Transport Paris to Somport/Camino Aragones

[LesR]

Hoping to do walk the Camino Aragones/Frances next year - wondering what the best (simplest) means of getting from Paris to Somport....

Will be travelling from Australia, so I am assuing that an arrival through Paris (CDG) will be the most practical...

Grateful for any advice ...

 

[Former member 104756]

Hi Les. Flying into Spain will get you there much quicker and the travel is quite straightforward.

I’ve done that journey from Sydney, by flying into Barcelona, then a train to Canfranc Estacion, with a change in Zaragoza. You can do similar, and maybe a little shorter, trip from Madrid.

From Canfranc Estacion, you can either start the Aragones there or take a bus up to the Col - or walk up. All the best.

 

[Vacajoe]

Usually you can take the train from Madrid-Zaragoza-Huesca-Jaca-Canfranc Estacion, but track repairs means that it’ll be a bus from Jaca. If you go this route, I’d recommend a bus up to Somport so you can start at the beginning of the Aragon way.

However, if possible, starting in Oloron St Marie (France) on the last portion of the Arles makes for a far more beautiful and moving journey. That is accessible from Paris by train/bus.

 

[J Willhaus]

Yes, from Paris it makes more sense to start in France. We had many pilgrims from France that started in Oloron St Marie. From Spain you can take a bus from Pamplona to Jaca or from Madrid or Barcelona a train to Zaragoza and then a bus to Jaca if the train isn't running by that time yet. The bus runs regularly and is a little faster than the train. Both the train and bus station are co-located in Zaragoza.

From Jaca there is a mountain community bus that goes back and forth from Jaca to Somport several times per day. You buy a ticket from the driver.

 

[Former member 104756]

Yes, agree with @J Willhaus - if you decide you to begin in Oloron Saint Marie, it would make sense to fly into Paris. Typically you would take a train from Paris Montparnasse with a change in Pau.

 

[Suzanne A]

Yes! Start in Oloron Saint Marie, you wouldn't want to miss that section over the Pyrenees- a highlight!

 

[jouffroy47]

I would start in France. This year I took a train from Paris to Pau and then a bus to Morlaàs where I ended two years ago. You could also take a bus to Lescar [suburb of Pau] and start from there, or a train from Pau to Oloron-Ste-Marie. If needed, there is also a bus [#550] that runs from Oloron to Somport https://www.citrampyrenees.fr/horaires-tarifs/

 

[winemakerfw51]

If you've got so much time to plan, and getting to Madrid from Australia is as easy as Paris, why not fly to Madrid. Train from Atocha in Madrid via Zaragosa is super easy - about 6 hours. Last spring there were 2 trains a day. As someone mentioned, it leaves you off at Canfranc Station. A local bus can take you to Somport. to start.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Pau, France is a nice Pyrenees “jump off” city. Not bonded in WWII. Walking from there starts off easily and prepares you for the tougher walkiing later. TGV direct from Montparnasse. Buy an upper seat ticket if you want to see the countryside. Buen Camino

 

[journeywomensarjill]

Hoping to do walk the Camino Aragones/Frances next year - wondering what the best (simplest) means of getting from Paris to Somport....

Will be travelling from Australia, so I am assuing that an arrival through Paris (CDG) will be the most practical...

Grateful for any advice ...

Starting at Pau or Oloron St Marie walking up the beautiful Valle d’ Aspe is glorious and not to be missed leading up to crossing Somport into Spain. Train from Paris to Oloron works well. Enjoy fellow aussie

 

[jprogers]

If going to CDG the SNCF website/ app can be very useful for planning and will give some timetables Montparnasse to Pau.

 

[AnneMarie1]

I started from Somport this year. Went from Madrid to Zaragoza, then Huesca, then Jaca. (I think train on the first part of that and bus on the other two, but there might have been another train in there.) Spent the night in Jaca in the old city (which is worth some time exploring!) and took the 8:20 a.m. (I think) bus from Jaca up to Somport.

 

[trecile]

Pau, France is a nice Pyrenees “jump off” city. Not bonded in WWII. Walking from there starts off easily and prepares you for the tougher walkiing later. TGV direct from Montparnasse. Buy an upper seat ticket if you want to see the countryside. Buen Camino

Starting at Pau or Oloron St Marie walking up the beautiful Valle d’ Aspe is glorious and not to be missed leading up to crossing Somport into Spain. Train from Paris to Oloron works well. Enjoy fellow aussie

I'm following this thread because I was planning to start my Camino on the Aragonés next year - now I think I want to start on the Arles at Pau!

 

[Former member 104756]

I'm following this thread because I was planning to start my Camino on the Aragonés next year - now I think I want to start on the Arles at Pau!

Oloron to thé Col is a beautiful part of Arles Way with some great gites. (e.g. Relais du Bastet in Oloron, the monastery in Sarrance)

Pau isn’t on the Arles Way but it’s a lovely town. And I’m sure you can find some tracks / path from there to walk to Oloron if you want to. Or it’s just a quick train ride.

 

[trecile]

Pau isn’t on the Arles Way but it’s a lovely town. And I’m sure you can find some tracks / path from there to walk to Oloron if you want to.

Thanks. Gronze shows that it's just a few km from the Arles route.

 

[Former member 104756]

Thanks. Gronze shows that it's just a few km from the Arles route.

View attachment 159758

My mistake. I was referring to Pau to Oloron Saint Marie directly.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Yes the monastery in Sarrance is a great albergue with communal dinner. Earlier I typed Pau was not bombed in WWII but got autocorrected. Easy walk on the Camino from Pau to Oloron St. Marie. There are some hazardous sections along the river after Oloron. Just be careful. Buen Camino