Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

For pilgrims bound for Santiago, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the last stop before the climb over the Roncevaux pass, and tens of thousands set off from here each year. Inside its walls, the old capital of Lower Navarre runs along one cobbled street of pink and grey schist houses, down from the Porte Saint-Jacques to a bridge over the Nive. Basque life goes on: a Monday market and pelota at the fronton.

Highlights

• Rue de la Citadelle, cobbled from the Porte Saint-Jacques to the Porte d'Espagne
• Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-Pont, a 14th-century Gothic church of red schist
• The citadel above town, remodelled by Vauban in the 17th century
• Ossau-Iraty sheep's cheese and piperade with Bayonne ham
• Monday market, when sheep and cattle are driven into town

Text adapted from Wikipedia (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (FR), Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (EN)), Wikivoyage (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (FR), Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.