Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port In French Basque Country Editorial Image

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port literally `Saint John [at the] Foot of [the] Pass`; Basque: Donibane Garazi; Spanish: San Juan Pie de Puerto is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. It is close to Ostabat in the Pyrenean foothills. The town is also the old capital of the traditional Basque province of Lower Navarre. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is also a starting point for the French Way Camino Francés, the most popular option for travelling the Camino de 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. The routes from Paris, Vézelay and Le Puy-en-Velay meet at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and it was the pilgrims` last stop before the arduous mountain crossing.