Distance
280 km
Duration
14–16 days
Difficulty
ModerateStart Point
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
About This Route
The Chemin de Piémont (GR78) runs east along the foothills of the Pyrenees from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Lourdes, skirting the mountain range without crossing it. This is a more intimate, less-crowded alternative to the GR65, offering spectacular mountain backdrops, authentic Basque and Béarn villages, thermal spa towns and verdant valleys. The route is waymarked throughout and suitable for moderately fit pilgrims.
Route Stages
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port → Mauléon-Licharre
45 kmBasque country; ancient castle town; spectacular valley views
Mauléon → Oloron-Sainte-Marie
55 kmSoule region; Romanesque cathedral at Oloron; mountain panoramas
Oloron → Lestelle-Bétharram
80 kmVia Arudy and the Ossau Valley; the magnificent Bétharram gorge caves
Lestelle-Bétharram → Lourdes
12 kmFinal stage along the Gave de Pau; Sanctuary spire visible on arrival
Route Highlights
★Basque villages and pelota courts
★Romanesque cathedral of Oloron-Sainte-Marie
★Bétharram prehistoric caves
★Riverside approach to Lourdes along the Gave de Pau
Pilgrim Tips
- 💡This route is best in May–June or September when crowds are low and weather is mild
- 💡The Ossau Valley section is the most scenic but also most exposed, pack warm layers
- 💡English-language gîtes are rarer here than on GR65; some basic French is helpful
Want a guided package on this route?
We offer guided pilgrimage packages for most routes, with accommodation, luggage transfer and an English-speaking leader.
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