Where the Pyrenees rise between France and Spain, the Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen traces the mountain foothills from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. This grand traverse connects ancient pilgrimage sites along the mountain chain, passing Cathar castles, Romanesque churches, and the great shrine of Lourdes on its journey from sea to sea.
📜 History & Significance
The Pyrenean piedmont has been a corridor of pilgrimage since the Middle Ages, when travelers passed along the mountain base between the pilgrimage sites of southern France and the routes to Santiago de Compostela. The path connects lands marked by the religious upheavals of history - from the Cathar heresy to the Counter-Reformation, from ancient Basque traditions to modern Marian apparitions.
The route links the four great French pilgrimage routes to Santiago, allowing pilgrims to traverse between them while exploring the spiritual heritage of the Pyrenean region.
🥾 Route Overview
The Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen stretches approximately 900 km from Collioure on the Mediterranean to Hendaye on the Atlantic, typically requiring 5-6 weeks to complete. The route follows the GR 78 trail along the northern foothills of the Pyrenees.
From Collioure, the path heads west through Cathar country, past the fortress of Montségur, and onward to Lourdes. The western section continues through Basque country to the Atlantic coast, where the route meets the Camino del Norte at the Spanish border.
☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites
Lourdes - The most visited Marian shrine in the world, where Bernadette Soubirous saw Our Lady in 1858. The route passes through this city of healing and hope.
Along the way, Romanesque abbeys and medieval churches mark the path - from the fortress-churches of the Cathar wars to the pilgrimage stops on the various routes to Santiago. The mountain landscape itself, with its soaring peaks and green valleys, provides the contemplative setting.
📚 Further Reading
Curated resources to help you research and plan your pilgrimage on the Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen.
