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Saint Jean Pied de Port village

14 Place Charles de Gaulle, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Description

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a village in the French Basque Country, in the Pyrenees foothills, not far from the border with Spain. The main sights are the Porte St Jacques, the cobbled rue de la Citadelle, the Gothic church Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-Pont and the views from the bridge over the Nive river. The weekly market held on Mondays is also popular. Historically, it was also the old capital of the traditional Basque province of Lower Navarre, a starting point for the French Way (Camino Francés), the most popular option for travelling the Camino de Santiago. The present town was founded in the late 12th century and its name means "at the foot of the pass".

Access & Transport

The village is at the end of the southern train line running from Bayonne and the ride takes exactly 1h with the station only a 5mins' walk from the main tourist sights. By car, one can use the D932 through Ustaritz and the D918 after Cambo les Bains or the D21/22 through Hasparren.

Instructions & Recommendations

We suggest combining a visit to the village with a hike along the Crests of Iparla, the trail head is only 13km away in Urdos (close to Saint Étienne de Baïgorry).

Meta review

N/A

Environmental & Social

The only carbon footprint is that of your car if you drive there. Any amount spent in the area (F&B, accommodation, wine purchase) helps the local rural economy.

Conclusion

The village of Saint Jean Pied de Port is often considered among the most scenic villages in the French Basque country. It is a little off the beaten track, but it will prove rewarding for those keen to explore the area in depth and/or who have an interest for the Camino de Santiago. From there, it is a quick hop to Spain and Pamplona.

Key positive

Very photogenic

Great local food and wine

Key negative

Quite a drive to get there

Suitability

No restrictions

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

May 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit

av. transport time:1h

est. visit time:3h

Sunlight based

Sunrise / early morningOk

MorningOk

Lunch timeOk

AfternoonOk

Sunset / eveningOk

Night – bef. midnightOk

Night – aft. midnightNo

Pricing
Free

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