where to start a few days before SJPP?

[JillGat]

I'd like to start the Camino a few days before SJPP. Any recommendations for a starting point?

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, JillGat,
I have walked from LePuy, but it was many years ago and my memory isn't great. But the godesalco planner should give you some good ideas: http://www.godesalco.com/plan/podense

If you are landing in Paris and want to make your way to some town before St. Jean, I would compare the towns in godesalco with the French rail site, SNCF. Aire sur l'Adour is the biggest town in that last part of the LePUy route before SJPP, but it is more than 160 km from SJPP. I don't know if that's too many for your idea of a "several day" walk.

This is probably not too helpful but may be a start. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Kanga]

How long do you have? The logical place is probably Aire sur l'Adour but you could also consider lots of other places. Here is a page from where you can download the topo maps for the GR65 (starting from Le Puy) http://podiensis.online.fr/listVUESpodiensis.htm
Also look at the route from Vezelay and Tours. There may be somewhere more logical on either of those.

 

[pudgypilgrim]

Maybe the Voie de la Nive from Bayonne? I think there are few folks here who've walked it. Kiwi-Family, maybe?

 

[BShea]

Orthez is about 70 kms from SJPP, well marked, and beautiful...

 

[jdpiguet]

Orthez is about 70 kms from SJPP, well marked, and beautiful...

Orthez is a nice starting point :

• The albergue is really special.
• The walk to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port is easy to split.
• There is a train station, nice to get there.

The first day or two will be quite, as the Vézelay route is not very frequented.
The crowd will start at St-Palais, where the Voie du Puy joins.

Buen Camino,
Jacques-D.

 

[aghamore]

Oloron St Marie - pleasant enough town, lovely church, easy trains from Pau and a few days quiet walking to St Jean.

 

[SYates]

Oloron St Marie - pleasant enough town, lovely church, easy trains from Pau and a few days quiet walking to St Jean.

Oloron is on the Arles/Somport route, is there now a way marked connection between Oloron and SJPdP? Buen Camino, SY

 

[aghamore]

No problem with signage between Oloron and Mauleon, after that I joined the Le Puy route at Larceveau by way of Pagolle. The classic Piemont route is via Hopital St Blaise and Garaibie. The J and G Veron book has the route in detail but I can't find my copy. There are responses on the "Starting from Lourdes" thread that have more detail.

 

[jelle]

Hi, I can recommend starting from Aire Sur L'Adour.

It's a small town about 5-6 days from SJPDP. I started there on my latest camino to get some "training" before the Pyrenees. It was lovely. I especially enjoyed seeing the Pyrenees in the distant and slowly moving towards them. From this town you follow the GR 65 from le Puy.

 

[grayland]

There are some very helpful posts here.
I know there are some people who want to insure they have walked 800km so would like to start a day or so before SJPP.
There are also some folks who would like to get in a couple of days of walking rather than hitting the SJPP to Roncesvalles effort on the first day.

 

[Harington]

Saint-Palais on the Voie de Tours / via Turonensis.

St Palais is also on the Voie de Vézelay, as is Orthez. Both are in fabulous hilly country, with the peaks of the Pyrenees visible. Good training for the day's walk between SJPdP and Roncesvalles.

 

[Thornley]

There are some very helpful posts here.
I know there are some people who want to insure they have walked 800km so would like to start a day or so before SJPP.
There are also some folks who would like to get in a couple of days of walking rather than hitting the SJPP to Roncesvalles effort on the first day.

Starting a "few" days prior to STJPP [as the OP asked] could if you wish take Orisson out of play.
We normally commence prior to STJPP and it has worked very well.

 

[Audie Ray]

Orthez is a nice starting point :

• The albergue is really special.
• The walk to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port is easy to split.
• There is a train station, nice to get there.

The first day or two will be quite, as the Vézelay route is not very frequented.
The crowd will start at St-Palais, where the Voie du Puy joins.

Buen Camino,
Jacques-D.

Hello Jacques, I am thinking about starting in Orthez- do you have any ideas about where I can find info/maps etc. on the route from Orthez to St. Jean Pied de Port? Thanks!

 

[marbuck]

We are starting in Condom this year, it is about 10 days out of SJPDP on the Le Puy route.

 

[mspath]

Hello Jacques, I am thinking about starting in Orthez- do you have any ideas about where I can find info/maps etc. on the route from Orthez to St. Jean Pied de Port? Thanks!

Check the Forum topic the Vezelay route for info on Orthez.

See the French info here at the AuCoeurDeChemin site.

Also see this from VoyagesForum and this from Pelerin.

Bon chemin and Buen camino!