Friday 4 October 2019

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the small French town where pilgrimage routes from across North Western Europe converge, prior to crossing the Pyrenean foothills into Spain on route to Santiago de Compostela. Both the French Way (Camino Francés) and the Routes of Northern Spain are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites

This small town is on the river Nive and is only 8km from the Spanish border. It is the gateway to the Roncevaux Pass and the last stop before the arduous mountain crossing at over 1,000m

Pilgrims across the centuries have entered through La Porte Notre-Dame before crossing the river to the rue de d'Espagne. There has been a bridge here since at lease the 14th century



Initial steps from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port cross this bridge



Genny at La Porte Notre-Dame immediately before the bridge

1 comment:

  1. I remember the bridge in St Jean so well. We crossed it back in 2005 on our first Camino day along with a Brazilian woman and a Cappucin monk (in full habit, old boots and no socks!). The first day's walk up and over the Pyrenees to Roncevalles was definitely the hardest day of all.

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