WAY TO SANTIAGO

Since its foundation, the abbey-church kept on welcoming pilgrims coming to worship the relics of Saint-Foy, from whole Christian Europe. The Book of Miracles is a witness account of this popular devotion.

To these first pilgrims, many others were added, during the 11^th century. They were the ones going towards Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia. They used to travel along the former Roman road from Le-Puy-en-Velay (the via podiensis), one of the four major axis for travellers in these times.

The Guide du Pèlerin, a Latin manuscript from the 12^th century mentioned Conques, a crucial stop along this route, in these words: "the most precious body of the blessed Foy, virgin and martyr, had been buried by the Christians in this deep valley commonly called Conques, with all the honours; they built above her tumb a beautiful basilica governed by the rules of Saint-Benedict seriously followed to this day, to God's glory; many benefits are provided to all, either healthy or sick; in front of the basilica runs an excellent spring, which virtues are more admired that can be said. Her feast (Saint-Foy) is celebrated on October, 6^th".

Nowadays, this thousand years old devotion is still alive. Many pilgrims, increasing in numbers everyday, add up to the traditional pilgrims of the past, like the modern hiker who, for multiple reasons, takes on this cultural route. It is a priviledged occasion for humane connections and for the discovery of an exceptional heritage site (architecture and arts).

Since 1998, the abbey-church Saint-Foy of Conques and the pilgrim's bridge above the Dourdou River are registered on the list of Worldwide Heritage by UNESCO.

IMPORTANTE NOTICE

BE aWARE OF THE BEDBUG ON THE TRAIL

Currently, bedbugs can be found in all types of accomodation along footpaths in Francen,including the pilgrim route of Santiago de Compostela. You don't have to feel embarrassed if you find bedbugs in your belonging or at home. This has nothing to do with any insufficient hygiene, but results from the fact tahat these insects spread very quickly, mainly transported in luggage.

Hosts who are aware of this problem treat their accomodation. Some of them have event started to undertake collective action.

Hikers can also play a role in fighting this "bedbug plague". In order to do so, it is important to identity bedbugs (not the tree bug) and to be alert, in order to avoid transporting them in luggage - sleeping bags being favourite shelters for these small creatures. In this way, hikers can prevent the spread of bedbugs from one accomodation to the next and avoid to take them back home.

The adult bedbug grows to 4-6 mm in length. It is flat, oval-shaped and wingless. Bedbug are hematophagous insect, i.e. suck blood exclusively and preferably human blood. They usually feed at night, on their sleeping hosts, for about 10 minutes, and then return to their hiding place, near the sleeping area. Bedbugs are very resistant and can live for months without feeding.

A big traveller: Bedbugs can spread very fast. Nobody is safe from them, for you can easily bring them back home without knowing it. You just have to stay in a contaminated area and within weeks you become a leader in bedbug farming...

Tracing them: In the places where bedbugs live, you will often find small, blackish spots (droppings). Since bedbugs are rather nocturnal, they feed on humans preferably when they are not active (in bed). Even if you can't see or feel them, you will find small traces of bllood and droppings on your sheets.

Bites: They generally do not hurt. They can leave red marks on your skin, like mosquito-bites. Bedbugs are not considered to be disease carriers but their bites may cause an edema, with the possibility of a local inflammation. Patterns of 3 or 4 bites in a row or a cluster are typical. Reactions depend on the host's carrier's sensitivity and can appear even several days following the bite. But, as with mosquitoes and fleas, not everybody is bitten, and you may even be bitten without being aware of it. Bites can be treated with a mixture of essential oils (lemony eucalyptus and fine lavender oils), which have antiseptic and calming properties.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

What can you do as a hiker? 

• Check daily the inside of your sleeping bag before packing and inspect carefully the contents of your backpack on a regular basis.
• Treat preventively your sleeping bag, luggage and personal belongings (inside and outside) with an environment-friendly repellent.
• Ventilate and spread out your sleeping bag as often as possible in the outside.
• In case of any doubt about the possible presence of bedbugs in the accomodation you chose to spend the night in, discuss it with your host.
• Thoroughly follow the inscructions of your host, without considering them as oppressively intrusive.
• While making your reservations, do not hesitate to ask your host if the accomodation is preventively treated.
• Be attentive all the time, trains can also be temporary shelters for bedbugs.

Prevention when back home

• Inspect your luggage thoroughly before taking it inside your home.
• Bedbugs don't resist very high and very low temperatures. In case of doubt or if you believe you might carry bedbugs or eggs in your backpack, you can place it in your freezer for severral days.
• Use your washing machine for everything that can stand a temperature exceeding 65°C.

Text taken from www.clako-punaise.com

Services for pilgrims

Go to the section Shopping and Services in PREPARE YOUR STAY, for further information. They group the list of doctors, pharmacies, foodstores, etc... in Conques or in a nearby locality. There is no pharmacy in Conques. The closest on the GR^®65 is in Firmi, or off the GR^®65 in Saint-Cyprien (8km). Some shops are open only during the high season (april-september/october).

Be careful: There are two GRs in Conques

• GR65 (Compostela trail): The GR65 arrives in Conques by Rue de la Peyrade (Tourist Office) and leaves Conques (direction Figeac) at the Rue Charlemagne (behind the library "Chemin d'encre"), then goes across the Dourdou river by the pilgrims' bridge to reach Saint-Foy chapel (point of view).
• GR62 (Conques-Saint Cypirne-Rodez-Millau): The GR62 starts at the "Rue de la porte de fer" (left of the Joseph-Fau Museum), crosses the Ouche turrent and goes by the site of Bancarel (point of view) and goes on towards Montignac.

Food shops in à Conques 

• Bakery"Au Fournil du pèlerin", main street. Bread, quiches, pizzas, sandwich to take out. Open during th high season (april-mid october)
• "Cave aux trésor", near the Tourist Office. Multi-service, foodstore, take out meals, washer-dryer. Open all year round
• Camping "Beau rivage", faubourg. Foodshop and take out meals. Open during the high season (arpil-september)

FOOD SHOPS ON THE GR65, BEFORE AND AFTER Conques 

Sénergues (before Conques, 10 km)

• Boucherie-charcuterie Boscus, place du village (05 65 72 87 60) - closed on Sunday afternoon and monday : local produce, take out meals...
• Alimentation SPAR, rue principale (05 65 69 82 56) - open 8h30-12h30 and 16h-18h april-october and non stop from 8h30-18h30 (may-september, except thursday and sunday afternoon): food, fresh produce, bread, salad, quiches, pizzas to take out.
• Café-tabac presse Marragou (05 65 42 76 22) : breakfast formula from 8h, picnic terrasse, possibility to warm up meals...
• Other services: Post office (9h-12h monday-friday), garage, gas station, nurses (05 65 72 82 49).

Noailhac (on the variante GR65, after Conques, 7km)

• Restaurant Chemin de Saint-Jacques (05 65 72 91 25). Food shop 

The Credentials : They may be obtained at the Abbey Saint-Foy (reception of the Abbey, behind the abbey-church). You can have your credential stamped at the Abbey (reception or St-Norbert bookstore) or at the Tourist Office. Your stamped credential allows you to pay a reduced fee for the Trreasure and Museum.

Transport facilities towards or from Conques : Go to the section Coming to Conques, on the Home page, or in the downloadable Livret du Pèlerin, just above.

Discovery circuit by car on the pilgrims' footsteps

For travellers wishing to step along the pilgrims' route, while discovering by car, download the guide (in French) with a click here.

Catholic worship

Religious services are held regurlarly by the Friars Premonstres Community from Conques.
Tel: 05 65 69 89 43

Web site: www.abbaye-conques.org
email: accueil-conques@mondaye.com

The prayers and masses are held in the abbey-church or in the Rosary Chapel located behind the cloister (during winter times).

7:30 (lauds, except on Monday) / 12:05 (half day prayer, except on Sunday and Monday) / 18:30 (Vespers, except on Monday during winter) / 20:30 (Complies) and blessing of the pilgrims, followed by the organ play and light show (from May to September)

Weekly Mass, at 8:00 (except on Sunday)
Sunday and holy days Mass, at 11:00

Celebration of Saint-Foy: Sunday after October, 6^th. 

Visit of the Treasure of Conques

The medieval Treasure of goldsmith's art is unique in France for its collection dating from the High Middle Age and assembling an important number of reliquaries among which stands, in first place, the famous "Majesty of Saint-Foy" (9^th-19^th c.).

In showing their Crediential, the pilgrims benefit an entrance ticket at reduced price for the Treasure/Museum.

HIKES WITH A DONKEY

LES ÂNES DE MONÉDIÈS will get you free, one day or a week, alone, with family or friends. Discover the splendid nature of our region while hiking with a donkey. It will carry children and luggage, while delighting the group. Walk the Compostela trail or local trails. Multiple options are possible.

Contact
Michelle and Pier Paolo Zenoni - place de la Mairie - 12320 Grand-Vabre
Tel: 05 65 78 49 06 - Mobile: 06 33 30 44 78
Email: ppzenoni@hotmail.fr
Site: www.ane-et-rando.com/monedies/

Return to Le-Puy-en-Velay (pilgrims on the GR®65)

Return transport services on regrouping (shuttle services)

You must book your seat at least 24h prior to departure.

SARL Taxi Lample
Tel: 06 07 75 93 32 / 04 71 49 95 55(April 1^st to November 4)

For the other transport companies, refer to the Livret du Pèlerin.

For connections by train, contact the Rodez SNCF (www.sncf.com)

Tel: 0 892 35 35 35 or 05 65 77 33 30 or 36 35.

The closest train station is Saint-Christophe-Vallon (Rodez-Brive-Paris line).

Other train itineraries are possible at the departure of Figeac and Aurillac.