Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port's history is closely linked to the passing of pilgrims on the way to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. A stop-over town founded in the XII^th century, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port's name (literally "at the foot of the pass") gives away its position, below the Ibaneta pass on the road to Roncevaux. The town quickly became geared to trade and the hotel industry because of passing pilgrims. This position also conferred upon it a strategic role in the Navarre kingdom.

Despite being part of the French kingdom, Spanish jealousies incited Vauban in 1659 to make an unbeatable citadel. Up to the XVIII^th century, 2,000 soldiers were garrisoned there.

Today, tourism is Saint-Jean's main asset. Visitors come to admire its prerry pink houses, its citadel, and... to taste the best Basque cakes in France.
Farming focuses on sheep rearing and the Irouléguy vineyard.
Nearby, the Cize mountains are full of dolmens and megaliths, witnesses to human occupation going back to protohistoric times.