The "bottle" doors of Basse-Navarre

Departure from the Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port campsite (Donibane Garazi). There are also numerous parking spaces near the market, not far from the campsite and on the same side of the Nive.
Please note! This hike is not marked as such, nor is it marked in its entirety.

(S/E) As you leave the campsite, turn right and cross the footbridge over the Nive de Béhérobie. Turn left and follow the Nive, ignoring the steps leading up to the citadel.

(1) At the church, turn right onto Rue de la Citadelle, where you will meet many pilgrims. Go through the Porte de Saint-Jacques. At the fork, at the cross, keep left.

(2) At the next crossroads, look for the yellow signs and turn right towards Çaro, following the red and white markings of^{the GR®®10}. Continue along this road (D401). Pass the signs for the town exit.

(3) Take the first road on the right, still following the^GR®®. Pass two houses on your right and continue along the small road to Çaro.

(4) You will arrive in Çaro at the town hall. At the crossroads a few metres further on, turn right, then take the first street on the left. Ignore two small streets on the left and pass to the left of the church. You will arrive opposite the fronton, at a crossroads, surrounded by numerous examples of "bottle" facades. Continue along the street furthest to the left to quickly reach another crossroads.

(5) Turn right towards Saint-Michel (Eiheralarre), leaving the^GR®®10.
Shortly afterwards, ignore a street on the right and continue along this road.

(6) You will arrive at another road at the entrance to Saint-Michel, at a cross, and follow it to the left. At the intersection, turn right. Note the many "bottle-shaped" façades in this village. Turn right at the next street (before passing the school) and ignore a small street on the right before reaching the D301. Ignore the sign for Esterençuby on the left.

(7) Take the bridge on the right. Ignore the street on the left just after, but take the next one (signposted Les Bergers de Saint Michel). Pass on the left of the cemetery and ignore a street on the left just after. Continue on this small road to the hamlet of Meriategiborda.

(8) Continue along the road to cross a stream, Latsarrietako Erreka, over a small bridge. Further on, you will reach another hamlet, Etxebestea, and turn left to reach a road facing signs marked by the^GR®®.

(9) Continue left on this road, which is the Route Napoléon. Pass the hamlet of Errekulusenea and arrive at an intersection. This is the start of the round trip.

(10) Take the road on the left, continuing to follow the^GR®®. Further on, pass a group of houses (Honto, a lodge for pilgrims).

(11) Further on, continue to follow the^{GR®® trail}, leaving the road to take a path that climbs to the left. Pass a small orchard of old varieties of fruit trees, whose fruit is intended for pilgrims. Join the road and arrive at a fountain (drinking water).

(12) Ignore the small road on the left and continue on the^GR®® to a reservoir on the right of the road, which you can climb up to for a break in front of a beautiful panorama.

(13) Return by the same route to the junction with the Route Napoléon.

(10) Continue straight ahead on the small road.

(14) Pass the hamlet of Ezkanda (ignore a street on the left), then the hamlet of Uhaldea. The road then runs alongside the Zuritzeko stream.

(15) Further on, as the road bends to the left, leave it and take the path that goes straight ahead.

(16) Further on, join a road at the hamlet of Zihea. Continue straight on along the small road, ignoring another road on the left. Then ignore a few private streets on the right until you reach the junction with the D381.

(17) Follow it to the right, ignoring the road on the right that goes up to the holiday village. At the next crossroads, turn left to enter the village of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and continue straight on until you reach the bridge over the Nive, then cross it.

(1) Turn right immediately to return to the campsite (S/E) via the same route as on the way there.

Warning! This hike is almost entirely on small roads and is not suitable for those allergic to tarmac.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Some photos here

Basque architecture is diverse. Here, around Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the villages of Çaro and Saint-Michel have adopted "bottle" gates. The imposing entrance gate is surrounded by coloured cut stone (pink sandstone) and topped by a small window, giving the whole structure a bottle shape. Above the gate is a lintel indicating the name and status of the owner.

Outside the circular path, the round trip to the reservoir-viewpoint offers beautiful views but also allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Compostela, as many pilgrims take the^{GR®®65 trail}.