some sample pages from the full guide

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port / Donibane-Garazi
Municipal hostel (32, 8€ breakfast included) Refuge Municipal/Accueil Pèlerin up
rue de la Citadelle, near the top of the hill on the left. If it’s not open ask in the
Pilgrims Office. Website: www.aucoeurduchemin.org
Private hostel (18, 26€ with evening meal and breakfast, April to
September) Beilari (was L’Esprit du Chemin, under new ownership from early
2014) on rue de la Citadelle opposite the Pilgrims’ Office. Communal evening meal,
where pilgrims introduce themselves, and breakfast. They also do packed lunches.
Website www.beilari.info or 05 59 37 24 68
Private hostel (24, 15€, April to October) Auberge du Pèlerin at 25 rue de la
Citadelle. Recently opened in a beautifully renovated building. Kitchen. They do a
communal evening meal. You can reserve from their website
www.aubergedupelerin.com or 05 59 49 10 86
Private hostel (25, 10€) Sur le Chemin – Au Chant du Coq on rue de la Citadelle, just
down from the Pilgrims Office. Tel 06 74 31 02 83
Private hostel (11, 15€ with breakfast) Gîte Ultreia at 8 rue de la Citadelle. Kitchen.
Breakfast. Run by two ex-pilgrims. Reservations: www.ultreia64.fr or 06 80 88 46 22
Private hostel (20, 17€ with breakfast) Auberge le Chemin vers l'Etoile on rue
d’Espagne which is down the bottom of rue de la Citadelle. Laundry facilities,
kitchen. They do evening meals and breakfast. Some negative reports. 05 59 37 20 71
Private hostel (15, 15€ with breakfast) Maison Kaserna also on rue d’Espagne.
They also do an evening meal. Tel 05 59 37 65 17
Private hostel (15, 15€) Refuge Esponda on Place du Trinquet in the centre of town.
Kitchen. Tel 06 79 07 52 52
INFORMATION The town has all the facilities you're likely to need. There is a wide
variety of accommodation ranging from pilgrim hostels to luxury hotels. Many
hostels, hotels and guesthouses (Chambres d'Hôte) are on rue de la Citadelle in the
old town, and the parallel Place du Général de Gaulle. About a 10 minute walk from
the railway station. There are also many restaurants in this area. The Pilgrims Office /
Acceuil St Jacques is also on rue de la Citadelle near the top of the hill. They can
give you a Credencial, information and advice on weather conditions, and help
finding accommodation, etc. Open until 22:00 in summer. If it's not open ask in the
municipal hostel, which is next door. There's a Champion supermarket and a bank
on Avenue du Jaï Alaï. On Place du Général de Gaulle there's a Tourist
INFORMATION, a pharmacy and a bank. SIGHTS Rue de la Citadelle is the
centre of the old town of St Jean and the main thoroughfare used by pilgrims down
the centuries. At its north end is Porte St Jacques / St James Gate and the road
north, and at its south end is Porte d'Espagne / Spanish Gate, and the road south. •
The wooden-framed houses lining this medieval street are testimony to its place in
HISTORY. Today, as for centuries, they house establishments dedicated to the service
of the pilgrims who pass as surely and regularly as the seasons. Etched on their
façades are their construction dates, some of them in the post-revolution Republican
calendar. • At the bottom of the street is the church of Notre Dame du Bout du Pont
/ Our Lady at the End of the Bridge, which is 14th century Gothic and whose
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construction was funded by King Sancho VII el Fuerte (the strong) of Navarra. •
Passing through the clock tower arch of Porte d'Espagne brings you to the banks of
the River Nive (or Errobi in Basque) and a good view of the 17th century town walls.
• At the top of the street the Citadelle looks down on the town from abovePorte St.
Jacques. It too dates from the 17th century. HISTORY St Jean is a "new town",
dating from the 12th century when it was founded by Sancho VII el Fuerte, in the
shadow of the Castle of Mendiguren, on the site of the current Citadelle. It was a
fortified town which guarded the northern approach to the Kingdom of Navarra and
served as a waystation for travellers and pilgrims crossing the Pyrenees. • The town
and its hinterlands changed hands several times down the centuries as French and
Spanish kingdoms struggled for supremacy in the region, eventually becoming capital
of the French Kingdom of Lower Navarre in the 16th century. • After the French
revolution the Kingdom of Lower Navarre was abolished along with the privileges of
the local royalty, and the town was temporarily renamed Nive-Franche. • In
the Religious Wars / Guerres de Religion in the 16th century it was the scene of
bloody struggle between Catholics and Protestants. • The railway line from Bayonne
was completed in 1889. • Today St Jean is a major tourist centre in the modern
départment of Pyrénées-Atlantiques which takes in the whole of the French Basque
Country and parts of Gascony. Placename St John at the Foot of the Pass. However,
its original name in Spanish was, Santa Maria Cabo el Puente / St Mary at the End of
the Pass. Its name in Basque is Donibane-Garazi / St John of Garazi, which is a
reference to the peaks on the next stage of the Camino.
There are two routes between Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Roncesvalles.
The lower right route goes through Valcarlos, and the higher left route
goes through Orisson. In winter it's important to ask in St Jean about
weather conditions. Both routes are difficult in snow or high winds and
the left route is often impassable in winter. In mountainous areas such
as these, weather conditions can change very quickly.
Leaving St Jean walk down rue de la Citadelle, under the arch of Porte
d'Espagne and up rue d'Espagne, continuing straight under another arch
and up a hill for about 100m until you reach a junction with a small sign
on a lamppost indicating the two routes.
Right route 25km / 6¼ hrs via Valcarlos. The lower route.
After turning right on to this route continue straight to the main road
which you follow to the left. After about 500m there is a signposted turn
to the right down a side road. Follow the signs for Valcarlos/Luzaide and
Roncevaux (French for Roncesvalles).
10km / 2½ hrs to Arnéguy, this village (almost like a Basque Berlin) is
divided by the Spanish/French border. Shops, restaurants and cafés.
Entering Navarra and Spain
Between Arnéguy and Valcarlos there are two options; walk on the road or
a narrow path through the village of Ondarolle. The road is less
strenuous but also less attractive.
13km / 3¼ hrs to Valcarlos / Luzaide
Municipal hostel (24, 10€ with breakfast) on Plaza de Santiago on the ground floor
of the school. Kitchen with microwave and coffee machine. If it’s closed ask in the
town hall or (the shop) Venta Ardandegia or the tourist office.
INFORMATION Shop, cafés, pharmacy and a bank. SIGHTS This region has
many fine examples of Basque farmhouses. These sturdy square buildings have an
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area for farm animals on the ground floor, with accommodation for people above. The
Valcarlos route, which today is often referred to as an 'alternative', became popular
among pilgrims during the middle-ages due to the improved security provided by the
construction of pilgrim hostels along its length. Recently the other (prettier) route has
become far more popular. Valcarlos' village church is dedicated to St James. Despite
being dissected by the French / Spanish border, the culture of this valley is thoroughly
Basque. HISTORY This entire region is closely linked to the history of
Charlemagne, an 8th century French king credited with uniting France's fractious
kingdoms and extending its rule throughout Western Europe. El Puerto de Ibañeta is
where Charlemagne crossed the Pyrenees to begin his attempted liberation of Spain
from the Moors. At a place later named la Croix de Charles, he is said to have fallen
to his knees and prayed, his face turned towards Galicia. It became a traditional for
French pilgrims to place a small cross in the ground there. Valcarlos, whose Spanish
name is a direct reference to him, is where he was encamped when he heard of the
defeat of his deputy Roland at the Battle of Roncesvalles which took place near here
in 778. Charlemagne was returning to France, when the rearguard of his army,
commanded by Roland, was attacked and defeated by a Basque force which made off
with the gold they were transporting. This is the battle referred to in the song La
Chanson de Roland, which perpetuates the myth that the attackers were Moors.
Placename Valley of Carlos another name for Charlemagne who passed this way. Its
Basque name is Luzaide however officially it is called Luzaide/Valcarlos reflecting its
location on the fault-line between multiple cultures.
Off-road parts of this route may be difficult in snow, in which case it's
advisable to follow the main road.
Ascending 800m to the Pass / Puerto de Ibañeta (altitude 1057m) and
descending 100m to arrive in Roncesvalles after 12km / 3 hrs from
Valcarlos (allow extra time for the ascent).
SIGHTS At the summit of the Puerto de Ibañeta is a monument to Roland (Roldán
in Spanish) and the Battle of Roncesvalles, and a small modern chapel. In medieval
times there was also a small chapel here dedicated to Roland. When there was fog or
snow the chapel bell was rung to guide pilgrims who had gotten lost in the woods.
Left route (Route Napoleon) 26km / 6½ hrs
HISTORY This route is also sometimes known as le Port de Cize. It follows the Via
Traiana, a Roman road linking Bordeaux and Astorga. In the early days of the
Camino Francés this was the most popular route to cross the mountains. It lost in
popularity to the Valcarlos route during the late middle-ages.
Ascends 300m to...
4km / 1 hr to Honto / Hontto
Private hostel (22, €14) Auberge Ferme Ithurburia to the left of the Camino. They do
an evening meal and breakfast. It's advisable to reserve 05 59 37 11 17. Website:
www.gites-de-france-64.com/ferme-ithurburia
Ascends 250m to...
3km / ¾ hr to Orisson
Private hostel (18, 31€ with evening meal and breakfast) Refuge Orisson. On the
Camino on the right in an isolated location. It's advisable to reserve in advance. They
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also do an evening meal. Telephone 05 59 49 13 03 or mobile 06 81 49 79 56 website:
www.refuge-orisson.com Their café does snacks during the day. During peak times
they rent spaces in tents.
INFORMATION Café. SIGHTS About 8km / 2 hrs after Orisson, at a place called
Pic d'Hostatéguy, you'll pass the statue of La Vierge du Chemin with (weather
permitting) panoramic views of the western Pyrenees.
Ascends 650m to the pass at Col Lepoeder (altitude 1550m) before
descending 500m to Roncesvalles.
Entering Spain and Navarra
There are two options when descending into Roncesvalles, the one to the
left is quite a steep descent through the forest, while the one to the
right is slightly longer, descending more gently along a gravel road, via
the church at Puerto de Ibañeta.
19km / 4¾ hrs to Roncesvalles from Orisson (allow lots of extra time for
the ascent and decent).
Left and right route rejoin in...
Roncesvalles / Roncevaux / Orreaga
Monastery hostel (183, 10€) Albergue de Peregrinos de Roncesvalles in a newly
renovated part of the monastery. Kitchen, laundry facilities. Opens at 13:00, closes at
22:00. Stupendous, modern facilities. The old Albergue Itzandegia (which has
perfectly adequate facilities) is still used as an overflow. In winter pilgrims are
accommodated in the main monastery building.
INFORMATION Everything is grouped around the monastery. The Pilgrims' Office
/ Oficina de Información al Peregrino is through one of the doors to the right of the
main entrance to the monastery. They can give you a Credencial. Tourist
INFORMATION in the old mill, left of the main entrance to the monastery. There is a
special blessing for pilgrims during the final mass which starts at 20:00 Monday to
Friday and 18:00 at weekends. FOOD Three restaurants do Pilgrim Menus. They
operate an unusual system; you go to the restaurant of your choice earlier in the
evening (preferably before 18:00) to reserve for a specific time and to pay. The local
trout speciality is usually on offer. In the hostel there are vending machines with
snacks. SIGHTS Often referred to as a village, Roncesvalles consists of little more
than a (mostly disused) monastery surrounded by a number of establishments which
cater to passing pilgrims and tourists. It has a permanent population of about 25. The
village referred to in historical documents is actually Burguete (original known as
Borgo de Roncesvalles), 3km down the Camino. The monastery has several churches.
The one most in use today is the Iglesia de la Real Colegiata de Santa María
(situated behind the monastery) which dates from the 13th century although it was
substantially reconstructed in the mid-20th. It was built by King Sancho VII (el
Fuerte/the Strong) of Navarra, in a Gothic style similar to Notre Dame de Paris, and is
one of the earliest examples of Gothic ecclesiastical architecture in Spain. Above its
main alter is the beautiful statue of La Virgen de Orreaga, made of wood and
covered in silver. To one side is a statue of Santiago Peregrino. The Capilla de
Sancti Spiritus or Silo de Carlomagno, on the main road in front of the monastery,
dates from the 12th century and is probably the oldest building in Roncesvalles. It is
an octagonal funeral chapel, where masses were traditionally said for pilgrims who
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