Voie du Piémont

In short: Voie du Piémont: from Montpellier or Carcassonne to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Length: around 700 km, duration: 4 to 5 weeks. Best time: May to October.

Overview

The Voie du Piémont, also known as the GR 78, follows the northern edge of the Pyrenees. Depending on the source and starting point it measures 600 to 750 kilometres, with around 700 kilometres from Montpellier the usual figure. It is not one of the four classic routes, but it is popular with experienced pilgrims.

Carcassonne, Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges and Lourdes all lie on the way. The steady up and down makes the route tiring, but in return you have the mountains in view almost all the time.

Few people walk this route, and the infrastructure is much thinner than on the Via Podiensis. You have to plan your stages and reserve in advance here. At Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or near Oloron-Sainte-Marie you can switch to other routes.

Planning your stages

How long you need depends on your daily distance. The table works this out for 700 kilometres, with one rest day a week.

Who is this route for?

This route is a poor choice for a first attempt. You should be sure-footed and have stamina, and several weeks of training will pay off here.

What does the route cost?

With an albergue or simple guesthouse and one hot meal, 60 to 80 euros a day is usually enough. Over about 40 days that comes to roughly 2,400 to 3,200 euros, plus travel and gear. This is a guide figure.

You can find more routes under Pilgrimage routes in Europe, Pilgrimage in France, sorted by religion under Christian pilgrimage routes.