Albergue in Oloron St Marie

[adeczka13]

Hello Fellow Pilgrims,

I am starting my next camino in Oloron st Marie (on Aug, 14) and I will arrive in the late afternoon, so I was thinking about making a reservation in an albergue-- which I normally never do, but I thought it would be nice to have a bed booked after travelling since 4:30AM that day.

I've been reading posts in this forum, but many on them are something like 5 years old and I can't find enough information.

Could you tell me which albergue in Oloron is worth choosing for the first night ? Anyone has their favorite one?

It's only 46 days until I leave, back on the Camino after two years

 

[Deleted member 3000]

This may be the only gite in Oloron: http://www.relaisdubastet.com/

The one I stayed in my first time is closed (I think). I stayed in a hotel the last time.

 

[Kanga]

We stayed in a chambre d'hôtes just on the outskirts. I don't recall a Gite. When in France we book ahead.

 

[Pilar]

I stayed in Relais du Bastet last year. I think it was very nice. There was a number posted on the door to call if you arrive and no one is there yet. They will give you a code to get in. Your room number will be posted on the wall and you can go to your room before the host arrives. The bathrooms were nice and the kitchen was well equipped and clean. I would not hesitate to make a reservation there.

 

[adeczka13]

Thank you for all replies

 

[karenhypes]

Thank you for all replies

We also stayed at a great chambre d'hote

Thank you for all replies

Hi, We also stayed in a great Chambre d'hôtes, Amphitryon, right on the Chemin in the upper old town. Great spot and great hosts. www.amphitryon-Oloron.com As Kanga said, be sure to book it ahead. Enjoy your Chemin. It's a great walk over the Somport Pass and on to Santiago. Dayton and Karen.

 

[camino62]

I am thinking of walking June 28- July 5, just a week in France to Jaca and wonder which pass to take -Portalet or Somport. I am flying into Paris andtaking train to Oloron Ste Marie. Is it a good walk and easily marked to follow? Any suggestions for stays along the way? If advised, where to make reservations? I plan to walk 1o or 12 miles max / day.
I walked the camino Frances in 2006 - SJPP to Santiago so want to walk some of the Arles route or Aragon route.
route maps for these would help
Thanks

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Is it a good walk and easily marked to follow? Any suggestions for stays along the way? If advised, where to make reservations?

It is well marked considering there really is only one way to go -- up the river valley. Accommodations are regular but with few spots between the standard stages. All seemed good to me, and, yes, calling ahead is a good idea. There are good guides in French, which I would suggest buying. There is a Miam Miam Dodo and a Randonneur guide.

http://www.amazon.fr/dp/2916446443/

http://www.amazon.fr/dp/2751407250/

 

[camino62]

It is well marked considering there really is only one way to go -- up the river valley. Accommodations are regular but with few spots between the standard stages. All seemed good to me, and, yes, calling ahead is a good idea. There are good guides in French, which I would suggest buying. There is a Miam Miam Dodo and a Randonneur guide.

http://www.amazon.fr/dp/2916446443/

http://www.amazon.fr/dp/2751407250/

Thank you! These will test my French! Good to know there are guides though.

 

[camino62]

It is well marked considering there really is only one way to go -- up the river valley. Accommodations are regular but with few spots between the standard stages. All seemed good to me, and, yes, calling ahead is a good idea. There are good guides in French, which I would suggest buying. There is a Miam Miam Dodo and a Randonneur guide.

http://www.amazon.fr/dp/2916446443/

http://www.amazon.fr/dp/2751407250/

Thanks again for the tips. one big question my husband is concerned about walking too close to roads.
how is the way walking over Somport from Oloron to Jaca? is there lots of road walking? would like to know if this is a quiet way and the landscape from another pilgrim's experience?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There is a lot of road walking, some a bit dangerous. The quiet path through the woods is nice in dry conditions, but in wet conditions, it is slippery, and a fall can end in the river or the barbed wire above the river! Bypassing it on the road is harrowing. The last few kilometers before starting the ascent to Somport are considered dangerous. The French walking group actually recommends taking a bus for a couple of kilometers to avoid it. Their drama is as much about getting money for a new path as it is about the actual danger, but it is on the shoulder of a high traffic road, and far from ideal.

 

[camino62]

There is a lot of road walking, some a bit dangerous. The quiet path through the woods is nice in dry conditions, but in wet conditions, it is slippery, and a fall can end in the river or the barbed wire above the river! Bypassing it on the road is harrowing. The last few kilometers before starting the ascent to Somport are considered dangerous. The French walking group actually recommends taking a bus for a couple of kilometers to avoid it. Their drama is as much about getting money for a new path as it is about the actual danger, but it is on the shoulder of a high traffic road, and far from ideal.

Thanks for the reply!
I was hearing about the dangerous road and we prefer a more quiet walk

We may consider le chemin d'arles
Around toulouse

Hard to get good info so this forum is very helpful

There is a lot of road walking, some a bit dangerous. The quiet path through the woods is nice in dry conditions, but in wet conditions, it is slippery, and a fall can end in the river or the barbed wire above the river! Bypassing it on the road is harrowing. The last few kilometers before starting the ascent to Somport are considered dangerous. The French walking group actually recommends taking a bus for a couple of kilometers to avoid it. Their drama is as much about getting money for a new path as it is about the actual danger, but it is on the shoulder of a high traffic road, and far from ideal.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

we prefer a more quiet walk

The river valley is not real wide, so there are not many options for a route. Most of the road walking is along quiet side roads. The two dangerous stretches are tolerable when walked with caution. An hour or two out of Oloron is where the path is through the forest laterally along a fairly steep incline to the river. My first time through it had been raining a lot, and the mental tension of the slippery hillside was worse than cautiously walking the road, so we left the hillside for the road at the first opportunity. A morning horseback rider had left some serious gouges in the path from sliding. He must have been a very skilled horseman to have survived!

 

[naplesdon]

There is a lot of road walking, some a bit dangerous. The quiet path through the woods is nice in dry conditions, but in wet conditions, it is slippery, and a fall can end in the river or the barbed wire above the river! Bypassing it on the road is harrowing. The last few kilometers before starting the ascent to Somport are considered dangerous. The French walking group actually recommends taking a bus for a couple of kilometers to avoid it. Their drama is as much about getting money for a new path as it is about the actual danger, but it is on the shoulder of a high traffic road, and far from ideal.

Falcon, I will be walking from Oloron-Sainte-Marie to Logrono via Somport late May and early June. Can you name the village(s) with bus stop(s) where this recommended deviation should be used. I have walked the CP and absolutely hate sharing my space on high traffic roads.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There are many places. I think the bad spot for the FFRP is after Urdos.

 

[naplesdon]

Falc, thanks so much for the advice and the bus schedule. After studying the profile of the climb I was concerned before you mentioned the road walking and considering my dodgy foot I think walking as far as Lescun or Urdos might be my limit. We'll see. I'll celebrate you when I make it to Laguardia and savor a few cups of vino tinto from la Rioja.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

From Urdos you can take the bus through the tunnel, past Canfranc, and up to Somport. From there you can walk down to Canfranc. You will miss a climb that makes Roncesvalles pale in comparison! That is not a bad thing, by the way, particularly if there has been recent snow.