France August 26 Montbonnet

The trek starting at Le Puy (Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle) has a religious significance as it was the way of St. James to Santiago de Compostelle, and therefore each morning there is a special mass for the pilgrims. This was how we started the morning and by 8:30am we were on our way. We left the valley (Velay) region and spent most of the day ascending the mountain. Unfortunately as we neared the summit the more clouds and we got caught in a down-pour just as we arrived to Montbonnet. And to our bad luck the Gite (B&B) we had planned to stay at was closed for six days, but we managed to find a nice guest house nearby. It appears to be an old stable/barn converted to the main eating area for the guests, and I'm not sure what the building that houses the bedrooms used to be, but the owners have done a fantastic job restoring. And it was a delightful evening spent with four other guests and the two owners who prepared a 5-course dinner. It was formidable! The dinner started with an appretif, a special prepared salad, sausage and lentils, goat, lamb and cow cheeses, and flan for desert. And of course wine served with the meal. Most of the ingredients used were from local farmers and prepared by the owner, and the wine was provided by a relative who owners a local winery.The trek starting at Le Puy (Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle) has a religious significance as it was the way of St. James to Santiago de Compostelle, and therefore each morning there is a special mass for the pilgrims. This was how we started the morning and by 8:30am we were on our way. We left the valley (Velay) region and spent most of the day ascending the mountain. Unfortunately as we neared the summit the more clouds and we got caught in a down-pour just as we arrived to Montbonnet. And to our bad luck the Gite (B&B) we had planned to stay at was closed for six days, but we managed to find a nice guest house nearby. It appears to be an old stable/barn converted to the main eating area for the guests, and I'm not sure what the building that houses the bedrooms used to be, but the owners have done a fantastic job restoring. And it was a delightful evening spent with four other guests and the two owners who prepared a 5-course dinner. It was formidable! The dinner started with an appretif, a special prepared salad, sausage and lentils, goat, lamb and cow cheeses, and flan for desert. And of course wine served with the meal. Most of the ingredients used were from local farmers and prepared by the owner, and the wine was provided by a relative who owners a local winery.

See Pictures to/of Montbonnet