Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port,
Most Beautiful Village in France

Historical capital of Lower Navarre, the town owes its name to its geographical position at the foot of the Pyrenean passes (or “ports”). The most famous of these is the Roncesvalles Pass, made legendary by the battle in which Charlemagne’s rearguard, led by Roland, was defeated by Basque fighters. This strategic position made Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port a key town in the kingdom of Navarre for centuries.

To visit Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is to walk in the footsteps of the pilgrims who, since the Middle Ages, have crossed the Pyrenees on their way to Compostela. The town is the last French stop on the “Camino Francés”, at the crossroads of the Via Podiensis to Le Puy-en-Velay, the Pyrenean Piedmont, Vézelay and Tours. Every year, more than 60,000 pilgrims pass through the Porte Saint-Jacques, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to have their passage certified before the formidable ascent to the collegiate church of Roncesvalles.

It was the kings of Navarre who diverted the original route so that pilgrims would cross the Pyrenees via Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, thereby strengthening the prosperity of their capital. This tradition of hospitality continues to this day: the Maison Laborde, the pilgrims’ welcome office, issues the precious Crédenciale, attesting to the passage of each and every pilgrim. The contemplative and welcoming atmosphere that reigns in the narrow streets is testimony to this age-old vocation of hospitality.

Encircled by walls, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is dominated by an imposing citadel that traces the military history of the Basque Country. Built in the early 17th century to the plans of Antoine de Ville, on the site of the former fortress of the kings of Navarre, it was redesigned by Vauban in 1685. Protected as a historic monument since 1963, the citadel is now home to the town’s public secondary school, making Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port schoolchildren privileged visitors to one of France’s most beautiful establishments!

To discover Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port from a different angle, take the walkway linking the Porte de Navarre to the Porte Saint-Jacques. This elevated walk offers an exceptional panorama of the fortified town, its pink sandstone roofs and the Pyrenean mountains in the background. Guided tours of the citadel’s underground passages are organized in summer for lovers of military history.

As you wander the cobbled streets of the historic heart, you’ll be charmed by the remarkably preserved traditional Basque architecture. The pink sandstone that brightens the façades, the sculpted lintels crowning the doorways, the half-timbering on the upper floors and the red or green shutters create a scene of rare harmony.

Rue de la Citadelle, the village’s emblematic thoroughfare, is the centerpiece of the village’s charm. Its steepness is quickly forgotten by the beauty of its period facades, artisan boutiques and small terraces. At the entrance to the town, thechurch of Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-Pont, the most important Gothic building in the French Basque Country, has been welcoming travellers and pilgrims since the 13th century.

Don’t miss the so-called “Roman” bridge that spans the Nive and offers one of the most photographed views of the village: the traditional houses with their colorful façades seem to float on the river, a simply enchanting perspective. The former Bishops’ Prison, a medieval residence that became a prison from the 18th to the 20th century, now houses a museum dedicated to local history and the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

For an original visit, take the Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port tourist train and discover the Mansart house, the banks of the Nive river and the city’s main monuments.

A region of many flavors, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a showcase for the inland Basque Country. Every Monday, the weekly market brings the town to life; the Local Producers and Artisans Market offers the chance to meet producers from the mountain villages of Garazi and discover a highly diverse range of local products.

Sheep’s cheese, Irouléguy wines grown on terraces (the only vineyard in the French Basque Country), Basque cider, pork and cured meats, charcuterie, pastries, honey and jams will delight food lovers. In the restaurants, you can sample local specialties: piperade, baby squid, parslied eels, Nive trout and the famous curdled sheep’s milk served with Itxassou black cherry jam.

At the village gates, the GR10 hiking trails and mountain landscapes invite you to explore the inland Basque Country.