Which route from Lourdes?

Hello all!

I know this thread may not be in the correct place, but I wasn't sure where to put it.

But my question is:
Next summer I will be doing the Camino from Lourdes, France. This is my first Camino ever and I wanted to make it special by starting at an important Catholic shrine and ending at another important Catholic shrine. Anyway, I noticed there are two routes from which one may rejoin with the Camino Frances (which I will then follow all the way to Santiago)...

1. One, the Chemin Piemont, heads west from Lourdes to St. Jean where it meets up with the beginning of the Frances.
2. Two, the Camino Aragones, instead goes south and over an entirely different mountain pass, the Col Somport, and continues through Jaca and finally rejoins with the Frances at Puente la Reina.

Of these two, which do you experienced pilgrims think is the best to take from Lourdes? I understand the Col Somport is much more naturally beautiful than the Route Napoleon near SJPdP. Then again, the history and legends surrounding the area of SJPdP (Roland, Charlemagne, etc.) interest me greatly and there is none of that at the Col Somport.

Any and all input is greatly appreciated! Thank you for helping me plan my first Camino!

JabbaPapa said:

My only real advice, having taken the Lourdes>SJPP variant, is that you might beware the "official" itinerary between Lourdes and Oloron, as it makes very many rather pointless detours up various mountains and crests, considerably (and IMO pointlessly) increasing both the length and the difficulty of the hike.

You shouldn't hesitate to walk sometimes along the typically very quiet country roads instead, when the occasion should present itself -- though there are also places where the official route is better, and this is hard to explain in detail from memory.

Of course, if that sort of hiking up mountains and crests is your heart's desire, then you'll love it !!!

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Thanks for the advice, JabbaPapa. Would you happen to have an English language version of the "official" itinerary you speak of? I'd like to see for myself the mountains and estimate from there whether or not I'd be up to the challenge! :mrgreen: