the
Compostelle
Route
the Compostelle Route
| In
the year 813 a hermit called Pelasge, informed by supernatural lights, discovers
Saint James's grave. This discovery embarks on Compostelle route masses of pilgrims
from the Xth century, before Jacques de Voragine codified it in XIIIth century,
under name of " Golden legend of Compostelle". Pilgrimage
got organized around 4 main ways described by Aimeri Picaud in his "Guide of the
pilgrim" in XIIth century: the "via turonensis" (which beginner to St Martin in
Tours), the "via lemovicensis" (to Ste Marie-Madeleine in Vezelay), the "via podensis"
(to Notre-Dame in Le Puy) and the "via tolosana or egidiana" (to St Gilles
near Arles) |
|
(drawing by Sabathier 1833) |
la Via Podensis From
the Xth century, pilgrims who started from Le Puy in Velay had to face dangers
in Margeride and Aubrac mountains before reaching the Lot river valley in St Côme
on Olt. This crossing was secure in XIIth century with establishment of Aubrac
monastery. The soldiers-monks escorted pilgrims and the "bell of lost men" rang
during several hours, in foggy weather, to call mislaid pilgrims.
|
| St
Côme - Espalion section Registered
on Human Patrimony by UNESCO  the
Combes road, along the Lot river, is a no marked out variant of GR
|
 |
"Romieus"
(pilgrims)
spring It
comes out of the base of a big rock situated at point of separation of Compostelle
route and the GR 6 and 65, 300m after leaving the Lot riverside |  |
|
Espalion bridge
|
| Perse
and the pilgrimage At
the beginning of pilgrimage, pilgrims, in their search of relics, came to Perse
to meditate on St Hilarian' before
returning
on roman way by Carnéjac and going on St
Amans's grave in Rodez. Then they continued their
journey to the Conques
abbey
or by La Bastide d'Aubrac and Bonneval. |
Bonneval abbey
