Getting to Oloron

[Karl Oz]

I have been investigating the Camino Aragones with rising anticipation but have encountered some logistical problems. The problem is that subsequent to my arrival in Berlin in July I would have to make my way to Oloron (my preferred starting point). The nearest airport is Toulouse, which would involve a subsequent lengthy and circuitous train journey that would likely run into hours. None of the low-cost carriers such as Easyjet or Ryanair seem to connect with Biarritz or Bayonne. Bearing in mind that my time in Europe is limited, can anyone suggest an option that I may have overlooked, or offer any other advice.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

If you find a good way to Pau, there is a regular train to Oloron.

 

[HaraldS]

The nearest airport is Pau, not Toulouse. From Germany to Oloron, the usual way is via Paris, because french traffic nearly always hits Paris, regardless if plane or train. If you want to get to Oloron as fast as possible, it would be better to aim at Paris than at Berlin for your long distance flight. From the Charles de Gaulle airport, there are connecting flights to Pau.

Beware, continuing from Pau airport can be difficult, as there are only sometimes taxis, few busses and no train station nearby. Rental cars are available, but are of not much use. Make sure you arrive at a time when there's a bus or have a taxi telephone number ready.

From Pau train station, it's an half an hour train ride to Oloron. There you can spent the night e.g. in the Relais du bastet, very recommendable.

Harald

 

[naplesdon]

I took the train from Biarritz to Pau and then connected to the train to Oloron. I remember arriving around noon and having to wait for Relias du Bastet to open which gave me time to explore Ste. Marie. Another option is to walk from Pau which I think takes about 3 days.

 

[caminka]

have you checked the international Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport? it flies to london, paris, brussels, bergamo and madrid.
behind the airport it is the train station of ossun from where trains run to pau where you have to change for oloron. there are supposed to be trains to pau every 4 hours, and to oloron every 20min.

here's the romerio site for the connections: https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Lourdes-...MIqcGyycz92AIV17obCh3SSg4kEAAYASAAEgI1EvD_BwE.

 

[Alan Pearce]

I flew from Paris [but not from CdG airport, another smaller one] to Pau. I walked 10 KM from Pau airport to Lescar, and joined the camino there. Next day I walked to Oloron, the next day to Borse, and the next day to Somport. Another option for you perhaps, but time may beat you.

Be brave. Life is joyous.

Alan

 

[Albertagirl]

@Karl Oz
I began my camino at Oloron, walking to the Camino Aragones at Somport and through to Santiago in the fall of 2016. I flew to Paris CDG and bus to Orly, then on to Pau, on the same Air France ticket. It was a mistake on my part to transfer to Orly, as the time between landing at CDG and taking off at Orly was 5.5 hours. I could have taken a connecting flight at CDG for a somewhat higher price. At Pau airport, there is a bus to the train station once an hour, which I took. There are also taxis, but you might have to book one (see the airport passenger information, available online in English). From there, trains are frequent to Oloron and arrive in town, so you can walk to your accommodation and begin your camino from wherever you stay in town.

 

[Karl Oz]

Thank you all for the suggestions. Berlin is my initial destination due to family reasons, and I think we have confirmed that there is no convenient direct route between there and Oloron. I think the easiest route is a flight to Bordeaux and a train to Oloron. The latter takes just over 2 hours, which is not much I suppose, and has the advantage of avoiding navigating around Pau city/airport/station.