The best walks and hikes around Arthez-De-Béarn

The last sentence: „And above all: Don’t forget that where your feet stand, the journey begins.“ This is a beautiful message for the Camino de Santiago: The pilgrimage doesn’t just begin at the official starting point – it begins exactly where you take your first step.

„La via Podiensis” The Way of St. James runs for four kilometers through Maslacq. This path cannot be left unmentioned, as it is walked by about 10,000 pilgrims per year – even more people in the St. James years; such years occur 14 times per century. You are here on the GR 65, also called Via Podiensis, because this route passes through Le Puy-en-Velay. This path, which has existed "for so many centuries," was partly created by the countless steps of pilgrims. Even today, there are sections of the path that are practically only walked by pilgrims, for example, very close by, at the foot of the slopes of Sauvelade. The Via Podiensis ends in Ostabat in the Basque Country. There it meets the Via Turonensis, which passes through Tours, and the Via Lemovicensis or Limousin Way, which passes through Vézelay. From Ostabat, the path is called Camino Navarro. On the other side of the Pyrenees, it meets the Camino Aragonés, the Spanish extension of the Via Tolosana, which comes from the direction of Arles and Toulouse. From there, it transitions into the Camino Francés, which leads from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela. Although the GR 65 is of religious origin, it is one of the oldest hiking trails in the world. Above all, it passes through beautiful villages known for their religious buildings – often, these are surprisingly large in relation to the number of inhabitants. Examples include Conques, Figeac, Rocamadour, and Moissac. Here you meet people from all parts of the world and from all social classes: from Europe, America, and even from the Far East and Oceania. Thanks to the fame of this path, there are regular pilgrim hostels, so pilgrims are not forced to cover particularly long daily stages. They can design their route according to their own abilities. Some particularly tradition-conscious pilgrims try to set off at the spring equinox at 12 noon (solar time). Their ultimate goal is to arrive on July 25th, St. James's Day.

The Romanesque chapel was built on the orders of the Viscount of Béarn, Gaston IV, known as the Crusader (1090-1130), upon his return from the First Crusade. It was entrusted to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem and experienced its heyday until the mid-16th century, when the Wars of Religion broke out. Inside, behind the beautiful Gothic arches, we can see the tomb with the figure of a medieval knight. On the outside, the details of the capitals are worth seeing.

Very nicely laid out rest area with plenty of shade and comfortable seating

The Romanesque chapel was built on the orders of the Viscount of Béarn, Gaston IV, known as the Crusader (1090-1130), upon his return from the First Crusade. It was entrusted to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem and experienced its heyday until the mid-16th century, when the Wars of Religion broke out. Inside, behind the beautiful Gothic arches, we can see the tomb with the figure of a medieval knight. On the outside, the details of the capitals are worth seeing. 'La petite église' can be read framed at the entrance of the church.

A very nice and cozy café in Arthez-de-Béarn, ideal for a short break on the Camino de Santiago. A friendly, welcoming hostess and delicious food, ☕️, 🫖, and dessert.

A 12th-century historical monument, the chapel was saved by the association "Les Amis de Caubin" in 1966, who completed its restoration in 1974. Musical events have been held there since. Note that picnic tables and an oratory are located on the other side of the road.

Panoramic stele behind the parish church of Arthez-de-Béarn. It describes the various peaks and passes in the valleys of Ossau, Aspe and Barétous.