Somport, Mountain pass between France and Spain in central Pyrenees.
Somport is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees, sitting at 1,632 meters and linking the Aspe Valley in France with the Aragon Valley in Spain. A road tunnel runs beneath the pass and keeps the border crossing open all year, even when winter conditions make the road above difficult.
The pass was used by the Vandals and Visigoths in the 5th century and later by Muslim forces advancing into Europe in the 8th century. In the medieval period it became one of the main entry points into Spain for pilgrims traveling south from France.
The pass sits on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, one of the paths that pilgrims have walked from France toward Santiago de Compostela in Spain for centuries. On most summer days, you can still see walkers with backpacks and walking sticks crossing on foot.
The crossing can be made by road over the top or through the tunnel, and the tunnel is the safer choice when snow or fog covers the upper route. If you plan to walk the pass as part of a hiking route, summer months offer the most reliable conditions.
A short distance north of the border, Fort du Portalet is a 19th-century fortress carved into the cliffside above the Aspe Valley that was used as a prison for high-ranking French officials during World War II. It is visible from the road on the French side and can be visited, making it a rare stopping point on this mountain crossing.
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