Through France from Geneva to Le Puy

The Via Gebennensis connects Geneva to Le Puy-en-Velay, used primarily by German speaking pilgrims to join the more traditional way in Le Puy, often seen as one of the starting points of the Camino.

Geneva was an Allobrogian border town, fortified against the Helvetii tribe, when the Romans took it over in 121 BC. In 1541 John Calvin, the Protestant Reformer and proponent of Calvinism, became the spiritual leader of the city and established the Republic of Geneva.

The first stage of our journey through France started April 2019 in Geneva and ended in a small railway station on the outskirts of Beauvoisin, where it transpired that we could only take a bus to Chambery, and thence with the train back to Geneva.
The route is described on some websites as very strenuous, with constant climbs and descents. Although this is true, we took it easy, aiming for 15km to 20km per day, and found the variety of lakes, rivers, woods and hills very enjoyable.

Then in September we set off again from Les Abrets, near where we finished in the spring, for Le Puy-en-Velay. The weather was ideal (mostly) and the going wasn't too tough, so we covered a lot of ground, and got to Le Puy with time to spend a day looking around.

Le Puy is famous for its cathedral, for its lace-making, and, of course, for lentils. In the middle ages, Le Puy was the most popular destination in France for Pilgrims. Nowadays, each morning, pilgrims gather in the Cathedral to be blessed before starting their journey to Santiago de Compostela.

Also starting from here is the path Robert Louis Stevenson took with his donkey through the outstanding scenery of the Cévennes to the Camisard.

One amusing highlight - we met a Swiss couple from a village near where we live!