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 Saint 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. There is an 8-km road tunnel avoiding the pass: the Somport Road Tunnel.
Understand
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Somport's name is derived from the Latin Summus portus. It was one of the most popular routes for soldiers, merchants, and pilgrims on the French Way 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.
A railway tunnel to France was inaugurated in 1928, but closed in 1970 after an accident. The 8.6-km road tunnel at 1,200 m (3,900 ft) asl (Somport is at 1640 m) was inaugurated in 2003.
Get in
[edit]The French N134 comes in via Oloron-Sainte-Marie and transforms into Spanish N330, which in turn comes in from Jaca via Canfranc.
By plane
[edit]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
[edit]The pass above ground can be walked on foot. The 8-km-long Somport Road Tunnel cannot be used by pedestrians.
See
[edit]The entrance to the train tunnel is at Canfranc-Estación, some 5 km from the border.
Do
[edit]In winter, there is a 35-km ski track through the pass, connecting to the ski resort Candanchú, inaugurated in 1928 and thus among Spain's oldest ones.
In June, Somport is on the Marcha Cicloturista Internacional Quebrantahuesos, the most important such cycling event in Spain, with some 10,000 participants.
Buy
[edit]The nearest ATM is in Canfranc, 12 km from the border of France and Spain.
Eat
[edit]There are restaurants at the ski resort Candanchú (1 km from the border).
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Albergue Aysa lies directly at the border. Albergue Refugio El Águila is in Candanchú.
Go next
[edit]If you are a pilgrim on the Way of St. James, head for Pamplona and Puente la Reina.