Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (literally meaning ‘Saint John at the foot of the mountain pass’ in French) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France close to Ostabat in the Pyrenean foothills. The town lies on the river Nive, 8 km (5.0 mi) from the Spanish border. It is essentially one main street with sandstone walls encircling. The original town at nearby Saint-Jean-le-Vieux was razed to the ground in 1177 by the troops of Richard the Lionheart after a siege. The Kings of Navarre refounded the town on its present site shortly afterwards. The town was once a part of the Spanish province of Navarre and the Basque language is still spoken on both sides of the border and they still share similar traditions.