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Voykit pocket guide · France
Ostabat-Asme
A 30-minute stop to see the pilgrim junction, then move on: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or the Basque coast are better bases.
Ostabat-Asme is a tiny village in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques where two historic Way of St. James routes meet. It has no shops or accommodation inside the village itself. Most travellers stop for 20–30 minutes to see the church and the pilgrim monument, then continue to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or the Basque coast.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (cold, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €0 (no services in village) · Mid €0 (no services in village) · High €0 (no services in village) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire 18 · Ambulance (SAMU) 15 · European emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (Saint-Palais) | €1.50–2.50 |
| Baguette (Saint-Palais) | €1.00–1.50 |
| Taxi Saint-Palais → Ostabat-Asme | €15–25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BIQ · Biarritz Pays Basque
- About 50 km (31 mi); bus to Saint-Palais then taxi or walkAbout 31 mi (50 km); bus to Saint-Palais then taxi or walk
- PUF · Pau Pyrénées
- About 80 km (50 mi); car or bus to Saint-Palais then taxiAbout 50 mi (80 km); car or bus to Saint-Palais then taxi
Typical fares
- Taxi Saint-Palais → Ostabat-Asme
- €15–25 (check)
- Bus Saint-Palais → Bayonne
- about €5–8 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable in 15 minutes. No public transport inside; you arrive on foot or by car.
See and do
Known for
- Meeting point of two Way of St. James routes
- UNESCO-listed section of the Chemin du Puy
- Pilgrim monument and church
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port | Car or taxi: 22 km (14 mi) east, 25 min. On foot: 5–6 h on the GR65.Car or taxi: 14 mi (22 km) east, 25 min. On foot: 5–6 h on the GR65. | 25 min by car |
| Bayonne | Car: 50 km (31 mi) west, 45 min. Bus from Saint-Palais (10 km (6.2 mi)).Car: 31 mi (50 km) west, 45 min. Bus from Saint-Palais (6.2 mi (10 km)). | 1 h by car |
| Biarritz | Car: 55 km (34 mi) west, 50 min. Bus from Bayonne.Car: 34 mi (55 km) west, 50 min. Bus from Bayonne. | 1 h by car |
| Pau | Car: 80 km (50 mi) east, 1 h 10 min. Bus from Saint-Palais.Car: 50 mi (80 km) east, 1 h 10 min. Bus from Saint-Palais. | 1.5 h by car |
Sleep
- Saint-Palais
- 10 km (6.2 mi) away; has hotels and a pilgrim hostel (gîte).6.2 mi (10 km) away; has hotels and a pilgrim hostel (gîte).
- Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
- 22 km (14 mi) east; the main pilgrim town with many gîtes and hotels.14 mi (22 km) east; the main pilgrim town with many gîtes and hotels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| Where is the pilgrim route? | Où est le chemin de Compostelle ?oo ay luh shuh-man duh kom-pos-tel |
| Water, please | De l'eau, s'il vous plaîtduh loh, seel voo pleh |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-byen sa koot |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- No shops, cafés or accommodation in the village itself; stock up before you arrive.
- The pilgrim route from Aroue (22 km) is marked but has no services; carry water and food.
- Mobile reception may be patchy in the valley.
Very safe; the main risk is dehydration or getting lost on the pilgrim trail. Carry a map, water and a phone power bank.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ostabat-Asme yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Meeting point of two Way of St. James routes
- UNESCO-listed section of the Chemin du Puy
- Pilgrim monument and church
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata — Ostabat-Asme: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q843585
- Wikivoyage: Ostabat-Asme, revision 4408688 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4408688
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Ostabat-Asme
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has an embassy in Paris; consulates in Marseille and Strasbourg. The UK has an embassy in Paris and a consulate in Bordeaux.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/ostabat-asme). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.