the hostel












our hostel

"L'Esprit du Chemin" is a hostel of pilgrims, for pilgrims and by pilgrims. A non-profit hostel.

  • "het was als thuiskomen”

  • “On cherche l’esprit du chemin, ici on le trouve”

  • “A wonderful way to start my camino”

  • "Wir müssen leider einen der besten Gites verlassen"

  • "El mejor lugar para comenzar el Camino"

Our hostel is located at the foot of the French Pyrenees, at the crossroad of the Camino de Santiago (GR 65) and the GR 10 which leads from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean through the mountains. The house stands within the walled part of the town, at the historic Rue de la Citadelle (number 40).
It is assumed that our house was built towards the end of the Middle Ages! It is a typical Bask house: thick walls, beautiful wooden floors, large stairs and in the traditional colours: red and white. We are really proud to be in a position to run a hostel in such a lovely house.

Our hostel has four simple and attractive rooms, with a total of 18 places to sleep (2x3, 1x4 en 1x8). Downstairs is a kitchen, a second livingroom and a cosey terrace, where you can sit comfortable and meet other guests. There is a second and a third patio in the garden behind the house, with a very nice view over the village and the mountains. There ius also a small house. In the past, the chickens went to roost there, but now we have turned it into a “house of inspiration” of it, a special place where pilgrims can recover their breath (=inspiarere, in Greek). Guests can also use our library, party games and drawing-materials. Of course, there is a simple bathroom, two hot showers and a place to do laundry (by hand) with a spin-dryer. Here you can also hang out your laudry to dry.

possibilities and prices
You can spend the night with us and have a mutual dinner. Not an obligation ofcourse, but a good way to meet other pilgrims. (If you prefer eating outdoors: there are more than enough restaurants). With reservations we give priority to pilgrims who are joining the dinner in our hostel. 
In the morning, we prepare a hearty breakfast and make you a packed lunch, if you wish so.
In contrast with the "refugio's" in Spain you can stay with us 2 nights (or more, in case of illness or injury). We strongly recommend you to take a break before crossing the Pyrrenees, especially when you have come a long way. It goes without saying that the hostel should not be used as a resort.

Prices: 
stay - € 8 ; breakfast - € 3 ; dinner - € 9 (including wine) ; packed lunch - € 3.

houserules
The most important houserules concern the night’s rest: at 10 pm we close the hostel and ask everyone to respect the night’s rest of the others from 10.30 pm to 6.30 am. This means that it is not possible to leave before 6.30 am. *) There is no need to do so anyway, not even when you wish to walk to Roncesvalles in one stage. It takes approx. 8 hours to walk to Roncevalles and the “refugio” there does not open before 4.00 pm. The hostel has ample places until 6.00 pm. Then it can become busy because pilgrims from Pamplona arrive by bus around that time. Breakfast is served from 6.30 am until 8.00 am. Then, the innkeepers have breakfast, and after breakfast they start cleaning up. The hostel is usually opened all day. Dinner is served at 7.45 pm. 
*) At the beginning and end of the season we extend the indicated time by approx. a half hour, since the sun rises later during this period. If very hot weather persists, we shorten the indicated times. We serve breakfast from 6 am, so that everyone can leave early.

pilgrims season
Pilgrims travel to Santiago de Compostela every day, but in winter their number is much smaller than in other seasons. In Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the season runs from Easter until the end of September. During this period that our hostel is open: from April 6 until September 28 (in 2008). Should our hostel be closed, we advise you to go to the pilgrim’s agency (39, rue de la Citadelle, across our hostel). You can ask for a place to sleep there in the municipal hostel. If the pilgrim’s agency is also closed, you can go to this hostel directly (55, rue de la Citadelle). It is not possible to make reservations here, but there is also no need to do so outside the season. (When the hostel is full anyway, the people will be happy to help you find a place to sleep.)

dogs not allowed
We are afraid we have to disappoint pilgrims traveling with dogs. Especially for reasons of hygiene in our relatively small hostel, dogs are not allowed to stay the night with us. Since dogs are also not welcome in most refugio’s in Spain, you should make extra preparations when traveling with a dog.

making reservations

Walking (or biking) from day to day and see where you end up as you go along is, in our view, the “the spirit of the path”. However, for people who have traveled a long way it can be necessary to make reservations. Moreover, especially during the high season it is very common to make reservations along the road from Le Puy-en-Velay (GR 65). This is why we also offer this possibility. Unfortunately, we have to keep in mind that, even on the Camino, people make reservations but do not show up and do not give us notice. This is why we have set the following rules of play:

  • please read the text above on: “possibilities and prices”, “houserules”, “pilgrim’s season” en “dogs not allowed” first.
  • We keep a few sleeping places open for pilgrims who do not make reservations (these places are usually quickly taken, especially during the high season)
  • Since our hostel is relatively small, groups that consist of 9 or more pilgrims cannot make reservations at our hostel. In this way, space is reserved for pilgrims who travel by themselves, as pairs or in small groups. 
  • We do not ask you to pay in advance. We assume that as pilgrims, we simply meet our commitments.   
  • Before you make a reservation, you can check here if our hostel is already full.
  • You can make reservations by e-mail. We will send you a confirmation as soon as possible. (Should you have not heard from us within a few days, something went wrong. In that case, please retry). Of course, during the season you can also contact us by phone: +33 (0)5 59 37 24 68.
  • Please provide us with the following details:

1. Your first and last name and the names of fellow traveller(s)
2. The day(s) and date(s) you would like to stay with us
3. How you will arrive (by foot or bike, car, taxi or train)
4. At what time you will approximately arrive, and
5. Whether you would like to have dinner with us 

Please mind: should you arrive later in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port than indicated when you made your reservations, please call us as soon as possible. Only then we can hold your place for you.

You can make reservations for 2009 after March 15th.

4 travel information

pilgrim's kitchen

In the Middle Ages, hunger and thirst were a great agony to many pilgrims. Not everywhere food was to be found and in addition to that, innkeepers were not always trustworthy. For example, one pilgrim´s song is about an innkeeper in Burgos who, bound to a pole, was pierced by arrows because he had poisoned hundreds of pilgrims.


At "L’Esprit du Chemin" the kitchen is modern, nutricious and healthy. In the morning, we serve a hearty breakfast, after all, the Pyrenees have to be climbed. In the evening, an international gathering meets for a homely dinner. 









one of many recipes

  • “Eén van de mooiste camino-avonden met het lekkerste eten van onze tocht”

  • “Je ne m’attendais pas à trouver un gîte de cette qualité sur le chemin de Compostelle. Accueil, lits et surtout les repas (miam-miam)"

  • "A wonderful “gite” – truly a home from home”, where the hospitality of the hosts is only surpassed by the quality of their cooking”

  • "Das Abendmahl war erste Klasse"

soup
Huberta’s diairy: “13 June 2000 - San Juan de Ortega - … That night we ate garlic soup from enamel mugs together with all the guests. An old tradition. The Spanish men sang lustily. For a moment I imagine I am in the Middle Ages... “


A beautiful symbol at the Camino: eating soup together. Basic meal for the pilgrims: simplicity, warmth, sharing from one pan.
On 21 March 2003 we celebrated our new spring with family and friends. Quit jobs, made all the preparations, ready for leaving to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to start renovating our inn. Very symbolicly we were offered a selfmade Soup book by our friends, with over 350 of their own favorite recipes. So, if anyone would like to try my mother’s, Nelie’s, Alie’s or Peter’s favorite soup: … come along and enjoy. Every day a culinary meeting with our friends and family: a soup tureen full of story!