VillageBearn / Basque Country22 km to Saint Jean Pied de Port

Ostabat-Asme

A historic Basque village where three of the four medieval French pilgrimage routes converge. Has gites and basic services in a deeply atmospheric setting.

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About Ostabat-Asme

Ostabat-Asme is a historic village with deep Camino significance, as it is the point where three of the four medieval French pilgrimage routes converge into a single path towards the Pyrenees and Spain.

The village has gites, a restaurant, and basic services. The ancient stele (stone marker) commemorating the convergence of routes stands at the edge of the village.

Ostabat's atmosphere reflects centuries of pilgrimage history. The half-timbered Basque houses and the green surrounding hills create an evocative setting for this pivotal waypoint on the journey to Santiago.

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The Camino through town, with prices where the beds are. Amber is the route; each pin is a place to stay.

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Things to do

Things to do in Ostabat-Asme

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Camino MomentStand at the Stele de GibraltarAbout 1 km south of the village, a stone monument in a field marks the convergence of three medieval pilgrimage routes. The Via Podiensis (your route, from Le Puy), the Via Lemovicensis (from Vezelay), and the Via Turonensis (from Paris) all meet at this point. From here, there is one path to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Spain. The stele is modest, a stone column with a plaque, but the idea it represents is extraordinary. Three streams of pilgrims, walking for weeks or months…

HistoryImagine Medieval OstabatIn the Middle Ages, Ostabat was one of the most important pilgrim towns in France. The convergence of three routes created a bottleneck of pilgrims that sustained hospitals, hospices, merchants, and churches. The Codex Calixtinus, the 12th-century pilgrim guide, describes the meeting of the routes here. Today, the village is tiny and the hospitals are gone, but the street plan and some of the building foundations date from this era. Walk through the village slowly and…

RelaxationPlay Pelota (or Watch It)The fronton (pelota court) in the village centre is the heart of Basque social life. Pelota, the traditional Basque ball game played against a wall with bare hands or wooden bats, is the most popular sport in the Basque Country. If there is a game in progress when you pass through, stop and watch. The speed and power of the players is remarkable. The fronton is also a good place to sit and rest, even when no game is being played.

FoodEat Basque-Bearnaise FoodThe food in Ostabat reflects the Basque-Bearnaise borderland. Look for piperade (the Basque dish of scrambled eggs with peppers and tomatoes), brebis cheese with cherry jam, poulet basquaise (chicken braised with peppers, tomatoes, and Espelette pepper), and axoa (a Basque minced veal dish). The flavours are brighter and spicier than the Gascon food further north, with the distinctive Basque use of Espelette pepper adding warmth to many dishes. A glass of Irouleguy (the…

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Places to stay in Ostabat-Asme

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Services available

RestaurantCafeAccommodationGroceryPharmacyATMTrainPost OfficeAirportBusPilgrim OfficeClinicWaterTobacconist

About Ostabat-Asme

The village has gites, a restaurant, and basic services. The ancient stele (stone marker) commemorating the convergence of routes stands at the edge of the village.