Making my way from Barcelona to Oloron-Sainte-Marie

[trecile]

My husband and I will be spending a few days in Barcelona before I start my Camino in May. I am planning to take the train to Zaragoza the same day that he flies home. I plan to spend two nights in Zaragoza, then take the train to Canfranc, then bus to Oloron the next day.

Does this sound like a good plan?

Any recommendations on places to stay in Zaragoza or Oloron-Sainte-Marie?

 

[SabsP]

I really liked the Ibis Styles in Zaragoza. No frills but clean and bit more luxury than the basic Ibis.
Very friendly. Central.

ibis Styles Zaragoza Ramiro I

In the city centre, near Plaza del Pilar, the Roman Forum and Cathedral, the price of this ibis Styles hotel includes wifi and breakfast.

all.accor.com

 

[J Willhaus]

We stayed in an AirBNB down near the old town. Rode the city bus from the train/bus station.

Rental unit in Zaragoza · ★4.85 · 1 bedroom · 2 beds · 1 bath

Modern apartment in the historic center + breakfast!

www.airbnb.com

 

[mspath]

In Oloron Ste Marie a few years back returning by car from Spain my husband and I had a pleasant stopover at the 2 star Hotel Astrolabe.

 

[trecile]

In Oloron Ste Marie a few years back returning by car from Spain my husband and I had a pleasant stopover at the 2 star Hotel Astrolabe.

That's one of the places that I have marked as a favorite on Booking.com.
Do they have a reception desk that can hold my backpack if I arrive before the check in time?

 

[mspath]

That's one of the places that I have marked as a favorite on Booking.com.
Do they have a reception desk that can hold my backpack if I arrive before the check in time?

There definitely was a réception area. However it might be best to send them an email stating your need.

Happy planning and Carpe diem!

 

[naplesdon]

I stayed one night in Zaragoza before going to Canfranc. There are several reasonably priced places near the Basilica. That is the area I would pick for a two night stay, lots of restaurants to choose from. I stayed at the Hotel Oriente.
In Oloron I stayed at the albergue Relias du Bastet. It is located in a pleasant little square with several restaurants and cafes and an easy walking distance from Ste. Marie to walk to see the historic Romanesque church.

 

[J Willhaus]

Don't know if you plan to stay at the remodeled Canfranc Estación. But it would be good to get a report.

 

[trecile]

Don't know if you plan to stay at the remodeled Canfranc Estación. But it would be good to get a report.

I do - this thread from @Vacajoe made me want to stay there:

Opening Day at Canfranc Pueblo!​

 

[J Willhaus]

I do - this thread from @Vacajoe made me want to stay there:

Opening Day at Canfranc Pueblo!​

We tried to go in for a coffee 2 summers ago, but the security man said only guests were allowed in the morning for breakfast.

 

[naplesdon]

There is an inexpensive guided tour (in Spanish only) of the train station but it is not even allowed to do more than walk across the lobby.
If you plan to stay at Canfranc Pueblo make sure to take provisions from the grocery in Canfranc to prepare your meals. There is nowhere to shop or eat a decent meal there, unless you are into deep fried bar food that is served next door 5 nights a week. The only nearby place for buying a few foodie things is at a gas station about 1km up the hill from town.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Very nice kitchen and dining area in the Canfranc Pueblo albergue. Bring your own food. Buen Camino

 

[jouffroy47]

I do - this thread from @Vacajoe made me want to stay there:

Opening Day at Canfranc Pueblo!​

The lovely donativo albergue in Canfranc pueblo [Albergue de peregrinos de Canfranc-Elias Valina] is not the gorgeous 5* hotel in Canfranc Estacion.

 

[J Willhaus]

Yes, maybe stay at Canfranc Estación on your way to France and at Canfranc Pueblo on the Camino journey as you are walking back? Agree with the advice about bringing something to cook. The people who run the bar are lovely, but it is only fried racions and drinks. They do have some canned fish items and usually bread for sale behind the counter.

 

[Anthony Rocco]

My husband and I will be spending a few days in Barcelona before I start my Camino in May. I am planning to take the train to Zaragoza the same day that he flies home. I plan to spend two nights in Zaragoza, then take the train to Canfranc, then bus to Oloron the next day.

Does this sound like a good plan?

Any recommendations on places to stay in Zaragoza or Oloron-Sainte-Marie?

I would also recommend a stop in Jaca. Barcelona (and Montserrat) and Zaragosa were unforgettable stops when we walked the Camino del Ebro. Jaca and nearby San Juan de la Pena were unforgettable on the Camino Aragones. Oloron was a pleasure because we were starving after a long walk on the Camino Arles and wolfed two amazing crepes each. The portal of the cathedral is also worth visiting there.

There are plenty of affordable accommodations at all these places.

 

[trecile]

The lovely donativo albergue in Canfranc pueblo is not the gorgeous 5* hotel in Canfranc Estacion.

I was thinking of @Vacajoe's post about the albergue when I responded to @J Willhaus. Sorry to cause confusion.

 

[trecile]

I've been looking at bus and train schedules and it looks like service between Canfranc and Oloron-Sainte-Marie is pretty infrequent. Rome2Rio says that there's a bus once a week.

Any suggestions? I was planning on arriving in O-S-M on Monday, May 13.

 

[Flog]

In Oloron I stayed at the albergue Relias du Bastet. It is located in a pleasant little square with several restaurants and cafes and an easy walking distance from Ste. Marie to walk to see the historic Romanesque church.

Me too. Nice place to stay with free use kitchen and good location!

I've been looking at bus and train schedules and it looks like service between Canfranc and Oloron-Sainte-Marie is pretty infrequent. Rome2Rio says that there's a bus once a week.

Any suggestions? I was planning on arriving in O-S-M on Monday, May 13.

There's a bus service that runs between the two, leaving Canfranc Estacion at around 11:30AM. It goes through the tunnel and passes through Urdos, Borce and Sarrance.. I'm pretty sure it's more often than that. I'll see if I can get more info on it..

 

[trecile]

There's a bus service that runs between the two, leaving Canfranc Estacion at around 11:30AM. It goes through the tunnel and passes through Urdos, Borce and Sarrance.. I'm pretty sure it's more often than that. I'll see if I can get more info on it..

Thank you, I would appreciate that!

 

[Flog]

Here you go, I was sent just now from local resident:

There are actually four daily buses in that direction, the first three terminate at Bedous, but from there there is a connecting train.

 

[Flog]

And the train schedule:
The 11:24 bus will leave you tight for time, but if you take the one at 14:36, you'll have plenty of time and make it to Oloron for 16:20.

When you arrive, the air is often heavy with the smell of chocolate, especially when it's a damp day.. consider it a bonus!

 

[trecile]

Here you go, I was sent just now from local resident:

There are actually four daily buses in that direction, the first three terminate at Bedous, but from there there is a connecting train.

And the train schedule:
The 11:24 bus will leave you tight for time, but if you take the one at 14:36, you'll have plenty of time and make it to Oloron for 16:20.

When you arrive, the air is often heavy with the smell of chocolate, especially when it's a damp day.. consider it a bonus!

Thank you so much!

I knew that there had to be a way!

 

[Flog]

Ah, I just see there, you got the same info in different thread, and found the bus schedule elsewhere too.. All is good!

 

[trecile]

Ah, I just see there, you got the same info in different thread, and found the bus schedule elsewhere too.. All is good!

Yes, but I hadn't seen the train schedule yet - the final piece to the puzzle.

And I so appreciate you taking the time to find this information.

 

[Vacajoe]

Flog forgot to mention that you can also play his guitar when staying at the Pueblo albergue (unless the authorities finally confiscate it to save the village from his singing….)

 

[trecile]

Flog forgot to mention that you can also play his guitar when staying at the Pueblo albergue

Me playing a guitar? That would be a first!

 

[J Willhaus]

Me playing a guitar? That would be a first!

It's optional. The guitar wasn't even there when we served 2 summers ago. @Flog brought it with him on a later service time...

However, when we were there in 2022 there was a "rock" concert in the bar next door one night and a big festival one whole weekend with plenty of music by a group dressed as Vikings.

 

[Flog]

Flog forgot to mention that you can also play his guitar when staying at the Pueblo albergue (unless the authorities finally confiscate it to save the village from his singing….)

Hmm, could be a handy impromptu torture to encourage dithering pilgrims to move on and clear the albergue at 8AM though..

 

[jouffroy47]

I've been looking at bus and train schedules and it looks like service between Canfranc and Oloron-Sainte-Marie is pretty infrequent. Rome2Rio says that there's a bus once a week.

Any suggestions? I was planning on arriving in O-S-M on Monday, May 13.

It looks like once a day--the #550.

 

[trecile]

It looks like once a day--the #550. View attachment 163572

It looks like I can get to Bedous on the bus, then there's a train that will go to Oloron-Sainte-Marie.

And the train schedule:
The 11:24 bus will leave you tight for time, but if you take the one at 14:36, you'll have plenty of time and make it to Oloron for 16:20.

When you arrive, the air is often heavy with the smell of chocolate, especially when it's a damp day.. consider it a bonus!

View attachment 163473

 

[trecile]

I think that I have this worked out for Zaragoza to Oloron-Sainte-Marie, assuming that the current train and bus schedules will be in effect in May.

Zaragoza - Canfranc: Train at 8:55 am, arrives at 11:30 am

Canfranc - Bedous: Bus at 14:36, arrrives at 15:16 (I'll have some time to kill in Canfranc)

Bedous - Oloron-Sainte-Marie: Train at 15:52, arrives at 16:20

 

[Flog]

There's plenty to keep you occupied for a couple of hours around the town apart from the obvious. If you want to view the station from a different perspective, behind the tourist office is a winding trail that climbs steadily giving you fantastic views from the progressively higher miradors. Or the path that runs behind the station past several bunkers, eventually leading up to the Fuerte de Coll de Ladrones.

These are fantastic views that you won't see as you come down off the pass.