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Walking in La Romieu

Path of G.R.

The Roads to St Jacques de Compostela existed for over a thousand years and are now the first European Cultural Route.

In November 1998, UNESCO inscribed the road to St Jacques of compostelle to World Heritage of humanity, and preaching the preservation of historical, literary, artistic and musical created by pilgrimages.

The pilgrimage to St Jacques de Compostela in France, used essentially by four primary paths:

- The first, Via Tolosana (or path Toulouse: 525 km from Arles to Somport), starting from Arles, from Italy, and passes through St. Gilles, Montpellier, St-Guilhem-du-Desert, Castres, Toulouse, Auch, Pau and the Somport pass.

The second, Via Podiensis (750 km from Le Puy to Ostabat), which comes from Switzerland, from Le Puy en Velay and through Conques, Cahors, Moissac, La Romieu and St Jean Pied de Port and Ostabat.

- The third, Via Lemovicensis (or limousine path: 820 km from Vézelay to St Jean Pied de Port), and begin from Vezelay, crosses Leonard de Noblat, Perigueux, Bazas, St Seven before arriving at Ostabat.

- The fourth is the "Great Road" (Via Turonensis: 915 km from Paris to Jean Pied de Port) who comes from Denmark and Belgium, it passed through Paris, Chartres (or Orleans) and down to Tours, Châtellerault, Poitiers, Lusignan, Melle, Saintonge, Blaye, Bordeaux, Gradignan, Belin- Béliet, Labouheyre, Dax, Sorde-Abbey, St Palais, Ostabat, Jean Pied de Port, and then arrives in Spain by Ronceveaux .

The four way meet in one-to Puenta La-Reina, Spain: This is EL CAMINO FRANCES

"... If these four French roads were more crowded than others, it is considered more of a road network or even a scattering of places-stop. So, the pilgrim in the Middle Ages, as sometimes today, headed toward Saint-Jacques, from sanctuary to sanctuary, and all these intermediate objectives were her journey of faith ... "

The way le Puy or VIA PODENSIS

Via Podiensis (or road from Le Puy en Velay) is one of the paths of pilgrimage of Saint Jacques of compostelle de Compostela, which starts from Le Puy en Velayand extends to the pass of Roncevaux and from there to St. Jacques de Compostela.

Before Le Puy, from Geneva, is via of Gebennensis, which collects the Swiss and German pilgrims and leads to the Via Podiensis. From Geneva to Pamplona, the two paths (via + via Gebennensis Podiensis) are marked as a hiking trail GR 65.

In the year 950, Godescalc, bishop of Le Puy en Velay, makes a pilgrimage to St. Jacques de Compostela. It is the first pilgrim non-Hispanic to perform pilgrimage to Compostela.

It is a real company that travels. Besides the bishop and clergy accompanying him, they include the troubadours, jugglers, pages serving clergy, barons and seneschals, all these fine gentlemen are protected by numerous armed men: archers and spearmen.

The route taken is badly known, yet few cities do not hesitate to claim their passage.

But , this pilgrimage is authenticated by the writings of Gomesano, Spanish monk of the convent of Saint-Martin d'Albeda (near Logroño): "The bishop Godescalc, driven by an apparent devotion, left his country to Aquitaine , accompanied by a large procession, heading toward the end of Galicia to reach the divine mercy humbly imploring the protection of the Apostle St. Jacques. "

We must also mention the pilgrimage of the Earl of Rouergue 961, Raymond II, who was killed along the way by the Saracens.

Hospitals Saint-Jacques in via Podiensis

In the Middle Ages, the term "hospital" referred to a place of asylum and assistance rather than a care facility. It received the "poor of the place and poor travelers," that is to say all travelers, including pilgrims, poor "spiritual" that even rich, had voluntarily robbed on the road and "follow poor the poor Christ. "The vocable under which the hospital was placed is not insignificant: it's thought of" St. Jacques "received essentially a customer of pilgrims from Galicia without, of course, that the door was closed to other travelers.

In the Pilgrim's Guide, Aimery Picaud note in Chapter XI, hospitality to the pilgrims of Saint- Jacques: "The rich and poor pilgrims returning from Saint-Jacques or who go there must be received with charity and surrounded by veneration. For anyone who will eagerly received and lodged not only will host St. Jacques, but Our Lord himself, as he said in his gospel: who receives you, receives me. "

Every difficult passage (river, mountain), asylums ensured a ferry service, the maintenance of a bridge or the protection of those who passed the mountain pass. Hospices were more modest as they were numerous. They could usually accommodate only three to twenty-five people, each pilgrim could stay only a night or two at least of being sick and poor were admitted if they had not the strength begging. The staff was reduced: the "boss" appointed for life or for a time (often three years) and one or two brothers or two sisters, one for maintenance, meal preparation and the work of adjacent land. Under the control and protection of the bishops, municipalities or kings, they enjoyed privileges, such tax exemption. Bequests and donations increased their patrimony to income which could add the product quests and the profit from various rights.

Thus we find in via Podiensis Hospital Saint-Jacques Le Puy en Velay, Saugues, Hospitalet (now the Chapel of St. Roch Margeride), Figeac, Varaire, Cahors, Moissac, The Peyronelle (to input Lectoure), Lectoure, La Romieu, Condom (hospital Saint-Jacques de Teste and St. Jacques de la Bouquerie).

They as landmarks undoubted the passage of pilgrims of the past in these localities.

Actual path in the Gers :

Saint-Antoine-sur-l’Arrats.

Flamarens son château.

Miradoux, ancienne bastide.

Lectoure, la cathédrale Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais.

La Romieu et sa collégiale Saint-Pierre.

Condom et son église abbatiale.

Larressingle.

Beaumont sur l'Osse et son Pont d'Artigues.

Montréal-du-Gers.

Lauraët.

Lagraulet-du-Gers.

Eauze.

Manciet.

Nogaro

Barcelonne-du-Gers

The way of Rocamadour (GR652)

From Figeac, the pilgrims went to Rocamadour for meditate in Quercy in the sanctuary of Notre Dame de Rocamadour, and made a detour to the north.

When he reach Rocamadour, the pilgrim made often the choice of to move towards Agen, where he could benefit from 4 hospitals or hospitals priory.

The current path of the GR 652 goes to Rocamadour from La Romieu, via Penne d'Agenais, Agen and Moirax. It follows 250 km of trail that were newly tagged.

The GR 652 joins the GR 65 in La Romieu.

Le GR de Pays Coeur de Gascogne

The GR de Pays ® "Heart of Gascony" will help you discover much of our region and our department .... From Auch, the capital of Gascony and now "Major Site of Midi-Pyrenees", the route takes you from castle to defense towers, lovely churches, wonderfull abbey, traditional fortified villages. It goes through La Romieu