Date: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Day: 16
From: Cahors To: Durand/Lascabanes
Start Walking: 658am End Walking: 140pm
Time: 5h47m
Distance (Planned): 23.8km Distance (Garmin): 23.8km
Progress: 395.5/765km
Ascent: 498m Descent: 442m
Weather: Another big fog/mist to start the day and blue skies and hot!
Stayed At: Gite l’Etape Bleue
General Comments:
• Sadly, rest days always disappear in a blink of an eye. There is often a lot to do on a rest day and, if you’re not careful, you miss out on the rest part of the day.
• We both felt good to be out walking again this morning, so obviously a day without strolling 25km and having a heavy backpack on, does make a big difference. Wearing newly washed clothes is also good for morale too.
• We did our usual raid on the boulangerie for our fuel for the day and then we were completely stopped in our tracks by the sight of the Valentre Bridge on Cahors’ western edge.
• Apparently the bridge was built between 1308-78 and was funded by the city’s merchants. Those men obviously had very successful businesses! Today it is regarded as the best-preserved medieval bridge in France.
• If is possible to love a bridge, I am officially in love with a bridge. It’s drop dead gorgeous.
• Our guidebook tells us that today marks the end of the most strenuous terrain on the Chemin du Saint Jacques. I really want to believe that, but was pretty sceptical when we left my beautiful bridge and the path took us straight up!
• Once we got that out of the way, the rest of the day was a series of undulations of varying steepness, but all pretty doable. Maybe I should believe the guidebook after all?
• For the first time on this trip (I think) the planned kilometres matched the actual. These numbers don’t tell the full story though as we had to divert off the trail to find our accommodation before reaching Lascabanes. In the morning it looks like we will be playing catchup and those missing kilometres will go on tomorrow’s total. Oh well, what’s a few additional kilometres between friends!?🙃
Top Tips:
• Book well ahead for this town. Getting accommodation here is tricky and the Gite owners don’t always respond to emails or answer their phone. It took three attempts at different places to find some beds for us.
• And, you guessed it. There’s no phone service in this little corner of France and this post is a day late again. Apologies. The availability of mobile phone service in France is starting to make Australia look positively connected! 😁😳
Bon Chemin.
Life...one big adventure 
Amidst all the beauty and wonder of His creation you’re experiencing Mel, perhaps the most appealing is no cell service 😊 Enjoy!
Be blessed and . . .
Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!
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Definitely! I am doing my best to be present in every day! I really am blessed to be able to undertake these sorts of adventures. I have many friends who can’t and I walk for them too.
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I would definitely fall in love with that bridge too! I’m sure in those parts there is a lot of competition for it though. 🙂
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Exactly. Everything is just so old and just so beautiful. I can’t imagine living amongst it everyday. I wonder if the local people take it for granted?
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I certainly hope the locals don’t take that magnificent architecture for granted!
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I hope so too and I’m sure they are incredibly proud of their culture and history.
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The bridge is iconic. I love the Valentre Bridge too! Seven hundred years old. Wow.
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Oh, yes. A delightful bridge. Please tell me you went across!
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Of course I did. 😁 It was a very slow crossing with lots of photos taken!📷📷📷
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What a fantastic looking medieval bridge!!!
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It’s a cracker!
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I look forward to reading your walks each day Mel,plus the photos are great. Seems the weather is very changeable, a bit like it is here. This month has been a wet one, most unusual for May. Are you about half way through the walk ? Am following your progress on the map each day. June x
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Thanks, June. Yes, every day is different and equally wonderful. Can’t believe we are officially past half way. Time flies. Take care, Melxx
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It’s certainly a bridge you could fall in love with!
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Absolutely. I am falling in love with a lot of weird things in France!
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Dreamy images! The mist makes them even better. What a reverie 😊
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Yes, the mist adds a really ethereal look to everything. This morning it was laying over the water in the canal as the sun was rising. Such a special way to start a day.
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Oh wow, the Valentre Bridge is incredible!!!
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Yep, incredible. It almost looks like something out of a movie set.
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Did you spot the devilish imp sculpture on the central tower? Wonderful legend. I have been rereading our blog of this walk daily as I read yours. Both lovely reminders of this beautiful walk. And well done you on keeping up the daily posts! It is quite an effort after a hard day’s walk!
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No, I forgot to look for it! I was too busy goggling at everything else. I will just havento go back for another look!😁 And Yes, it’s a bit hard to post at the end of the day and sometimes I can only manage a few words and photos, but at least it is a taste of what I am seeing. Have a good day.
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No apologies necessary – I’m behind in my blog reading. Again.
I can see why you have a thing for that bridge. I hope your husband doesn’t feel threatened.
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No, The Husband is perfectly comfortable with my bridge obsession,🤣
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That is such a pretty bridge!
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I can’t believe the ingenuity of construction and design – that they could build something that would last so long! We don’t have that sort of forethought today.
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Wow, the Valentre Bridge is incredibly beautiful! It’s the type of bridge you want to photograph from every angle (I’m sure you did). Just love it!
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We just had a conversation about our favorite places on the trail and the bridge was one of the first things I nominated. It’s amazing.
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Love your photos of Pont Valentré. Yes it is in fabulous condition still. Cheers, Mark
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The best bridge ever! Such stories it could tell!
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