Fourth week: from La Rochelle to San Sebastian

DOWNLOAD THE ROUTE IN .GPX FORMAT

THE STAGES, DAY BY DAY

Giorno Day	Data Date	Partenza Departure	Arrivo Arrival	Km
20	10/05/2022	La Rochelle	Saintes	82
21	11/05/2022	Saintes	Blaye	76
22	12/05/2022	Blaye	Gujan-Mestras	87
23	13/05/2022	Gujan-Mestras	Sainte-Eulalie-en-Born	70
24	14/05/2022	Sainte-Eulalie-en-Born	Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains	82
25	15/05/2022	Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains	San Sebastian	90

Leaving the paved trails of La Rochelle behind, we follow the elevated and isolated patch of coastline...

towards the Réserve naturelle du Marais d’Yves. As we enter the city of Saintes, the Gothic-style Basiliquen Saint-Eutrope welcomes us with its 80-metered high flamboyant spires casting a shadow like a lighthouse on the way to Santiago de Compostela. From here, we continue to Pons to admire the remains of medieval accommodations that offered hospitality to travellers for centuries.

The Blaye Citadel is not only a citadel but also a structure that fortifies the city of Blaye, found in the Gironde department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. The Citadel features a semicircle of ramparts, fortified gates, barracks, a prison and fountains that offer signs and memories of the past. The ruins of a medieval castle, Château des Rude, home of Jaufre Rudel, the Prince of Blaye and troubadour who proclaimed ‘love from afar’ in his songs. In Blaye, pilgrims visited the tomb of the Paladin legend Roland noting his heroic death at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. The Merovingian basilica in Blaye is also the resting place of the king of Aquitaine and the convents of the Minorite friars.

The fortress was built under the supervision of one of the greatest military engineers of the 17th century Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. It was here in 1848, that the young Giovanni Omboni studied his treatises to defeat the Austrians but, discouraged by the war, he turned to geology and devoted himself to other fields of interest.

Leaving Blaye we reach the bay of Gujan Mestras, a meeting place between fresh and saltwater and a sanctuary of biodiversity. Then, we cross the Reserve naturelle du banc d’Arguin and climb the Dune of Pilat, the highest in Europe overlooking the Arcachon basin.

Between the dunes and pine forests along the coast of Aquitaine, we cross the Adour River reaching the city of Bayonne. Overtaken by fire in 1258, the Gothic cathedral was rebuilt between the 13th and 16th centuries. New men and women came to Bayonne from other countries. New baptized Christians continued to live outwardly at a time when their faith was imposed on them. On July 25, 1603, in the cathedral the son of the Portuguese doctor Loys de Castro and the Spanish Isabella of Valencia, Pedro Castro (Ezekiel) was baptized.

Ezekiel, moved to The Republic of Venice (Serenissima), graduating again in medicine in Padua in 1645 and being baptized again in Verona. He published several treatises with both the Christian name Pedro and the Hebrew Ezekiel.

We continue our journey leaving France behind us and finally arriving in San Sebastián, the end of the fourth stage of our journey.

The team of the week

I have always enjoyed sports, from hiking in the mountains to skiing in winter. When I began cycling two years ago, I challenged myself to find new places that I could never reach by car. The thrill of discovering new places by bike is a hundred times more satisfying. I had been thinking about organizing a cycling trip for a while, but the lack of time and finding the right group to go with was too difficult. This opportunity came just at the right time!

Davide Vallisari

When I read about the “Scholares vagantes” project, I went back and calmly read the email twice. Then I realized that I had understood it correctly, they were serious about proposing this amazing initiative! I didn’t waste a second and immediately sent my application. I love to travel, by any means and in any form, and I had just recently begun gravel cycling. I knew I wanted to participate in the relay because, apart from it being my favourite form of travel, the relay is a celebration of ‘my’ University of Padua, a place where I have grown personally, culturally, and professionally. I am honoured to be a member of the nine cycling teams that are making their way through Europe’s finest universities. My fellow cyclists and I are using our bodies and minds together with culture and sport to represent 800 years of history and the essence of the University of Padua! Thank you!

Gioia Femminini

I have been studying at the University of Padua for almost 10 years. My path is about to end with a PhD in Neuroscience and it is a privilege for me to be able to finish my studies at Unipd with this beautiful initiative for the Unipd 800 anniversary. Since it combines my passion for cycling with these celebrations, I couldn’t back out!

Nicolò Trevisan

Who else is going to share the importance of culture and knowledge, if not us? We study and work towards this by contributing our energy and skills as a team! This is why I made myself available for the cycling relay, there will be enthusiasm and adventure, but the emotions felt behind the scene of the trip will be the greatest and most beautiful reward of this entire experience.