Carcassonne to st Jean pied de port?

[andy74]

Holla travellers!

Can anyone advise the best way to travel from Carcassonne to St Jean Pied De Port. I'm flying into Carcassonne on Monday 2nd June. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[whariwharangi]

SNCF operates trains from Carcassonne to Bayonne, usually with transfers at either or both Toulouse and Bordeaux. The last leg to SJPdP is also operated by SNCF (TER #62), however, the website doesn't always show all the options to Bayonne if you try to go to SJPdP from wherever.

Currently tracks are washed out between Bayonne and SJPdP so SNCF is operating buses in place of the train with same stops and schedule.

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/

 

[andy dixon]

Thank you for your reply. Most helpful. Enjoy your camino.

 

[Kanga]

You could walk it! We walked the Canal du Midi from Carcassonne to Toulouse, then joined the Arles route through Pau. From there it is a short one day walk across to the Le Puy route or stay on the Arles route via Somport til it joins the Camino Frances at Punta La Reina.

 

[LiesbethSA]

You could walk it! We walked the Canal du Midi from Carcassonne to Toulouse, then joined the Arles route through Pau. From there it is a short one day walk across to the Le Puy route or stay on the Arles route via Somport til it joins the Camino Frances at Punta La Reina.

You are some walker Kanga! My respect!

 

[bystander]

The trouble is that if I were to find myself in Carcassonne it is unlikely I would ever leave.

50 years ago is the last time I was there.

It was August.
I was hitchhiking with a university friend.
Having arrived at Carcassonne we found ourselves on the ramparts, as night fell, with a couple of bottles of red wine, some salami, a large chunk of cheese, a baguette and a kilo of peaches.

Looking south towards the Pyrenees there were sunflower fields and cypress trees, a full moon rising and, in the distance, the silhouette of the mountains.

It was balmy, it was beautiful, the only noises were of cicadas and the susurration of the warm wind and, in the old town, the murmur of chatter, laughter and music.

Can you now can see why I cannot contemplate the temptations of Carcassonne?

I fear Carcassonne's siren song would shipwreck me and I would go no further.

 

[LiesbethSA]

Have a few glossy books on Carcasonne and fascinated with the history ... Change my planned Sept 2014 start from SJPDP to Carcasonne?!!

 

[Calum]

Hi,

Is there cheap accommodation between Carcassonne and St. Jean? Like the Refugio hosels? It looks like a good starting point but it seems most campsites close at the end of September and wild camping or bivvouacing us only allowed inside the Pyrenees National Park ( 9pm-9am, if an hours walk from the roadside.) Air B& B look like €20-30 but not convenient for GR ( grand randonne) hiker trails.

 

[mspath]

Hi,

Is there cheap accommodation between Carcassonne and St. Jean? Like the Refugio hosels? It looks like a good starting point but it seems most campsites close at the end of September and wild camping or bivvouacing us only allowed inside the Pyrenees National Park ( 9pm-9am, if an hours walk from the roadside.) Air B& B look like €20-30 but not convenient for GR ( grand randonne) hiker trails.

For more on Carcassonne to SJPdP see this earlier Forum thread.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/carcassonne-to-st-jean-pied-du-port.4044/

Also see this thread.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ut-acommodation-carcassonne-to-lourdes.14421/

Have you considered couch surfing as a way of finding inexpensive accommodation?

Good luck and Bon chemin!

 

[SYates]

Hi,

Is there cheap accommodation between Carcassonne and St. Jean? Like the Refugio hosels? It looks like a good starting point but it seems most campsites close at the end of September and wild camping or bivvouacing us only allowed inside the Pyrenees National Park ( 9pm-9am, if an hours walk from the roadside.) Air B& B look like €20-30 but not convenient for GR ( grand randonne) hiker trails.

You can always knock at the door of the local priest and ask for a bit of parish center floor ;-) Which route do you plan to take? Alongside the Canal du Midi? Bon Chemin, SY

 

[Calum]

Hi,

Thank you for your direction. I will have a look at that thread. No, I had forgotten about couchsurfing. I had tbought it had gone commercial. Would priests accept " non-catholics" knocking on their doors begging a floor?
I suppose there is the saying "Knock and it shall be openned unto you." Thanks!

 

[SYates]

... Would priests accept " non-catholics" knocking on their doors begging a floor? ...

I was never asked which church I belong to and never thrown out when I 'outet' myself as a protestant. Actually quite the opposite, many priests, nuns and brothers were very interested in why a protestant makes a pilgrimage. One caveat: There is a shortage of priests in France, you might not always able to find one!
Also, do a bit of research regarding monasteries and retreat centers, I remember a few of them in that area.
Bon Chemin, SY

 

[mspath]

Wherever you might be in France do ask about local home hosting of pilgrims/l'accueil pèlerins à domicile which may exist through the church or various camino
organizations. Those who provide such a welcome do so for the pleasure of meeting/helping pilgrims.

For example my husband and I live in a small French village, facing the Marne river. We have a b and b but this year for the first time are also providing simple family hosting for passing pilgrims. My first pilgrim shell hangs at the door marking the path; what a pleasure it would be to greet you!

 

[Calum]

Cheers. I will fit that in. This is shaping up.
Monasteries/retreats would be interesting too!
I suspect I will only get as far as I get and go back again
Plenty to plan over the winter.

 

[SYates]

@Calum Have you decided on the exact route yet? If yes we might be able to help you even further ;-) Bon Chemin, SY

 

[Calum]

Nope. I will have a week in October) to walk about between Carcassonne and the Pyrenees to get the feel of it as far as accommodation might fit GR 78. ( http://www.gr-infos.com/en/gr78a.htm) I would like to put my holiday together in a four week block next summer and plan an "exact" route fiting available lodging then do another bit the next year in the same vein so I hope to spend some of the darker nights sorting it out and getting more used to walking.