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

You'll wander through lush green countryside with hamlets and ancient buildings such as medieval chapels and wash-houses (“lavoirs”). The snow-capped Pyrenees come into view as you enter the Pyrenees-Atlantiques department. Pass the magnificent 11th century Church of Miramont Sensacq, formerly dedicated to St James, and Pimbo, one of the oldest villages in the Landes where you will stop for the night.

Today the trail continues through the beautiful Béarn region. With the Pyrenees to the south, you'll cross rolling hills, pass the town of Arzacq Arraziguet (a bastide town built in the 11th century with two main squares and two “lavoirs”) and many villages such as Louvigny.

Today your walk takes you to Larreule with its Benedictine Monastery and then Uzan, visit the beautiful rural church of Sainte Quitterie and a stone fountain. From Pomps you will almost arrive in Arthez-de-Béarn (with its distinctive Basque architecture) where you will spend the night.

For this stage, the route passes through woods, churches and chapels before reaching the small village of Maslacq. Later the trail passes a sanctuary and a former monastery (La Sauvelade).

The undulating trail takes you through quiet rural scenes to reach the town of Navarrenx, the first in France to be fortified with Italian style ramparts.
Another great day's walk through the last of the Béarnais countyside on this route, crossing small streams and ascending fields and wooded trails. En route you pass a pâté producer (Jean Haget) and the Mongaston Castle, before reaching the small village of Lichos, the birthplace of Saint-Grat, Bishop of Oloron. You have now crossed over into the Basque region of France.

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. 

Challenge: 22,5 km / 13.6 mi, 397 m ascent, 387 m descent