Saint Jean Pied de Port

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. It is close to Ostabat in the Pyrenean foothills and is the old capital of the traditional Basque province of Lower Navarre. The town is also a starting point for the French Way Camino Francés, the most popular option for travelling the Camino de Santiago. It is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France Association. The town has a rich history, with its original town being razed to the ground in 1177 by the troops of Richard the Lionheart, and was later refounded by the Kings of Navarre. The town is situated at the foot of the Roncevaux Pass, which allows passage to the south of the Pyrenees. The town is also an important point on the Way of St. James, with around 60,000 pilgrims passing through each year