BAZTAN
The road to Santiago de Baztan has registered more than five hundred pilgrims this year
Of these, 318 were foreigners from 14 different nationalities. In 2009 there were 108 pilgrims
20.12.12 - 00:21 -Zarbo IBARROLA | BAZTAN.
In recent years there has been a steady increase of pilgrims who have been doing the
Camino de Santiago by Baztan. In fact, in the shelters 'regentados' by the Association of Friends of the
Camino de Santiago de Urdax-Baztanhan 566 pilgrims stayed during the year 2012, assuming an increase of 26% over the previous year. No pilgrims counted having made the journey not made use of the hostels as accommodation.
Of these, 318 were foreigners from 14 different countries: 248 in France, 31 in Germany, 9 U.S., 5 UK, 5 in Belgium, four pilgrims from Canada and Japan, Mexico and Australia. Within the data provided, it should be noted the large increase in French and German pilgrims that this year has been due in large part to the work being done by the diffusion of the Way of the albergueras Baiona and Dominique and Catherine and L `Association Les Amis du Chemin de Saint-Jacques Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Nationally 248 pilgrims have been 10 different communities - 115 of Navarra, 58 Basque Country, Catalonia 28, 14 Madrid, Valencia and other 9 -. In recent years the number of pilgrims has increased from 108 in 2009 to 566 this year. A level of foreign associations have made the road during 2012 Baztandarra Landaise Société des Amis de Saint Jacques-d 'EtudesCompostellanes - twice -, L' Association Les Amis du Chemin de Saint-Jacques Pyrénées-Atlantiques, L 'AssociationGirondine des Amis du Chemin de Saint-Jacques de Bordeaux and L `AssociationBretanne des Amis de Saint-Jacques a Compostelle.
They have also done the Camino, on weekends and no overnight stays, the Friends of the
Camino de Santiago de Lizarra-Estella, the Friends of the
Camino de Santiago de Navarra, the Friends of the
Camino de Santiago de Vitoria and Provincial Prison inmates, totaling more than 250 pilgrims.
Dissemination important
A continued increase of pilgrims this has contributed, on the one hand, the dissemination work in recent years has been making both public and private institutions. In 2006 the association published 2,000 copies of the topoguide '
Camino de Santiago Baztanés' being the authors and Txema Rey Javier Iriarte of' rutasnavarra ', and in 2009 the magazine Knowing Navarra' Camino Baztanés a booming Route ','
Camino de Santiago Urdax-Baztan 'edited by Bertiz Tourist Consortium.
In 2011 the publication, by the Basque Government, the guide 'The North Road to Santiago' which is included in the Path Baztanés in 2012 'The practical guide to the
Camino de Santiago:
Camino Frances, Aragonés and Baztanés' by Carlos MencosArraiza and the German magazine Der Jakobusfreund 'in its issue October 15, 2012, having several publications' prepared' for 2013 and on the other, consolidation of hostels on the French side, lodging in Bayonne and Ezpelette.
Also, include the involvement and efforts, among others, by the people and mainly Olaitz City Council Anue in conditioning prevents señalizacióndel road sections and road, who have had the courtesy to make with great taste and care , redound to the benefit of the pilgrims and pedestrians in general.
There was also an increased interest in the accommodation of both sides of the border by road Baztanés that collect information on the Friends of the
Camino de Santiago in Urdax-Baztan, having increased the number of pilgrims who request such accommodations.
It's really fair to mention that possibly one of the biggest 'asset' of the Way is the group of partners, volunteers and supporters of the Association whose constant aim and social aim the fostering care of the Way of St. James, and the pilgrim's attention conservation and enhancement of existing assets, among other objectives.