9-day French Way of St James Walking Holiday (Part 6)

Your walking day to Arzacq Arraziguet wanders through lush green countryside with hamlets and ancient buildings such as medieval chapels and wash-houses (“lavoirs”). It is a demanding walking day, mainly due to its length rather than the difficulty of the trail. You will see your first view of the snow-capped Pyrenees today as you enter the department of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques. You will pass the magnificent 11th century Church of Miramont Sensacq formerly dedicated to St James. 

Your walking day to Pomps gives you a magnificent scenery, with the Pyrenees to the south. The route takes you across rolling hills and past villages such as Louvigny and Larreule (the 10th century Benedictine Monastery was an important stop for medieval pilgrims) for your night.

Today your walk takes you to Uzan, visit the beautiful rural church of Sainte Quitterie and a stone fountain. From Pomps to Maslacq, passing Arthez-de-Béarn, with its distinctive Basque architecture. A few long uphill stretches will add some difficulty to this pleasant section of the trail. 

Your walk today ends with a long descent through a forest which will take you to the lovely walled town of Navarrenx, the first place in France to be fortified with Italian style ramparts in the 16th century. Navarrenx is also one of “les plus beaux villages de France”. Over the centuries, the fortified wall of Navarrenx has retained its main features. From the top of the ramparts, there is a pleasant view of the Pyrenees and, below, the arches of the bridge of Navarrenx (13th century).

Today your walks takes you through woodlands and peaceful countryside before reaching Lichos, and you will enter the French Basque Country.

Stop at the Romanesque church of St Etienne in Aroue and make a detour off the path to see the lovely Romanesque church of St Just in Olhaiby. Be aware your accommodation in Saint-Palais will be slightly off the main track (Saint-Palais is about 4,5 km North of the GR65 including in your total distance today). As of the Stele (Scallop shell on the map here under), change the main GR65 heading towards Saint Palais.

During your walk today you will pass the Stelle de Gibraltar, where all the Camino routes from France meet. Your walk then takes you across rolling countryside before reaching the chapel of Soyarce where you will get amazing views over the Pyrenees. Next you will reach the village of Ostabat, today a small village but an important stop for medieval pilgrims. 

Your last walking day today! Your walk will take you across the rural Basque Country before reaching St James Gate and entering the stunning medieval town of Saint-Jean Pied-de-Port, at the foothills of the Pyrenees. This village is a small border town on the river Nive but always busy with Camino pilgrims, as it is the starting point of the French Way to Santiago. The town has traditionally been an important point on the Way of St. James, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, as it stands at the base of the Roncevaux Pass across the Pyrenees. Pied-de-Port means 'foot of the pass' in Pyrenean French. 

Your journey will end in the town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. You have the possibility to book an extra night in this charming city.

Challenge: 21,5 km / 13 mi, 200 m ascent, 215 m descent.