Starting from Bayonne - getting a credential

[DebR]

I’m excitedly counting down until my feet are on the Camino once again in mid-April and - for something different - I’m minded to walk from Bayonne to SJPP over three days before joining the Frances. I won’t necessarily follow a Camino path, just hoping to follow the river (and Google Maps) and enjoy the countryside.
I see from some old forum posts from 2017 that it was then possible to collect a credential and stamp at the Bayonne cathedral: does anyone know if that is still possible post-Covid?

 

[Pafayac]

I suggest you to directly ask to the diocese of Bayonne: contact@diocese64.org
In french, the question should be:
"Est-il toujours possible d'obtenir une crédenciale et un tampon dans la cathédrale de Bayonne sur le Chemin de Compostelle ?"
In order to reach SJPP from Bayonne, you can take the "voie de la Nive":
Voie de la Nive

 

[DebR]

I suggest you to directly ask to the diocese of Bayonne: contact@diocese64.org
In french, the question should be:
"Est-il toujours possible d'obtenir une crédenciale et un tampon dans la cathédrale de Bayonne sur le Chemin de Compostelle ?"
In order to reach SJPP from Bayonne, you can take the "voie de la Nive":
Voie de la Nive

Thanks - appreciate both suggestions!

 

[roving_rufus]

Info on pilgrim welcome in Bayonne cathedral which seems to operate Monday to Saturday morning and afternoon including credentials (in French carnet

ACCUEIL à la CATHÉDRALE de BAYONNE - AUCOEURDUCHEMIN

www.aucoeurduchemin.org

There is also a pilgrim albergue in Bayonne

Refuge Saint-Jacques | Albergue de Peregrinos en Bayonne/Baiona | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Refuge Saint-Jacques, en Bayonne/Baiona: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

 

[roving_rufus]

As for the Voie de Nive camino which links Bayonne and SJPdP

Voie Nive - Bidassoa (St Jean P. Port - Hendaye / Irun) – Compostelle.fr

Voie Nive - Bidassoa : Pour rejoindre la Côte depuis St Jean Pied de Port : le sentier de St Jean Pied de Port à Hendaye GR-10* (balisé FFRP ) est un itinéraire de montagne long (5 à 6 étapes),…

www.aucoeurduchemin.org

And on the forum

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/voie-de-la-nive-bayonne-st-jean-pied-de-p.181/

 

[Vacajoe]

It’s a lovely route and you can walk from the airport to Bayonne cathedral if you’d really like to “do the entire route”. The path to SJPdP only follows the river at the beginning and the end, but not the middle. It’s marked fairly well, but definitely bring either a map or a smartphone with gps because if you wander off the path you can get really lost.

 

[Monasp]

I’m excitedly counting down until my feet are on the Camino once again in mid-April and - for something different - I’m minded to walk from Bayonne to SJPP over three days before joining the Frances. I won’t necessarily follow a Camino path, just hoping to follow the river (and Google Maps) and enjoy the countryside.
I see from some old forum posts from 2017 that it was then possible to collect a credential and stamp at the Bayonne cathedral: does anyone know if that is still possible post-Covid?

Hello,
Our Association: Les Amis du Chemin de Saint Jacques PA, has a pilgrim's reception at Bayonne Cathedral as well as a hostel "le Refuge St Jacques" in Rue Gosse near the Cathedral. They will be able to issue you with the credential and give you the first stamp and all the information you need for your journey.
The opening date is scheduled for 1 April 2023.

 

[kayagee66]

I was there in September to walk the Camino del Baztan.
You can get a credential from the cathedral.
If no one is there you take a couple of minutes walk to the Refuge St Jacques and you can get it there €2.
I’ve done both. You can get your stamp at either one too.

 

[Kev&Kath]

Will be starting the VdlP in April out of Cadiz and had the same concern in sourcing a Credential…so simply bought a couple from Ivar’s shop.

 

[DebR]

Will be starting the VdlP in April out of Cadiz and had the same concern in sourcing a Credential…so simply bought a couple from Ivar’s shop.

This was my original plan (as I’ve done before) but the postage to Australia has become really expensive. $40 to post two credentials seemed a bit prohibitive, so I’m looking at the alternatives.

 

[Bert45]

I obtained a credencial at the Cathedral in 2018. I was advised be the lady who sold it to me to walk to the river and see the direction sign near to a bridge over the river (see attached).

You will see that the way to SJPdP is straight on. My intention was to walk the Camino del Norte, for which I needed to get to Hendaye, then Irun, which is also straight on. I walked along the Nive to Ustaritz. There were no signs there for any destination, so I turned back and found my way from Bayonne following instructions I'd found online. If there were signs to turn away from the Nive, I didn't see them on the way to Ustaritz or on the way back. I hope you have better luck.

 

[DebR]

I obtained a credencial at the Cathedral in 2018. I was advised be the lady who sold it to me to walk to the river and see the direction sign near to a bridge over the river (see attached).
View attachment 139896
You will see that the way to SJPdP is straight on. My intention was to walk the Camino del Norte, for which I needed to get to Hendaye, then Irun, which is also straight on. I walked along the Nive to Ustaritz. There were no signs there for any destination, so I turned back and found my way from Bayonne following instructions I'd found online. If there were signs to turn away from the Nive, I didn't see them on the way to Ustaritz or on the way back. I hope you have better luck.

Thanks - this is really helpful!

 

[aussieredhat]

the turn to SJPdP is shown on this map:
https://www.gronze.com/etapa/bayonne-baiona/espelette

 

[sharon w]

I was there in September to walk the Camino del Baztan.
You can get a credential from the cathedral.
If no one is there you take a couple of minutes walk to the Refuge St Jacques and you can get it there €2.
I’ve done both. You can get your stamp at either one too.

Am planning on walking the Baztan in 2024. Thanks for the information.

 

[kayagee66]

Am planning on walking the Baztan in 2024. Thanks for the information.

Are you the Sharon from the GR 65 Via Podiensis group?

 

[sharon w]

Are you the Sharon from the GR 65 Via Podiensis group?

On Facebook? Yes.

 

[kayagee66]

On Facebook? Yes.

Ah, cool. Kevin here.
I’ve walked the Baztan route a couple of times. Last time last September.
Staying at mostly different places.
If you’ve got any questions you need answering i might be able to help.
I’m certainly not an expert but …

 

[sharon w]

Ah, cool. Kevin here.
I’ve walked the Baztan route a couple of times. Last time last September.
Staying at mostly different places.
If you’ve got any questions you need answering i might be able to help.
I’m certainly not an expert but …

Kevin, that would be great. Many thanks.

 

[caminka]

I’m excitedly counting down until my feet are on the Camino once again in mid-April and - for something different - I’m minded to walk from Bayonne to SJPP over three days before joining the Frances. I won’t necessarily follow a Camino path, just hoping to follow the river (and Google Maps) and enjoy the countryside.
I see from some old forum posts from 2017 that it was then possible to collect a credential and stamp at the Bayonne cathedral: does anyone know if that is still possible post-Covid?

the 'office hours' of the pilgrim attendance at the cathedral should be 15h till 18h monday to saturday (except holidays) april to september, but I seem to remember not finding anyone there last may. (I wished to get the tampon.) in july, though, we hunted down someone on the way out who looked like he could be a church official and got lucky. he took us into sacristy where we got our tampons.

do you know there is now a normal hostel about 200m from the train station which advertises a pilgrim room? this may come in handy if the pilgrim refuge is still closed. plus, madame veronique right next to the cathedral also hosts pilgrims. both are on gronze.

 

[D74]

Ah, cool. Kevin here.
I’ve walked the Baztan route a couple of times. Last time last September.
Staying at mostly different places.
If you’ve got any questions you need answering i might be able to help.
I’m certainly not an expert but …

Hi Kevin,

I hope you don’t mind, but I had a couple of Baztan questions for you. Did you have to book ahead or can you find accommodation easily enough on the day? Did you see many other pilgrims walking whilst you were there? I plan to walk it on April 1st.

 

[kayagee66]

Hi Kevin,

I hope you don’t mind, but I had a couple of Baztan questions for you. Did you have to book ahead or can you find accommodation easily enough on the day? Did you see many other pilgrims walking whilst you were there? I plan to walk it on April 1st.

i’ve walked it a couple of times and i didn’t want to risk not getting a room, so i booked ahead. Apart from the municipal albergues in Berroeta and Olagüe. I don’t think they can be booked ahead, but i messaged to say i was coming anyway.
I’ve never walked it in April, but i would recommend making bookings when you can just so you know the places are open.
I walked in June and September which you’d think would be busy months, but hardly saw anyone walking.
Both times i took 5 days of walking from Bayonne to Pamplona. With different stops on the way except Olagüe.
I’m pretty sure that 6 days would be better.
Some days are quite hard going.
It is notoriously rainy so have suitable gear.
Beginning of April may well have snow, but i don’t know about that.
Happy answer any more questions.