In August my husband and I will be walking part of the Way of St. James (GR 65, Le Puy - Conques.) Without offending the locals can I wear khaki shorts and shell tops as my walking attire in the heat of the summer or should I plan on long lightweight pants and/or knee length skirt and sleeved tops? I want to be respectful to local custom and to the pilgrimage sites. Thanks,

people wear shorts.. but bring a wrap to cover your legs and shoulders when you enter a church.

Most hikers on the Compestella trail wear shorts.

I - like much of the rest of the congregation - practically always wear shorts when going to French churches in midsummer. God's probably rolling about the floor laughing at the idea of people who've walked 200 kms along the Via Podense in August worried She might see your knees.

Far more important is packing a pair of binoculars to appreciate Conques' tympanum and capitals properly, and preresearching it so as to appreciate its fantabulous sculptures. A small torch with an intense beam always comes in handy too. It's always the really interesting statues and paintings that aren't properly illuminated.

Flaneruk,

I was less concerned about God's reaction to my knees as the locals and I want to stay as cool as possible while ambling .. I'd forgotten that all I needed was a shawl for those bare arms.. This item is now on the "day pack" list along with bionoculars and torch which I had included. And I'm also doing my homework. It has become apparent to me that Conques is going to be a delight to visit. Merci

The locals in that part of France will be wearing less that you are in August. A shawl for your bare arms? Are you confusing France with Sicily?

In the Spanish sections of the Camino almost everyone wear shorts and light shirts. No one batted an eye when they walked into a church to get their stamp on the pilgrim credential. Even in the Santiago Cathedral.

DH wore his shorts and kept a pair of long trousers in his backpack for going into churches. He never took them out.

OTOH, I always wear long hiking (completely breathable) pants to walk. Just my personal preference. I also don't like tank tops because even a light back pack will rub against bare skin after a few kms. Then, there is always the sunburn problem.