the 31/10.
Lauzerte Tourisme: http://www.lauzerte-tourisme.fr/web/21-home.php

Another Lauzerte gite option: Les Figuiers
Bernadette et Michel Reversat
Chemin du Coudounié
82110 Lauzerte

tél. 05 63 94 61 29
portable 06 85 31 71 31
email: michel.reversat@wanadoo.fr
- Lodging of stage pilgrims 20 places on the GR65. CH. of 2,3,4 sea-green., 1ch de 5
sea-green., 1 ch de 6 sea-green. from 10,50 with 15€/pers. Small déj. 4€, meal 13€.
Possibility of cooking. Accounts - cheques holidays accepted. Open all the year.

Day 8 - Lauzert to Moissac = 25km - 7 hrs - From Lauzerte it is a 11 km walk to
Durfort-Lacapelette where there is food and drink if needed. After Durfort-Lacapelette
there isn't anywhere to stop until Moissac - countryside walking.

Where to stay in Moissac: Centre International d'accueil Carmel, 5 sente du Calvaire,
Moissac (tel: 05-63-04-62-21 fax: 05-63-04-62-22)
Email: accueil.cafmoissac@wannadoo.fr - 70 beds in rooms with 2-4 beds, possibly
single rooms available. Very nice and clean. Dinner and breakfast available for extra
fee - you may prefer to find something yourself in the town itself.

Within 5-minute walk of Cathedral and center of town.
http://centreaccueilmoissac.free.fr/wikini/wakka.php?wiki=PagePrincipale  
They will let you stay 2 nights here - if for some reason they are fully booked, ask
them where else to stay in Moissac.

*Spend time exploring Moissac (cloister at Cathedral is worthy) or walking along the
canal La Garonne - really pretty walk in the direction of Auvillar. Either way, there's
lots to explore here.
Moissac website: http://www.moissac.fr/index-100107.html



*If you need to translate languages, this is handy:
http://babelfish.yahoo.com/?fr=bf-res




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