Somport



Somport is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees on the border of France and Spain. It lies on the French Way (Camino Frances) of the Way of St. James. The pass is the end of the Via Tolosana (Way of Arles) and the starting point of the Aragonese Way. The elevation is 1,632 m.

Understand

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Its name is derived from the Latin Summus portus. It was one of the most popular routes for soldiers, merchants, and pilgrims to the tomb of St. James following the route from Arles to cross the Pyrenees. They travelled from Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France, via Somport to Aragon, Spain.

Somport
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
133
 
 
3
−4
 
 
 
108
 
 
4
−4
 
 
 
117
 
 
6
−2
 
 
 
135
 
 
9
0
 
 
 
143
 
 
13
4
 
 
 
137
 
 
18
8
 
 
 
112
 
 
21
10
 
 
 
114
 
 
21
10
 
 
 
102
 
 
17
7
 
 
 
117
 
 
13
4
 
 
 
141
 
 
6
−1
 
 
 
125
 
 
4
−3
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
5.2
 
 
37
25
 
 
 
4.3
 
 
39
25
 
 
 
4.6
 
 
43
28
 
 
 
5.3
 
 
48
32
 
 
 
5.6
 
 
55
39
 
 
 
5.4
 
 
64
46
 
 
 
4.4
 
 
70
50
 
 
 
4.5
 
 
70
50
 
 
 
4
 
 
63
45
 
 
 
4.6
 
 
55
39
 
 
 
5.6
 
 
43
30
 
 
 
4.9
 
 
39
27
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Get in

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The nearest airport is the one of Pau. From Pau take a train to Bedous and from there a bus to Somport.

You can also fly to the airport of Zaragoza. From Zaragoza take a train to Canfranc and from there a bus to Somport.

Other airports around are Pamplona, Lourdes/Tarbes, Biarritz, Toulouse and with the most destinations Barcelona, but from those airports are more transfers needed to Somport.

Get around

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The pass above ground can be walked on foot. The 8-km-long Somport Road Tunnel cannot be used by pedestrians.

See

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Do

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Buy

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The nearest ATM is in Canfranc, 12 km from the border of France and Spain.

Eat

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In Candanchú (1 km from the border) are restaurants.

Drink

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Sleep

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Albergue Aysa lies directly at the border. Albergue Refugio El Águila is in Candanchú.

Go next

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As a pilgrim in the direction of Santiago de Compostela.

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