Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Things to Do

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The best view of the church is from the South along the Nive. A view frpm the North side gives a view toward the Citadel above the upper Ville. Another view from further down the Nive River shows the Belfry and the Church. The inside of the church is simple.

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The North and Southern sides of the Belfry have statues below the top. The one on the south is the Notre Dame. That on the north is possibly an Archangel. There is nothing on the west and south sides. It gives a nice view of the rue d'-Eglise

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The church of the little old city of St. Jean is in the rue d'Eglise and its west end projects over the bridge edge. It is called the Church of the Assumption or alternately Notre Dame. The western entrance has an arcade of small statues upon it of various types ranging from grotesques to church leaders to grape clusters and leaf groups.

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The Accueil des Pelerins, or Pilgrims' Welcome, is an oft-visited centre in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. It has information on the route and is a great place to meet up with other pilgrims en route to Santiago, but if you're not on your way to make the pilgrimage, there isn't really a lot to see or do here. Nevertheless, given the popularity of the pilgrimage and the fact that it is one of the main reasons for people visiting Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, it is an important attraction.

The Maison des Evêques is a mediaeval structure that is now open to the public as a museum. This area was frequently engulfed in the religious wars of the 16th and 17th centuries, not least because of its proximity to Navarre, where King Henry I was a Protestant monarch. I don't remember the exact story behind the house, but I believe that at one point priests who had attempted to preserve the official Catholic faith in the region, and they were imprisioned by the authorities in this house and tortured. In memory of their sacrifice, the house was eventually converted into a museum documenting religious intolerance in the area. It is also dedicated to the pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.

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Rue de la Citadelle is the major street that runs through the old town of St. Jean Pied de Port. In fact, now that I think about it, it may be the only street running through the inside of the ramparts, if you exclude that little piece of Rue de France that enters through the Porte de France. This street is typically what you would expect from a small fort town like Donebane Garazi: cobblestoned and steep, it can be quite the challenge for those with leg or mobility problems. It stretches from the base of the Citadel and the Porte Saint-Jacques down to Église Notre-Dame and the Porte Notre-Dame, which gives onto a bridge of the same name crossing the Nive. The houses lining the street are all part of the original 15th and 16th century fortification of the town, although some have undoubtedly been restored and most of them house not families but quite modern shops selling Basque handicrafts, music, jewellery, books etc. and a few that host inns and pensions. My suggestion is for you to come fairly early to walk up and down the Street, as it can get quite busy around 11 or 12 in the morning, when the bulk of tourists arrive.

Take a good look at many of the doorways along the street - they are engraved with the names of famous people who were born/lived in the buildings or with the date of the building's construction - one all the way back to the 1640s.

Rue d'Espagne is essentially the continuation of the Rue de la Citadelle on the opposite side of the Nive from the Citadelle. It does not have the same charm and old-world character of the town within the walls, and this is largely because it is packed with shops hawking anything and everything that might be considered Basque or Basque-inspired. This is the place to come if you are looking for a souvenir or something "unique" to take home - although this will probably end up being linge basque, Basque linen. There are also a few good pastry shops and bakeries here, where you can buy delicious gâteau basque.

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Donebane Garazi is a fortified town, and its ramparts and various other defensive structures have been incredibly well maintained. It is one of the aspects of the town that is so attractive, especially if you walk up from the train station and enter through the Porte de France. Surprisingly, the ramparts can be accessed by simply going up staircases at various points along the walls. The stones can be a bit slippery when wet, so be careful it is has been raining. The view from the ramparts is spectacular, both into the valleys and into the small gardens that are attached to the various houses inside the town. Unfortunately there aren't any explanations posted on the walls explaining their construction, but they are just as enjoyable when used to get a view on the countryside as they are when considered a historical monument.