Isabelle and Alejandro’s Maison des Pèlerins
You need to have walked the Camino to really understand the emotions a pilgrim experiences. That’s what Alejandro suggested to me when we decided to change our lifestyles and open our hostel. And that was also when we found the Maison des Pèlerins, in Aire-sur-l'Adour. We’re right on the Way of Puy-en-Velay, the most popular section of the Camino in France. Near Gers and not for from Béarn, walkers are treated to a landscape that’s typical of South-West France.
Aire-sur-l'Adour, the gateway to Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Pilgrims tend to stay for just a night, unless they are nursing an injury or really need a rest. But they can nevertheless take advantage of their stopover to visit Aire-sur-Ardour, which has no shortage of points of interest. We can start with Sainte-Quitterie church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient cathedral of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the corn exchange are also worth checking out. A bit further away, but still a walkable distance, the banks of the Ardour are a lovely place for a stroll or just a nice rest.
Back on their way, and just before they cross into Spain, pilgrims will also have the pleasure of discovering the village of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the French Basque Country. It’s a fortified town and a popular starting point on the Camino de Santiago. Have we walked the Way? Two years ago we set off to repeat the Spanish part of the Camino. This year, we’ll be taking another path, one that we haven’t walked yet.
We’re 50m from the GR65 trail, the Camino de Santiago which connects Puy-en-Velay with Conques.
Places to go
La Maison des Pèlerins: 4, rue du Général Labat, 40800 Aire-sur-l'Adour
