Collected the pilgrim passport from the beautiful lovely OLD Basilica Saint Fermin in Toulouse
Map of the route, but I only went as far as Jaca
Getting ready to leave
Text from the brochure of Amawalkers
We follow the Chemin du Piemont from Lourdes to Oloron Sainte Marie. The signs in France are sometimes extremely confusing.
Signs with 'Voie de Piemont' (yellow, arrow-like posts), GR signs (red and white stripes) and Camino shells are thrown together.
The GR - Grande Randonnée - are long-distance walking trails in many parts of Europe. We have to watch carefully for the signs, especially when walking in the woods. (From the border of Spain at the Somport Pass, it is easier as we just follow the yellow arrows!) If it is raining it is recommended that we take the road as the paths through the forest alongside the river get muddy and treacherous.
The directions for getting onto the Camino path from Lourdes are: go to the right of the Basilica with the crown, pass the grotto and the baths, and keep on that main path until it ends at a chain link fence and you will step out of the sanctuary onto a main road. If you look to the right you will see an intersection. Do NOT go right. Go LEFT, up and around a small hill walking on the roadside. It is a narrow shoulder. Hug it. When you see the Camping du Loup across the road on your right, and just before it (on the right), is a trail going down alongside the camping site. It is marked and you are on the Camino! Sometimes the road splits so watch out for the red and white stripes, which could be hidden by tree branches. We take a detour from the Camino path to get into Lestelle-Bétharram. These apartments provide a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, microwave and toaster,
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