To avoid running out of strength during your stay in our gîtes in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Here's how to choose the best local produce at the market for a pilgrim's picnic that's healthy, energising and totally authentic.
Must-see events at the Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port market
Monday's big unpacking in the Zuharpeta district
Every Monday morning, the exhibitors welcome you. It's the perfect time to prepare for your morning of pilgrimage.
All the food is in the covered market. The Place de Gaulle is used for other types of goods. This area of Zuharpeta is just behind the historic city walls. Pedestrian access is particularly easy.
From our accommodation in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, prepare for your departure with complete peace of mind. Our advice will help you choose from among the best local produce.
The fresh, summery farmers' market on Thursdays
From June to September, this special event starts at 9am. The atmosphere is much calmer and more authentic. It's a very popular summer alternative.
We give priority to’local crafts and farm products. La direct selling ensures that foodstuffs are completely fresh. You'll be excellent at supplying the mountains.
This small format makes it a lot easier to talk sincerely. Discover the Basque know-how alongside passionate exhibitors. It's a unique opportunity to fully understand our terroir.
Food choices for a good hiker's picnic
Charcuterie and ewe's milk cheese as a source of protein
We recommend that you choose products with an optimum shelf life. Visit country ham or the dry sausage are very suitable. In bags, they withstand temperature variations well. So it's a strategic choice for your self-sufficient food supply.
Choose sheep's milk cheese type Ossau-Iraty. Its hard paste stands up well to prolonged transport. But it can also withstand farmhouse bread with a thick crust. This will keep you going for longer on your long walk to the top of the hill. Roncesvalles.
Natural energy products for crossing the Pyrenees
We offer the Basque cake and black cherry jam. These sweet treats provide the sugar essential for intense physical effort.
Discover the virtues of local honey and local nuts. These foods are dense and high in calories for pilgrims.
Here are the essentials to slip into your bag to maintain your stamina. We've chosen these products for their proven nutritional effectiveness.
- local honey for energy nuts for the right fats
- Basque cake to lift your spirits
- black cherry jam
Local experience and art of living in the heart of the Basque Country
Le Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port market offers much more than a simple opportunity to eat: it plunges visitors into the heart of the culture and values of the Inland Basque Country.
Meeting with IDOKI label producers
We advise you to look for the logo IDOKI. This charter guarantees the firm origin and genuine origin of the foodstuffs. It is a guarantee of confidence for all quality-conscious consumers. Producers are committed to total transparency.
Our priority remains to promote short circuit. By supporting the local economy, we are preserving the traditions of the Inland Basque Country and its landscapes.
Turn to organic market gardeners present. Their seasonal fruit are packed with vitamins and are essential for recovery. These natural products support your effort.
Activities and a friendly atmosphere around the covered market
On Monday, don't miss the Basque pelota to Garat trinquet. It's a sporting and acoustic immersion in the spirit of the region. You'll be surprised by the impact of the ball on the wall.
The atmosphere at the market is incomparable. It's like a rite of passage before crossing the border into Spain. You meet faces from all over the world.
We advise you to favour local products from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port market to ensure your nutritional autonomy. Prepare your rations the day before, in our accommodation in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, to anticipate your ascent to Roncesvalles. Deprived of these flavours, you will cross the Pyrenean summits with total energy and serenity.
FAQ
When and where are the markets in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port?
The Monday market is the main weekly event. It is held in the Zuharpeta, just behind the ramparts. From 8.00 am, food products are available under the covered market and non-food items outdoors. From June to September, we also recommend a visit to the farmers' market and local artisans every Thursday from 9.00am.
What local produce should you choose for a pilgrim's picnic on the way to Roncesvalles?
For your trip to Roncesvalles, We advise you to take foodstuffs that are rich in protein and easy to transport. Visit country ham, the dry sausage and the sheep's milk cheese type Ossau-Iraty are excellent options, as they can cope well with temperature variations in your bag. We suggest you accompany these products with a farmhouse bread with a thick crust to guarantee freshness during exercise.
If you're planning to set off early for the Pyrenees, how do you organise your refuelling?
If you plan to leave before 8.00 a.m. from our gîte to take the Route Napoléon, If you're going to be out and about, plan to buy what you need the day before. As the local markets and shops only open between 8.00 and 9.00 am, we invite you to make the most of the day before. open-access kitchen from our gîte in New Aquitaine, to prepare your rations and sandwiches in the evening.
What Basque energy specialities are recommended for mountain passes?
To cope with intense physical effort, we offer you the Basque cake and the black cherry jam, which provide the necessary sugars. The local honey and local nuts are also invaluable allies, providing an ideal calorie density and quality lipids for tackling the Pyrenean gradients.
What is guaranteed by the IDOKI label found on some market producers?
The label IDOKI is a quality charter that guarantees that the products you buy are exclusively farmhouse produce. By choosing these producers for the covered market, you have total traceability and you directly support the’peasant agriculture from Inland Basque Country, You'll enjoy authentic flavours for your trip.
What can you see in the city on market day?
Monday is a very busy day that plunges you completely into the spirit of the day.’local art of living. The effervescence of halls apart, we recommend that you visit the Garat trinquet to attend a late afternoon game of Basque pelota with your bare hands. It's a unique opportunity to share a typical moment of conviviality before setting off for Spain.
