Œuvre d'art refuge sur le GR65, Super-Cayrou à Gréalou, sur le parcours Fenêtres sur le Paysage en direction de Compostelle

Saint-Jacquesby the road to Le Puy

The GR®65

The GR®65 is one of France’ s four main long-distance hiking trails leading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This itinerary, the Via Podiensis, also known as the Voie du Puy, is the most famous and popular route to the tomb of the apostle Saint James the Great in Galicia. Inaugurated in 1972, it’s the closest thing we have to a historic route. Whether you’re an adventurer, a hiker, a sportsman or simply looking for peace and quiet, this itinerary is an immersion in nature, discovering wild landscapes, monuments of faith and works of art in refuge. The GR65 crosses the Lot from end to end, crossing the Grand-Figeac region from Montredon to Saint-Jean-de-Laur. Let’s embark on a three-day tour, from the last valleys of the Monts d’Auvergne to the Causses du Quercy, along two sections of UNESCO World Heritage trails.

Stage 1: Livinhac-Le-Haut - Figeac

25.6 km

We leave the Lot valley on the Aveyron side to reach the commune of Montredon in the Lot. We gradually enter the Ségala Quercynois on an 18-km section of the UNESCO World Heritage Trail from Montredon to Figeac. The trail passes through lush green valleys lined with chestnut trees. From Saint-Félix to Felzins, the relief flattens out. The landscape becomes a bocage, dominated by livestock farming. In Felzins, the Romanesque chapel of Sainte-Madeleine de Guirande boasts 15th-century wall paintings. A little further afield, at Lac de Guirande, a work of refuge art has been installed: the Citerne-Lit, with the promise of spending a cosy night under a field of stars and waking up to the sound of birdsong. To the west, the horizon opens up towards Rouergue, and the landscape descends to Figeac,“Communes Haltes – Chemins de Compostelle en France“, and the Célé valley. The medieval town, birthplace of the famous Egyptologist Jean-François Champollion, boasts the sublime silhouettes of its two main churches: Saint-Sauveur Abbey and Notre-Dame-du-Puy. The Saint-Jacques hospital, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a place of Christian hospitality and charity, has welcomed pilgrims.

Stage 2: Figeac - Cajarc

31.5 km

After a night’s rest, we headed for Cajarc, a medieval town in the Lot valley. Along the way, Faycelles, with its typical Quercy architecture, reveals itself from the top of its cliff, offering sublime views of the Auvergne mountains. From Faycelles to Cajarc, we’re on a stretch of the UNESCO World Heritage Route. In Béduer, you can admire the feudal castle, set in a dominant position. Little by little, as you advance, you enter the Causses du Quercy. Paths lined with low walls and oak undergrowth reveal vast limestone plateaus dotted with dry meadows. Take a break at Gréalou, where the horizon opens up. The church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption opens onto a small tree-lined square. A few kilometers further on, at an altitude of 395 m, the highest point of the causse, Pech Laglaire, offers an astonishing 365° panorama. Along the way, the Pech Laglaire 2 dolmen is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Super-Cayrou refuge is just a stone’s throw away. Between Gréalou and Cajarc, we follow the trail of stories drawn on stone and built on drystone walls. Gradually, we descend towards the Lot valley, before reaching Cajarc, a welcoming town with an air of dolce vita.

Dolmen De Pech Laglaire Gréalou Gr 65 © Lot Tourisme C. Ory 140912 090834

Super Cayrou ┬®malikaturin 3986 Modifier Bd

Stage 3: Cajarc - Limogne

18 km

We leave Cajarc and its cirque-like cliffs for the Causse Blanc and Limogne-en-Quercy. The road takes us from village to village through sparse forest. In Gaillac, we take a path that climbs up through the undergrowth. At Saint-Jean-de-Laur, we disembark in front of the Saint-Namphaise lake. Then on to Le Gayfié and Limogne-en-Quercy. Here, the causse is dotted with fields of lavender, juniper and truffle oaks. The commune boasts a rich megalithic heritage, with five dolmens classified as Historic Monuments.

Randonner sur les chemins du Grand Figeac

The important thing is not the goal of the walk, but the small steps that lead to it.

Chinese proverb

Practical information

Le Super Cayrou double caselle en pierre sèche sur le causse de Saint-Chels

WHERE TO PARK IN FIGEAC?

In the Les Carmes parking lot, avenue des Carmes, after the MSA. This parking lot is free and unguarded. To leave your vehicle there for more than 7 days, contact the Figeac Police Municipale. Tel. 05 65 50 07 69.

TRANSPORTING LUGGAGE AND PILGRIMS