Welcome to the Basque country by Ton Van Zeijl

A colourfully painted barn with Basque welcome cry and painted traditional figures and a door with coat of arms in yellow and brown. Near the town of Esteribar in the Basque country, Spain

In spring 2024 (April-May), I made an unforgettable pilgrimage from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in south-west France, through the breathtaking Pyrenees, to historic Santiago de Compostela. This classic route of about 1,000 kilometres takes you through the Spanish countryside, past beautiful vistas, charming villages and impressive cities.

The Camino Francés is known as the pilgrimage route through Spain, loved for its friendly atmosphere, abundance of accommodation and delicious food. What makes this route extra special is the diversity of landscapes and the many historical sights.

My journey began in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where I walked through the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles, my first stop at a beautiful monastery. Several pilgrim routes converge in Roncesvalles. From there, I walked via well-known places such as Pamplona, Burgos and León to my final destination: Santiago de Compostela.

During my journey, the many unusual facades and doors I encountered along the way caught my eye. These were often decorated with inspirational texts, artistic paintings, historic gable stones and beautiful ironwork. Although some of the doors were dilapidated, they still exuded a unique beauty.

I took a photo series of these impressive doors, some of which now hang on my wall as a reminder of this inspiring journey. Feel free to look around and discover which photo could enrich your interior. Who knows, maybe a piece of Camino will soon be hanging on your wall!