What I Learned from Walking 600 Kms (373 Miles) in France

Travel on foot and discover authentic France.

When my husband suggested we try the “French Way” of the Saint-Jacques de Compostelle foot pilgrimage, I had one response: No way! I can’t do it.

You might know the journey by its other name? Camino de Santiago, the over 1000-year-old pilgrimage that counts Charlemagne, St. Francis de Assisi, even Paulo Coelho as pilgrims.

Source: Author’s own photo. Jenny Austria.

The idea of walking or hiking (no transportation!) in France for weeks stressed me out. Fears came up:

My body can’t do it. Too tough and uncomfortable. It’s not my thing.

You must understand, I used to be the type who’d rather wait for the bus for 30 minutes than walk for 10. I did not exercise at all.

I had agreed to the idea but only on the condition that if I disliked it, I’d stop and go back to Paris (where we lived). We started in Vézelay, and ended in Périgueux.

After 5 weeks, 600 kilometers (373 miles), and walking across hundreds of French villages, forests, riverbanks, and roads…we did it!

Here are the lessons I learned:

💜 The French are warm and kind.