The Camino of Biscay by Bike

The story of the Baztan Cycle Route is that of choosing serene beauty over epic mountain grandeur. It's an adaptation to two wheels on the most verdant and bucolic Pirenne route, an alternative to Roncesvalles' bustle offering a deep immersion in Basque culture and landscapes. Its growing popularity among "bicigrinos" stems from representing a perfect balance between an accessible challenge and first-class scenic beauty.

The original Baztan Cycle Route was a medieval path, a lower and often safer alternative to Roncesvalles, especially during winter. The adaptation to cycling has respected this gentle character. The terrain, although not flat, features undulating hills and mountain passes with generally moderate slopes. This has made it an ideal itinerary for "gravel" or rigid mountain bikes, and accessible for cyclists with good physical form but who don't seek extreme technical difficulties on other Pirenne routes.

The journey begins in the French city of Bayonne, crossing into Navarre after passing through the border. The cyclist's experience is a delight to the senses. The bike allows one to cover approximately 100 kilometers at an ideal pace, fully enjoying a landscape that seems plucked from a postcard: lush grasslands with intense green, dotted with robust stone cottages with red roofs and balconies filled with flowers, surrounded by dense forests of hay and oaks. Villages like Elizondo, the capital of the valley, preserve an enchanting charm and traditional architecture.

The main challenges for cyclists are Otsondo and Belate passes. They're sustained ascents but mostly on local roads or well-maintained paths that are rewarded with long and fun descents. The passage through Belate, with the ruins of its ancient pilgrim hospital, connects the cyclist directly to medieval history on the route.

One of the major attractions of this route is its tranquility. Unlike the start of the Camino Francés in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, here the cyclist can enjoy kilometers of solitude, sharing the path more with livestock and nature than other pilgrims. This peace breaks dramatically and emotionally at the end of the route. After Belate's descent, the path approaches Pamplona and merges with Arre or Villava on the Camino Francés, bringing a "bicigrino" from the Baztán's silence face-to-face with the international river of pilgrims coming from Roncesvalles, a contrast that is one of the most memorable experiences of the journey.

In summary, the story of the Baztan Cycle Route is a secret whispered among cycling Jacobean enthusiasts. It's the choice of the connoisseur who prefers serene beauty to fame and bustle. It's the perfect way to begin the pilgrimage to Santiago with a concentrated dose of nature, Navarran culture, and inner peace before joining the grand route.