The best traffic-free bike rides around Saint-Michel

Even if you don't plan or have the ability to walk the entire Camino Frances, the stage that reaches Roncesvalles is a must for the beauty of the landscapes and the evocative atmosphere it offers, especially when—descending from the Ibañeta Pass—the boundless Spanish landscape suddenly opens up before your eyes in the golden light of sunset. It's a magical moment, ideally shared with other pilgrims and then enhanced with a visit to the Collegiate Church. The stamp on the Credencial is also beautiful.

Don't miss a visit to the Pilgrims' Hospital and the Collegiate Church of Santa María. Also, learn about the history of Roncesvalles, as it's very interesting.

It is a very pleasant straight of slides... by car... because by bike you notice them in your legs.

One of the most inhospitable and spectacular mountain passes in the eastern Pyrenees, with several slopes, all of them very difficult. The landscape is wild and wonderful. You can breathe absolute tranquility and you can dedicate yourself exclusively to enjoying the views, the horses, the sheep, the cows and the suffering on the bike. The summit is on the border with Spain, although there is no road that crosses the border, so the pass runs entirely in France. I have climbed it on 2 of its slopes. The first time I climbed it on the slope that crosses the Col d'Orgambide, on the D428 road, which starts from Estérençuby. The first 3 km are very easy, until you cross the detour to go up to Artaburu, where the road begins to have slopes of more than 10%. From there, to the summit, the climb is very hard, around 9%, on a very rough and bumpy road, with a lot of humidity and crossing a wonderful beech forest. Once you reach the top of the Col d'Orgambide, you turn right and continue climbing for another half kilometre with a gradient of 11%. There comes a small descent, to face the last 3 kms, the first 2 very hard with several 13% gradients. The last kilometre is very easy and has panoramic views that are simply wonderful. The second time I climbed it on the side that starts from Arneguy and Ondarolle. This side is harder than the previous one, with a central section that is hellish, being 6 kms at an average of 10%, and a very hard km at 12% and 18% gradients!!! The final part is more gentle. You cross the Croix de Thibault in the penultimate kilometre of the climb. The final kilometre is very gentle and with beautiful and exciting panoramic views.

Roncesvalles, also known as Orreaga in Basque, is a small town in the region of Navarra, northern Spain. It is best known for the legendary Battle of Roncesvalles in 778, where Charlemagne's rearguard was defeated. This historical and spiritual site is also an important starting point for the Camino de Santiago, the famous pilgrimage route to the tomb of Saint James in Galicia. In Roncesvalles you can admire the impressive Gothic collegiate church of Santa María de Roncesvalles, where the image of the Virgin of Orreaga is venerated. Other places of interest include the Church of Santiago, the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and the Museum-Treasury, where you can see relics, paintings and sculptures from different periods.

The monastery complex is an impressive building and worth a visit. There are also two cafés, a hotel and the pilgrims' hostel.

Col Burriegeta, also known as Puerto de Ibañeta, is a historic mountain pass in the Pyrenees, located between France and Spain. The pass is best known for its role in the Camino de Santiago, where pilgrims cross the border on their way to Santiago de Compostela1. The pass offers breathtaking views and is home to the modern chapel of San Salvador, which replaced an older chapel, and a monument to Roland, which commemorates the Battle of Roncesvalles in 778. Col Burriegeta is an important passage for both pilgrims and cyclists, who enjoy the challenging climb and the beautiful surroundings.

Auritz/Burguete is a charming village in the province of Navarra, northern Spain, known for its beautiful Pyrenean architecture and rich history. The village is located on the Camino de Santiago, just after Roncesvalles, and is known for its characteristic houses with steep roofs designed to prevent snow accumulation. Auritz/Burguete has suffered several fires over the centuries, so many of the current buildings are reconstructions from the 18th and 19th centuries. The famous writer Ernest Hemingway stayed here in the 1920s and described the village in his novel "The Sun Also Rises". The village offers a peaceful setting with beautiful forests and is an ideal place for nature lovers and pilgrims.