1. From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles

The second most popular starting point of the Camino Frances is the French town of St Jean Pied de Port. Every year, over 20,000 pilgrims choose this town as the first stop of their journey. The Saint James Gate (Porte St-Jacques) is the point of arrival for pilgrims coming from all secondary caminos in France.

The first part of the journey, getting from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles is probably the most difficult section of the Camino Frances as a pilgrim will have to cross the Pyrenees through the Roncesvalles Pass. The maximum height one reaches is 1,601 meters and it is recommended to be prepared for more extreme conditions and to not take this route during the winter months unless fully prepared.

There is an alternative route to reach Roncesvalles that splits this tiresome day into two. This route passes through the town of Valcarlos situated right at the border and is less challenging.
This stage has two options, one is to go trough Honto and the other one, less challenging is to pass through Valcarlos. Here are the maps:
- STAGE 1A: From Saint Jean Pied de Port to Honto, then Orisson and Roncesalles
- STAGE 1B: From Saint Jean Pied de Port to Arnéguy, through Valcarlos and Roncesvalles
Camino Frances1a: Saint Jean Pied de Port - Roncesvalles (Honto)

Passes: Saint Jean Pied de Port, Honto, Orisson, Roncesalles

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1. St-Jean-Pied-de-Port 2. St-Jean-Pied-de-Port - Town gate 3. Looking back at St-Jean-Pied-de-Port 4. Farmhouse 5. Huntto - Accomodation on the Camino Frances 1 6. The way 7. Signpostes road 8. View on the camino 9. Keep walking 10. View from the road 11. Way mark 12. Road and scenery 13. Views on the camino 14. Road 15. Way mark 16. View of the road 17. Countryside road 18. Nature on the camino frances 19. Virgen d'Orisson 20. The way 21. Lunch stop - note the cross which marks where the Camino forks right on a grassy track 22. The Camino goes between the nearby small hill, and in front of the large hill beyond 23. The way goes here 24. Hilly way 25. This old barbed wire fence is the frontier between France and Spain 26. Way mark 27. The last fountain in France 28. The frontier crossing at last 29. The stone to mark your entry to Navarre 30. Keep going 31. Forrest path 32. The last of the winter snow 33. Scenery on Camino Frances 34. The first long view of Spain 35. The start of the steep descent through the woods to Roncesvalles 36. In these woods you can really feel the echoes of centuries of pilgrims on the same road 37. There is an alternative route on a by-road which passes the stone where Roland broke his sword according to legend 38. Roncesvalles at last 39. Roncesvalles 40. Roncesvalles

Camino de Santiago

The Pilgrimage Routes to Santiago de Compostela

1. From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles