Saint Jean Pied de Port

What a lovely medieval town! Saint Jean Pied de Port (SJPP) is situated at the base of the Pyrenees just 15 miles from the border with Spain.  It is the staging point for most pilgrims beginning the Camino. 

The old buildings all speak to a tremendous history linked to ancient emperors like Charlemagne to the armies of Napoleon. These days, hundreds of pilgrims leave SJPP daily for the first stage of the Camino over the Pyrenees.

Although tourists visit SJPP as a charming vacation spot, most of the village is geared to deal with pilgrims needing to pick up their pilgim's credential and sleep before their first steps on the nearly 500 mile trek to Santiago. And, the local wine is both delicious and inexpensive.