There are pilgrimage routes all across Europe heading for the shrine of St James at Compostela. The one I have chosen to follow starts at Vézelay, where you have to make an immediate choice – northerly or southerly route? I chose to go north via Bourges. Beginning in May 2023 I walked for ten days, and then for another six in October. I have got as far as Limoges. In 2024 I walked in April, when the weather was wet and changeable and got to Sainte-Foy-la-Grande. A short period in September took me to Bazas. Now, in April 2025, I hope to make it to the Spanish border. The whole route across France is about 900 kms. And then there is all the north of Spain to do!

Update: May 2025

I am just back from twelve days in France. I started at Bazas in very wet weather, and got some bad blisters that slowed me down. Eventually, I got as far as Orthez (about 150 Kms total) before it was time to come back. A train to Bayonne, and then I was on a TGV to Paris and home.

However, I discovered that there is a cross-border pilgrimage route that starts in Bayonne, and goes over the foothills of the Pyrenees, and ends up in Pamplona, where it joins the main Camino Francés. It is called the Via de Baztàn, and is little-used. So, in September 2025, I am going to head for Bayonne by train, and start walking this alternative route.