Saint Jean Pied de Port

The capital of Basse-Navarre and a border crossing into Spain, the fortified town of Saint Jean Pied de Port enjoys a strategic location at the base of the mountains and straddling the Nive River. The name Pied de Port translates to “foot of the pass” and refers to the famous Roncevaux Pass where Charlemagne was defeated by the Basques. This pass was also used by the Romans and by the pilgrims en route to the tomb of St. James at Santiago de Compostella—the scallop shell used as an emblem by the pilgrims of St. James appears as a carved decoration on many of the town’s homes. You can drive to the summit (1032 meters) of Roncevaux Pass and of interest, just after the summit, is a 13th-century Gothic church, cloister, and small chapel housing the tomb of the Basque King Sancho VII, the Strong of Navarre. Saint Jean Pied de Port is pretty and distinctive, with many of its houses constructed in rose-colored granite. A picturesque medieval bridge spanning the Nive connects the two sections of town and cobbled, narrow streets wind up to the crowning citadel. It is a fun town with lots of outdoor cafés and shops selling regional goods, and is the principal market town for the region.