[Gocamino] [Santiagobis] About the gîtes d'étape in France

[Tim]

Hi,
I can't really help with Paris but as far as the Chemin St Jacques goes 
I would suggest you purchase a copy of Miam Miam Dodo which is a guide 
to the whole route from Le Puy to the border, please note that this 
route is known in France as the GR65.  Although it is in French this is 
hardly a problem as a few minutes perusal will allow you to work out how 
it works.  It can be found at Editions de Vieux Crayon 
<http://www.levieuxcrayon.com/pel/Commande.php?mode=indiv> there is also 
an Iphone and Android version coming out this March.
I hope this helps.
Tim Proctor

On 20/02/12 17:32, Michel wrote:
> Just a last word on that. Usually you have two types of gîtes d'étape (and again, I leave aside the "Gîtes de France", which are B&Bs): the private gîtes and the municipal ones. They all offer basically what you would find in the refugios in Spain: a bed - but no linen, bring your own sleeping bag - showers and bathrooms, a kitchen to cook your own meal, and most of the time somewhere to hang your laundry to dry, a common room for sitting, reading, etc... Municipal ones are cheaper than the private ones obviously. Usually they are in very good shape and you can even happen on brand new ones, as the road from Le Puy is definitely picking up.
> In the list I posted, my experience would recommend the following:
> Le Sauvage - an old Templar farm converted. Great!
> Aubrac - Gîte d'étape communal - great setting in an old medieval tower
> St Côme d'Olt - Gîte d'étape communal
> Espalion - Gîte d'étape communal
> Conques - Centre d'Accueil de l'Abbaye - run by Premontre Monks. A must to get into a proper pilgrimage frame of mind.
> Livinhac le Haut - Gîte d'étape La Magnanerie - Private but well worth the extra expense - Probably something like 25 Euros against 10 in the municipal gîte
> Figeac La Cassagnole - Gîte Le Relais Saint-Jacques - private. They have a small in-house store, but we had our meal catered from downtown and brought up to us... for 10 Euros!
> Cajarc - Gîte d'étape communal
> Vaylats - there's a monastery of nuns who take in pilgrims there. Not on the list, but worth checking. Vaylats is a couple of kilometers off the Camino after Varaire.
> Lascabanes - Gîte d'étape L'Etape Bleue - private , but wonderful
> Lauzerte - Gîte d'étape communal
> Moissac - Gîte d'étape et de séjour - in the old Carmel monastery, a stone throw away from the great Moissac Abbey
> Saint Antoine - private gîte but superb
> Lectoure - Gîte La Halte Pélerine
> La Romieu - gîte d'étape et de séjour - Private but another great one
> Laressingle - La ferme du Tolet - Great! Careful because usually you eat at the farm-superb food prepared by the wife of the farmer-and  the farmer himself is very generous with his products, wine and armagnac! Pilgrims have been known to have headaches the day after!
> Eauze - gîte d'étape communal
> Aire sur l'Adour - Gîte L'Hospitalet Saint Jacques
> Saint Palais - Gîte La Maison Franciscaine
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> <*>  To visit your group on the web, go to:
>      http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Santiagobis/
>
> <*>  Your email settings:
>      Individual Email | Traditional
>
> <*>  To change settings online go to:
>      http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Santiagobis/join
>      (Yahoo! ID required)
>
> <*>  To change settings via email:
>      Santiagobis-digest at yahoogroups.com
>      Santiagobis-fullfeatured at yahoogroups.com
>
> <*>  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>      Santiagobis-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
>
> <*>  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
>      http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>