Bayonne Way
The Way of Bayonne is a historic Jacobean route from Bayonne (France) to Burgos. It passes through the Basque Country and La Rioja, serving as an alternative internal route to connect with the French Way.
Organize your Bayonne WayGeneral Description of Bayonne Way
It offers a rich experience in history and culture, traversing varied landscapes. Although it sometimes overlaps or gets confused with the Vasco Interior Way, the Via de Bayona has its own identity as a connection route from France to the heart of the Way of St. Francis.
Connections of Bayonne Way
Route of Arles
Distance:
790.6 km
Days:
33
Difficulty:
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The Way of Arles, or the Via Tolosana, is one of the four major historical routes that cross France. Part of Arles in Provence and heading west through southern France (Languedoc). Crossing Spain at the Somport port, where it becomes the Aragonese Way, which converges with the French Way in Puente la Reina.
Its route in France is approximately 800 km. It is a richly endowed Roman and medieval heritage route that passes through cities such as Montpellier, Toulouse and Oloron-Sainte-Marie.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Arles to Saint-Gilles (Gard)
Stage 2: Saint-Gilles (Gard) to Gallargues-le-Montueux
Stage 3: Gallargues-le-Montueux to Vendargues
Stage 4: Vendargues near Montpellier
Stage 5: Montpellier to Montarnaud
The French Way
Distance:
779 km
Days:
33
Difficulty:
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The Camino Francés is the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela of excellence, chosen by thousands of pilgrims every year. With a journey of approximately 780 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or less from Roncesvalles, it traverses northern Spain. This path, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, offers exceptional infrastructure for services and hostels.
Pilgrims traverse Navarra, La Rioja, Castile and León, and finally Galicia, marveling at monumental cities such as Pamplona, Burgos, and León, and charming villages. The diversity of its landscapes is one of its greatest attractions, from the Pyrenees and the Castilian plains to the green forests of Galicia. It's a physical and spiritual journey that leaves an indelible mark, ideal for both experienced pilgrims and those starting out on the Camino de Santiago.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: St. Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles
Stage 2: Roncesvalles to Zubiri
Stage 3: Zubiri is going to Pamplona.
Stage 4: Pamplona to Pontevedra
Stage 5: Bridge of Queen to Estella
Way of Baztan
Distance:
108.4 km
Days:
5
Difficulty:
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The Baztán Way is an ancient and beautiful Jacobean route that connects Bayonne (France) with Villava, at the gates of Pamplona, where it links up with the French Way. With a 108 km journey, it crosses the Pyrenees via a lower pass than Roncesvalles, following the course of the Bidasoa River and crossing the spectacular Baztán Valley.
It is known for its green landscapes, traditional farmhouses, and rich Navarran culture. It offers a shorter and less crowded alternative to enter Spain, ideal for those seeking a different Pirencean experience and closer contact with nature.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Bayonne to Suraide
Stage 2: Souraide to Amaiur/Mya
Stage 3: I'm not familiar with this phrase. Can you provide more context or information about it?
Stage 4: Berrone to Olague
Stage 5: The Way of St James (also known as Camino de Santiago)
Stages of Bayonne Way
Etapa 1: Bayona to Irún
Description:
This long stage is the last of the English Way. The route is a continuous up and down through rural Galicia, which becomes more urban towards its final stretch. The profile is demanding, but the excit...
Etapa 2: Irún to Hernani
Description:
The first stage of the Vasco-Interior Way is an demanding day that ventures into Guipuzcoan mountains. The route leaves the coast to ascend over a broken terrain with steep slopes. The route passes th...
Etapa 3: Hernani to Tolosa
Description:
This stage continues through the heart of Gipuzkoa, in a medium mountain terrain. The profile is a continuous "rocky slope", with constant ups and downs through a landscape of valleys and hills. The r...
Etapa 4: Tolosa to Beasain
Description:
This stage enters the heart of rural Guipuzcoa, the Goierri region's comarca. The profile is demanding, a continuous rise and fall through a mountain landscape of great beauty. The route passes throug...
Etapa 5: Beasain to Zegama
Description:
This is the queen stage of the Vasco-Interior Camino, an impressive mountain traverse that crosses the Aizkorri Mountains. The path ascends along an ancient Roman road to the San Adrián Tunnel, a natu...
Etapa 6: Zegama to Salvatierra / Agurain
Description:
After the ruggedness of the mountain, this stage is an enjoyable stroll through the Llanada Alavesa. The profile is completely flat and runs through a landscape of fields of cultivation. It's a comfor...
Origen: Zegama
Destino: Salvatierra / Agurain
Featured Towns of Bayonne Way
Explore the key towns and cities of this route.
Bayona
Beautiful French Basque capital and crossroads of Jacobean routes. Bayonne is the starting point of the Via Bayonnaise and the Baztan Way, a charming route's beginning.
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Irún
Entrance to the Way of St James on the Cantabrian coast. Irún, at the border with France, is the start of the North Way and the Vasco-Interior Way.
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Hernani
Guipuzcoan villa at the gates of San Sebastian, on the Basque Country's interior route. Famous for its cider bars, it offers pilgrims an authentic experience of Basque culture.
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Tolosa
Historic village in the heart of Gipuzkoa and a key stop on the Vasco-Interior Route. Famous for its market, beans, and sweet atmosphere along the Jacobean route.
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Beasain
Heart of Industrial Gipuzkoa. Beasain, in the Oria valley, is an important service center and a functional stop on the Vasco-Internal Route, with a large local atmosphere.
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Zegama
Heart of trail running in the Basque Country. Zegama, in the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park, is a paradise for mountain lovers and an stage of the Vasco-Interior Way.
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Salvatierra / Agurain
Medieval village in the heart of the Alava Lowlands. Agurain/Salvatierra, with its historic walled town centre, is a monumental stop on the Vasco-Internal Way.
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Vitoria-Gasteiz
Capital of the Basque Country and "Green Capital" of Europe, Vitoria-Gasteiz offers a pilgrim on the Vasco Interior Way a medieval quarter with charm and a well-deserved rest in a green city.
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La Puebla de Arganzón
Historic walled town, a enclave of Burgos within Álava. It is a singular stop on the Vasco-Interior Way, with a rich medieval heritage and a Roman bridge.
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Miranda de Ebro
Important communication node on the Vasco-Interior Route. Miranda de Ebro, by the Ebro River, is a functional stop with all services before reaching Burgos.
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Pancorbo
Spectacular gorge and entrance to the Castilian tableland on the Via de Bayona. A geographical landmark of great beauty and a challenge for the pilgrim in Burgos' territory.
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Briviesca
Capital of the La Bureba region in Burgos. Briviesca is an important service centre with a beautiful Main Square, a functional and pleasant stop on the Jacobean routes.
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Burgos
Monumental heart of the Camino Francés. Burgos dazzles the pilgrim with its majestic Gothic cathedral, World Heritage Site, and rich historical legacy on the Castilian plateau.
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Monasterio de Rodilla
Small Basque town with a monastic past. The Monastery of Rodilla, nestled at the foot of a hill, is a peaceful stop for pilgrims seeking the essence of rural Castile.
More InformationMillenary History of the Camino de Santiago: Origins and Evolution Bayonne Way
Discover the origins and evolution of Bayonne Way
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.