From the 9th-century and throughout the Middle Ages, pilgrims followed the Santiago de Compostela pilgrim trail to the shrine of Saint James in Galicia, north-west Spain, like bees are drawn to honey. The best-known stretch of the famous pilgrim route in the Lot runs from the plateaux of Aubrac to the little 'city' of Cahors. The GR65 (chemin de Grande Randonnée) follows that trail and is reputed to be one of France’s most attractive. This is partly because of the many different landscapes through which it runs, including the stark beauty of the open plateaux of the Aubrac. It is also because of the sheer number of original way-places, abbeys, churches and other buildings that originally welcomed and sheltered the pilgrims which can still be visited today. You can visit the Domerie in Aubrac with its wonderful tower and 12th-century Romanesque church for example, the skeleton of Ste Foy in the Ste Foy Abbey at Conques and study the carvings depicting quarrelsome pilgrims in the cathedral in Cahors – and many, many other sites along the way. Let yourself be tempted by our seven holiday suggestions outlined below.

Your 3-star hotel is in the centre of this charming little town, probably the most famous on the Pilgrims’ Way to Santiago de Compostela. The building dates back to the 17th-century, and is located opposite Conques’ Abbey. Conques itself is a masterpiece of Romanesque art, as well as being classified as one of the « Plus Beaux Villages de France ». You’ll be cosseted and charmed at this beautiful spot that drips with personality and history.
Prices (2006): 3-day/2-night stay half-board (bed & breakfast & evening meal): from 277€ per person (sharing double room).
Available: 01 May to 17 Oct 2006
Booking Reference: AYHFOY
To book:
Loisirs Accueil Aveyron
Tel: +33 (0)5 65 75 55 50
Email: sla.aveyron@wanadoo.fr

Web: www.reservation-aveyron.com

Stay at a converted water mill at the foot of medieval Conques

For more details click here

You’ll be walking, unaccompanied, at your own pace from Aumont-Aubrac to St Chély d’Aubrac. Your luggage will be transported for you, and you’ll be given all the information you need to follow the route. This is part of the famous Via Podiensis along which pilgrims walked in their thousands from Notre-Dame du Puy-en-Velay to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The route is lined with isolated castles, stone crosses, priories and Romanesque chapels - vestiges of the long-gone days when pilgrims crossed the rural bliss of the Aubrac plains. Today, this is still one of the most attractive pilgrim routes you can walk. You will be staying at hotels, chambres d’hôtes (French-style B&Bs) or inns at most of which there will be en suite facilities.
Level: you’ll be walking between 3 & 8 hours per day (12 to 26km per day).

Duration: 4 days/3 nights
Price per person (sharing double room): from 225 (single room accommodation available for a supplement)
The price includes: half-board (bed & breakfast & evening meal) from dinner on Day 1 to after breakfast on Day 4 (your last day); transport of your luggage between overnight stays; holiday tax; your ‘Carnet de Route’ (comprising a ‘topo-guide’ and IGN map 1/100,000) providing all the information you need for your walk and about nearby sites.
The price does not include: lunch, drinks, cost of admission to sites; cancellation insurance; taxi from St Chély back to Aumont-Aubrac (40mins/about 60€ per person) or to Rodez (1hr/about 75€ per person) - 40% higher at weekends and public holidays.
Available: from 01 April to 11 November 2006
To find out more or to book: click here
Loisirs Accueil Lozère

Tel: +33 (0)4 66 48 48 48
Email: sla@france48.com

Web: www.lozere-resa.com

For more details click here

A ‘Logis’ hotel (owner-run) in the countryside on the outskirts of historic Cajarc on the ancient Pilgrim Trail to the shrine of St James in Santiago de Compostela. More recently, writer Françoise Sagan was born in Cajarc, while President Pompidou lived here. This is an excellent spot from which to tour - by car, foot or cycle - the Lot and Célé Valleys, historic towns like Figeac, St-Cirq-Lapopie, Conques, Rocamadour, Cahors and its vineyards. The hotel has 24 rooms, all recently modernised to the highest standards, with air conditioning, en suite facilities, satellite TV and hair-dryers. You’ll enjoy some great traditional cuisine and gastronomic meals in the light-flooded dining room; seasonal produce is at the heart of every dish. There is a relaxing bar with wicker furniture, and a shaded terrace giving on to the swimming pool and park.
Available: from 01 March to 01 November 2006
Booking reference: LLHOSEGA
Price per person (sharing double room) - Half-board (bed & breakfast plus evening meal):

SPECIAL: Stay 4 NIGHTS or more - and get 5% OFF your WHOLE STAY!

Book 2 nights and get a 3rd night b&b FREE (available low season only).

The price includes: a 'welcome aperitif'; bed & breakfast (buffet) and evening meals with regional cuisine; the ‘Passeport pour le Lot’ book of vouchers which entitles you to reductions at many sites.
The price does not include: lunch; drinks; holiday tax (payable on site); optional travel insurance including cancellation (2% of total cost of your booking); booking fee (8€ for up to 3 nights; 15€ for 4 nights or more).
Special Tariff for 3rd person sharing room: child under 3 - free accommodation; child 4-10: 18€ bed & breakfast; all children's meals to be settled on site; aged 10 and over: 34€ half-board.

Supplementary per person (sharing double room) per night: extra night half-board: 50€ (low season), 64€ (high season); extra night bed & breakfast only: 40€ (low season), 48.5€ (high season). Single room supplement: 16€.
Pets welcome: 5€ per pet per night
To find out more and to book:
Loisirs Accueil Lot
Tel: +33 (0)5 65 53 20 90
Email: Loisirs.accueil.lot@wanadoo.fr

Web: www.reservation-lot.com

For details click here

History Trails: 100 Years War | The Lords of Rouergue

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