The Way of St. James from St. Jean Pied de Port (F) to Navarrete (E) - "Matching the Pyrenees!"
I walked from St. Jean Pied de Port (F) to Navarrete (ES) for around 20 days with a lot of elevation gain as I crossed the Pyrenees and with a total body weight of just over 160kg. The Pyrenees were doable, even with the weight, but the navigation on my cell phone wasn't that precise, so I probably wasted two days in the mountains. 😉
-> But: I matched the Pyrenees!
Buen Camino is often seen on the Way of St. James in Spain. Starting that day in St. Jean Pied de Port in France, we went straight up to the Pyrenees.
A quick snapshot towards the top of the Pyrenees on the French side. The weather was threatening to change and at that point I no longer had cell phone reception - but I still had to run for at least 4 hours! 😉
The picture looks very relaxed but no one (pilgrim) could be seen behind or in front of me. At the peak of the peak altitude I got lost for another 2 hours because the navigation system wasn't that precise about where the paths branched off 😉 .
Ho Ho Ho – the accommodation after the run is close and it was very comfortable. In the evening there was delicious food from the Basque Country (F) (dessert: Gâteau Basque).
We leave the French part of the Pyrenees and head straight to Spain 😉
The climb to Spain over the second part of the Pyrenees with the destination: Roncesvalles (ES)
This wonderful panorama made up for the 2 days of wandering around in the Pyrenees 😉
You have to be able to cope with that (workload) - but - after that (every 3 days in rhythm) you're totally exhausted and at least I (Dzimi) have to take a break for at least one day! 😉
From Spain at the latest, the signage on the Camino is great and there are proper supply stations (fountains and food stalls) every 1-2 hours.
...so follow the sign towards Compostela! 😉
The first Spanish stop after the Pyrenees: Roncesvalles in Spain!
This is the local church with an attached hostel for pilgrims.
The church of Roncesvalles from the inside with a view of the altar. A completely different type of representation (design) of a church in Spain (earthy / powerful) in contrast to the more harmonious and mild design of a church in France.
The entrance area with ceiling of the church in Roncesvalles including a backpack (blue) from Dzimi 😉
...only 790km left to the finish in Compostela!
790km left and the first forest is in sight. After all the chaos in the Pyrenees, we head through the forest towards Pamplona in complete peace and quiet!
This is also the Way of St. James - so wear boots instead of aerobics shoes (also seen everything on the Camino 😉 )
Finally – the well-known viewpoint, also from the film: “The Way”!
There are also traffic jams on the Way of St. James 😉
Pamplona Cathedral
The Camino behind Pamplona towards Navarrete
…what a view – The Lord is my shepherd –
...remember: Estella-Lizarra
Church west of Pamplona
the ultimate symbol of the Camino: the scallop!
…somewhere between Pamplona and Navarrete
Stage in Navarrete completed for 2022! 🙂
That was the route from France (classic starting point) over the Pyrenees to Spain to Navarrete. This section of the Way of St. James surprised me very positively, as I was able to follow the path exactly to the destination thanks to the signs. There were food stalls and fountains every two hours. The change of nation over the mountains France – Spain (in the Basque Country) was wonderful. From now on I will do the Camino de Frances.
One of the more famous pilgrims on the Way of St. James was the Spanish national football coach Luis Aragonés. As he said in the 2008 European Championship football final: “If he wins the title, then he will walk the Way of St. James!” (That’s what I call character!)
As usual: God bless you!
