Complete Guide to Bayonne Way

The Way of Bayonne is the name that highlights the French origin of one of the oldest and most strategic Jacobean routes crossing the Pyrenees. In essence, it shares its route and history with the Vasco Interior Route, but puts emphasis on its starting point: the city of Bayonne, in French Basque Country. It was, during the High Middle Ages, one of the main arteries that channelled the flow of pilgrims from all France and Central Europe towards the heart of the peninsula on their journey to Santiago.

The city of Bayonne, situated strategically at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, a few kilometers from the Cantabrian Sea, was in medieval times a prosperous commercial port and an important fortified town. For pilgrims coming from the vast Aquitania region as well as those descending along the French Atlantic coast, Bayonne was a natural meeting point and the last major urban center before facing the challenge of crossing the Pyrenean mountain range. From here, the route headed south, crossing the border via the Bidasoa River in Irún to begin its journey through Spanish territories.

Once in the peninsula, the Way of Bayonne followed the same corridor as the Vasco Interior Route, delving into Guipúzcoa mountains to seek the passage-saving tunnel of San Adrián. This natural tunnel in the Aizkorri mountain range, used since prehistory, was the key to its success. It offered a lower and more sheltered route than other alternatives, making it transitable throughout the year. The cobblestone road and the hermitage inside, added to the protection of Navarra and Castile kings, made it the preferred option for many during the 11th and 12th centuries.

The journey continued through the Alavesa Plain, with Vitoria-Gasteiz as the main milestone, and from there headed south to cross the Ebro. The destination of Way of Bayonne pilgrims was to connect with the Camino Francés. The most direct and monumental connection was in Burgos. Reaching Burgos was not a minor matter; it was achieving the great "capital" of the Camino in Castile, a city endowed with an immense cathedral, a famous pilgrim hospital (the Hospital del Rey), and all the services a medieval traveler might need. The convergence in Burgos allowed Way of Bayonne pilgrims to join the main flow at its peak.

Other variants of the route sought to connect with Camino Francés in La Rioja, in towns like Santo Domingo de la Calzada, another of the great milestones of pilgrimage. The Way of Bayonne was therefore a route with multiple possibilities but with a clear objective: safely and efficiently crossing the Pyrenees to join the large route towards Compostela.

With the consolidation of Roncesvalles as the main entry point for Camino Francés, the Way of Bayonne gradually lost its international prominence, although it continued to be used. Its modern revival, marked as GR 655 in France and following the yellow arrows in Spain, has revitalized this historical itinerary. Today, it offers pilgrims the opportunity to follow one of the oldest and most authentic routes, a journey through Basque culture, spectacular landscapes, and a history that shaped European pilgrimage development.