18 - Around the Saint-Jacques
Start: Place de la Libération
With the town of Le Puy-en-Velay as its high point, the historic starting point of the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela, this route, accessible to all riders, takes you towards the Dolaizon gorges, drawing near to the first stage of the legendary GR65 and passing through Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaizon, Ramourouscle, Bains and Espaly-Saint-Marcel.
- Distance
- 35.9 km
- Elevation gain
- +592 m
- Elevation loss
- -592 m
- Duration
- 2 h
Route on the map
Base map © OpenTopoMap (CC-BY-SA): route licensed under ETALAB-2.0 via Données : Comité Départemental Randonnée Pédestre Haute-Loire · FFRandonnée · sportsnature.hauteloire.fr — sous licence ETALAB 2.0.
The feel of the route
The Saint-Joseph de Bon Espoir sanctuary Espaly-Saint-Marcel
The basilica draws on a wish to resemble the medieval fortress whose place it took. Hence a façade that seems to draw an imaginary drawbridge out of the void. The whole, with its stylised crenellations, has a proud look.
At the gates of Le Puy-en-Velay, in the Borne valley, the Basilica of Saint Joseph de Bon-Espoir at Espaly (completed in 1918) stands on the site of the former chapel of a castle. The monumental statue (22.40 m) that overlooks the chapel was built in reinforced concrete. The work of Brother André Besqueut, its construction was approved by Pope Pius X. Its inauguration and blessing took place on 11 April 1910.
In pictures
Other hikes in the area
Cycling
Cycling
Other activity