The pretty town of Aire-sur-l’Adour, gateway to Les Landes département, is split between two parts: the lower section lies by the river Adour and is home to the 12th Century cathedral. In the upper town, the Eglise de Sainte Quitterie is also a must-see. This mediaeval market town is the perfect start to experience the region’s peaceful way of living.

As the kick-off to the final section of the Via Podiensis or Le Puy Route, we spend our first day walking through the Les Landes département and its crop fields. Cultivated landscapes are dotted with hamlets with different ancient buildings, from well-conserved stone chapels to washhouses. This first day is demanding, mostly because of its length rather than the difficulty of the terrain.

The beauty of the route today lies in the lovely paths taken along hillsides from where, from time to time, we can see a steeple reaching up to the sky from the valley below. The route runs through the rounded hills, passing by numerous villages and old churches such as in Luvigny, Larreule, or Caubin.

Today is a long day going through the attractive undulating countryside of the Le Bearn area. After crossing over the river Gave de Pau, there are a few long uphill stretches which add some difficulty to this stimulating walk. One of the best rewards of the day comes after the uphill, when arriving in Navarrenx, a beautiful fortified city which was the first bastioned city of France.

Soon after Navarrenx, we find ourselves walking through the countryside and attractive woodland. Then we reach Lichos, marking the entrance of the Camino into the Basque Country. Passing via the village of Aroue, we continue our way up and down with the Pyrenees getting closer and closer with each step. Finally, we reach the town of Saint-Palais.

This is another incredible walk, passing through very few villages but offering beautiful views all the way. Walking through the peaceful countryside, we gradually make our way up to the Chapel of Soyarce with its wonderful views over the Pyrenees. We pass the typical village of Ostabat and continue to Larceveau, our destination for the evening.

The last day of the final section of Via Podiensis runs through the hilly countryside of the Basque Country, with its grazing sheep and red-roofed houses. The Camino goes up and down all day long, offering great views over the verdant countryside and passing through villages with typical Basque names like Bastida Xoko, Utxiat or Bussunaritz. The journey ends up in the beautiful mediaeval Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, at the foothills of the Pyrenees and the starting point of the French Way to Santiago de Compostela.

After breakfast, we bid you farewell. If you wish to continue and experience crossing over the Pyrenees on the Camino, have a look at the start of our French Way route, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona. You can also stay overnight in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and explore what this beautiful town has to offer itself.