The scene between Paris and SJPP

[Douglas Simpson]

I will begin my trip in mid September after a week in Paris with friends. There are many suggestions for transportation but I have yet to find what I am looking for. All I have seen of France is Paris and I would love to have a beautiful view of the countryside and maybe a stop along the way before I reach SJPP. Can anyone enlighten me with suggestions? BTW, I could possibly make a stop a bit out of the way in a little town north of Toulouse yet that may not be my best option.

 

[whariwharangi]

SNCF Railway Map
http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-map/sncf-map-large.htm

2150 Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port

2151 This section discusses how to get from Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port.

Index 2150
2152 Executive Summary
2153 Fly from Paris to Biarritz and train to SJPdP
2154 Train from Paris to SJPdP
2155 Not Assigned
2156 Train stations between Paris and Bayonne
2157 Saint Jean Pied de Port

2152. Executive Summary.

There are at least two viable options for getting from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport to Saint Jean Pied de Port (SJPdP):

a. Fly from Paris to Biarritz and take the train from Bayonne to SJPdP.

b. Take the train from Paris to Bayonne and transfer to another train from Bayonne to SJPdP. Stations in Paris with trains to Bayonne include: CDG 2, Gare d'Austerlitz, Gare Montparnasse, and Gare Massy.

2153. ~Option 1 Fly from Paris to Biarritz and train to SJPdP

a. Fly from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Biarritz Airport (BIQ). Easy Jet provides service; or,

b. Fly from Paris Orly Airport (ORY) to Biarritz Airport (BIQ) Air France provides service.

The Chronoplus urban bus #14 leaves from the doors of Biarritz Airport and goes to Gare de Bayonne. Allow 40 minutes.

The SNCF TER train #62 travels from Bayonne to terminus at SJPdP. (note at time of writing tracks are washed out. TER 62 service is provided by SNCF operated buses on same schedule)

Biarritz Airport (BIQ)
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/

Chronoplus
http://www.chronoplus.eu/

SNCF TER Aquitaine
http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/Aquitaine/fr/Default.aspx

2154 ~Option 2 - Train from Paris to SJPdP.

TGV trains travel towards Bayonne from three train stations in Paris.

a. There is a TGV station located at Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2.

b. There is a TGV station located at Gare Montparnasse in central Paris. There is greater frequency of service from Gare Montparnasse than from CDG 2.

c. The tracks from CDG 2 and Gare Montparnasse converge and TGV trains from both stations stop at Gare Massey.

SNCF TGV trains leave from Paris enroute to Bordeaux or Irun. Often there is a transfer required at Bordeaux. TGV trains from Bordeaux terminate in Irun. TER trains from Bordeaux terminate in Pau or Hendaye. If your train is bound for Pau another transfer is required at Dax. Trains bound for Hendaye or Irun stop in Bayonne.

SNCF Intercites night trains travel from Paris Gare Austerlitz to Hendaye and stop in Bayonne.

SNCF TER train #62 travels from Gare Bayonne to terminus at SJPdP

You will get limited results if you try to find a schedule for a train from Paris to SJPdP. I'd suggest planning your trip from Paris to Bayonne then Bayonne to SJPdP.

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/

SNCF - train schedule and tickets:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires

SNCF TER Aquitaine
http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/Aquitaine/fr/Default.aspx

2156 Train Stations between Paris and Bayonne

Gare Bordeaux - Saint Jean (Saint Jean is name of main station in Bordeaux)
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/en/frboj/accueil/

Gare Bordeaux - Saint Jean according to Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_de_Bordeaux-Saint-Jean

Gare de Dax
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/fracg/accueil/

Gare de Bayonne
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frxby/accueil/

2157 Saint Jean Pied de Port

Saint Jean Pied de Port
http://www.st-jean-pied-de-port.fr/default.aspx

 

[Felipe]

Well, if you go either by train or plane, you will have to do a connection in Bayonne. It s a lovely city -not spectacular buildings, but very pleasant, much in the relaxed lifestyle of french provincial cities. And you can take a local bus to Biarritz, which is more touristic, with old and stylish summer residences, and has a nice beach promenade.
And Basque gastronomy is remarkable, by the way.
buen camino!

 

[mspath]

Douglas,

Do you know where you might like to stop north of Toulouse?

Use the French railroad site voyages-SNCF.com to research --

1 schedules/prices from Paris to "north of Toulouse",
2 schedules/prices from "north of Toulouse" to Bayonne,
3 schedules from Bayonne to SJPdP . One must pass through Bayonne to get to SJPdP on public transport . Generally this is a local line 62 TER train but presently a
bus provided by the railroad is substituted. The substitute bus times and price are the same as the train

Bon voyage,

Margaret Meredith

 

[scruffy1]

Shalom Douglas Greetings from Jerusalem!
Can't help much on the transportation side, seems to have been pretty well covered. If you are one who collects sellos, and I am one, then in Paris you should start as every good pilgrim should at the Cathedral. Notre Dame has a beautiful stamp for your credencial, embossed onto the page. They have a warm welcome for pilgrims and even the guards will be happy to point you to the office. Ten minutes away on foot is Tour Saint Jacques, the remaining tower of what was once a church dedicated to Saint James. There is a kiosk around the side with a sello-something to get you into the right mood from the very start.

 

[mspath]

As Scrufy suggests do go visit Notre Dame cathedral and the Tour Saint Jacques! See these earlier Forum threads for more about pilgrim sites in Paris and the camino in Paris.
Near the Tour visit and perhaps dine at the Auberge de Nicolas Flamel , 51 rue de Monmorency, a restored medieval house in the marais built by and named for a man who donated much of his wealth to help pilgrims.

When on the parvis or place facing the cathedral below you underground lie Roman ruins and visible to your right across the Seine begins the medieval rue Saint Jacques which pilgrims followed to leave the city; walk it a bit and ponder history.

Bon Chemin,

Margaret Meredith

 

[Sraaen]

I will begin my trip in mid September after a week in Paris with friends. There are many suggestions for transportation but I have yet to find what I am looking for. All I have seen of France is Paris and I would love to have a beautiful view of the countryside and maybe a stop along the way before I reach SJPP. Can anyone enlighten me with suggestions? BTW, I could possibly make a stop a bit out of the way in a little town north of Toulouse yet that may not be my best option.

I walked from Tours to SJPP last year and my favorite places were Poitiers, Bordeaux, Dax and St Palais.

 

[OTH86]

Don't forget to get your credencial stamped at the Tour Saint Jacques in Paris!!