This medieval French town at the foot of the Pyrenees has red schist buildings, 17th-century fortifications, and marks the start of the Camino Francés pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a medieval town in southwestern France, sits at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains. You'll walk past distinctive red schist buildings and through narrow cobblestone streets to reach the 14th-century Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-Pont church. A 17th-century citadel overlooks the town from its hilltop position, while pilgrims gather their credentials at the rue de la Citadelle before starting their journey on the Camino Francés to Santiago de Compostela.
Walking the Medieval Streets
Rue de la Citadelle slopes downhill from the 15th-century Porte St-Jacques to Porte d'Espagne. Pink and grey schist buildings from the 18th century line both sides of the street. Look up to see carved inscriptions above doorways that detail the stories of former residents and their trades. Along the Nive river, wooden balconies extend from stone buildings, creating distinct architectural layers. The Prison des Évêques, a 13th-century bishop's residence, stands among these historic structures.
Local Food and Markets
Each Monday, the Place Charles de Gaulle transforms into a market where local shepherds sell their livestock. You can taste Ossau-Iraty sheep cheese and watch as vendors grill locally-caught trout à la plancha. At 5 PM, head to the fronton (wall court) where locals play pelote basque, a traditional sport where players hit a ball against a wall using their hands or wooden paddles. Local restaurants serve regional Basque dishes including axoa (veal stew) and pipérade (pepper and ham omelet).
Starting Point of the Camino Francés
Each year, 33,000 pilgrims begin their walk to Santiago de Compostela from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Visit the pilgrim's office on rue de la Citadelle to get your credentials and learn about the two routes to Roncesvalles. The Route de Napoleon climbs 1,400 meters over the mountain pass, while the Valcarlos route follows the valley - a safer option during bad weather.
The Citadel and Town Fortifications
The citadel, built in the 17th century and enhanced by Vauban, now houses a school. Walk the medieval wall path between Porte de Navarre and Porte St-Jacques. These elevated walkways give you views of the Pyrenees peaks to the south and the Basque countryside's sheep pastures to the north.
Getting Around
The train station lies 1 kilometer from the town center, with four daily trains to Bayonne. From Bayonne, you can take TGV trains to Paris. Biarritz Airport, 53 kilometers away, connects to major European cities, with regular trains running through Bayonne to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. ALSA buses run daily to Pamplona, Spain, making it easy to reach the town from both France and Spain.
