DAY EIGHT
LA FOLIE – CHÂTEAUMEILLANT
Like some of us,
he looks very important
this snail
Issa
“Just walk the first street left and then 3 times right,” said Md. Jacquet at the
breakfast table at La Folie. It is easy to connect with the Way to Santiago. I left
earlier than Daniel and Chantelle, the French couple who also stayed at the bed
and breakfast place. After 10 minutes, I was already lost. The country road was
leading to a dead end. Luckily, I met Daniel and Chantelle again and walked with
them. They had a map. We needed two hours to come back to the marked way
with many crossroads in between.
Daniel and Chantelle showing the way
Hundreds of geese on a geese farm. Long before, the smell was announcing them.
When we arrived in the town of Châtelet, we bought fresh baguettes and delicious
tartelette fruit in a boulangerie. I also visited the Romanesque church. The relief
of a man grasping his beard was intriguing.
Relief in the 12th century Romanesquechurch Notre-Dame–de-Puyferrand
The eight-mile walk to the next town seemed like a long hike on the hot asphalt
roads. On the way, I passed some charming villages, like Les Arches, the village
of potters.
House in Les Arches
Rest at a former well on the way to Châteaumeillant with my backpack, hiking sticks and the French guide book
In Châteaumeillant, I stayed at a refuge run by the city at a camping place near the
lake Merlin. In a huge modern house, only one other pilgrim stayed overnight there.
Église Saint-Gènes, 12th century
Lake Merlin
– Text and photos contributed by Garyo –