Crossing the Pyrenees Mountains 🥾

The 24km (almost 15mile) "Route de Napoléon" between St Jean and Roncesvalles over the Pyrenees Mountains is said to be the most physically difficult stretch of trail that we are likely to encounter on the Camino de Santiago Frances. ⛰️

This route has claimed many lives during harsh weather, our day included rain with high winds and cold temps in the mid 30-40 degrees . The day we were on this route a fellow pilgrim unfortunately needed to be emergency rescued due to hypothermia.

To say that a hot shower and warm meal at the monastery in Roncesvalles at the end of this day were greatly appreciated would be an understatement!

Here’s a little history for you…The "Route de Napoléon" is thus named because of its strategic importance during the Napoleonic wars and it is the route Napoleon took to cross into Spain following the old Roman road the Via Triana. It was also used as a route through the Pyrenees by Emperor Charlemagne.

The Route Napoléon is the route that pilgrims have used for several centuries primarily because of its lack of trees and other places where bandits could hide, unlike the heavily wooded route through Valcarlos.Read more