Yes. If you do a Google image search for "Ermita de San Ciprian" you can find matches.
I'm not sure, but there is a monastery in the village just across the freeway that runs at the foot of the forested mountain. The area where the church and black crucifix are located is a largish open grassy area surrounded by bushes and seems quite deserted except for a wiry man who appears to be the caretaker. This man(I believe he is called Animal) led me down the mountain when he saw I was quite distraught. He spoke only Spanish and my Spanish is very limited. He took me down as far as the small village which was about 3+klm.away from the next town. I walked the 3klm to next town then took a taxi from there to Los Arcos as the sun was setting. Can't remember the name of the town before Los Arcos but remember the ride cost me 29 euros.
Thank you so much. At least I have a name now and I can go forward a bit. Yes. You're right, I spent almost the entire day practically crawling up that mountain then trying to find my way off the other side. I had a broken wrist and really struggling. I was truly traumatized by the while incident but, that was my own stupidity. And perhaps MY CAMINO, hey? Thanks again. Now for some research.
that monastery is monasterio de irache (known for their wine fountain) and the forested mountain above is montejurra. the village the wiry man took you might be luquin to the west or arellano to the south.
I had just left the church that dispenses wine and water. After the first directional sign a little further from the church. I took the left turn into the wooded area. Oh, while in that wooded area I came across a sign that read LA PILA. But I walked to the right of that sign. Half way up the mountain in a clearing, I saw Estella way, way below. I actually have pics of the Rocky outcrops that surrounded me. I wS definitely not anywhere near Los Arcos.
Yes, now that I see the name I recognize it. It looks very special.
Well, all the familiar Camino signs were there and quite a few Pilgrims passed by as I sat in a park with a fountain which if I remember correctly, was dedicated to a Miguel. I'm not too sure of the name. I sat there for some time trying to get my strength back and start walking again. I am a female(an old one, age 78yrs) and was a bit scared as it was really late afternoon at that point.
Adventure? Ha ha, not too sure about that. But, yes.the wrist was very troublesome, especially as the climb was so steep and loose stones everywhere. I would grab at a bush/tree root and tug to make sure it was solid enough before hauling myself up an inch at a time. I'm sure if I'd lost my footing I'd have hurtled to my demise. It was one of the most fearful experiences of my life. But well. I finally find my way back to CAMINO....
yes, that sounds like you took the left route towards luquin which crosses the slopes of montejurra, but doesn't climb to the top. although, the hight gain is bigger then the official camino via monjardin.
Wow, a blizzard. That really sounds scary.. But as you point out all ended well. And let's face it, THAT'S CAMINO FOR YOU, isn't it?
Entirely agree. That man who helped me down that mountain need not have don e so, but he did. When we were parting ways, he took me by the shoulders, turned me around and said, Look, that's where you you were, as he pointed up towards the towering wooded mountain. Then he left me and walked on towards the monetary further down the road. Will never forget that man and his kindness and I don't even really know his name. So, yes, there are some generous souls all around us.
Will follow your suggestion. I'd have liked to post the ancient chapel but it is not loading. Will try again a bit later.
I'm not too sure about the church in -the picture although the Crucifix above the altar looks the same as mine. The church in my Pic is quite different. Another thing is that both the church and altar are not visible from below as in the pictures on Google. Also, there are either steps/ seating in front of the altar. Church and altar are a fair distance from each other. I will try again to load the Pic of the church.
Well, not sure at all. There was a big bunch of Pilgrims between the directional sign and me. It was still very dark so I couldn't see anything. I asked those who stood before the sign which WAY to Los Arcos and they responded, 750 METERS TO THE LEFT. Before I arrived at the edge of the wooded area, a male pilgrim overtook me and asked to where I was going. I responded with Los Arcos and he said he was bound for the same town also. Together we reached the edge of the wood. He tried several times and failed to find a sign, but it was really very dark. The 4th time he entered the woods he did not reappear for sometime, then he shouted from within the woods that he had found the way. I went forward and tried to find a sign but there was none. I called out, but the man must have been long gone by then. I just walked and found some small and walked that. I just continued upward.....
Cool detour! Was it an intentional detour or was the wine fountain responsible??!
Have Google and the church in Google is different. The crucifix appears to be the same except I don't see the steps/cut from rock in front of the altar in my Pic....
You broke your wrist??? Have you had it seen to??? Please take care of yourself.
@Travelite you had an incredibly difficult day, and I'm so glad all was well in the end.
) and I bet many others here do, too.I agree entirely with your sentiments, particularly back-tracking while you have options. And yes, it could have ended tragically. So, hopefully fellow-Pilgrims will take note. One really would think this 78 year old pilgrim would have better common sense, but there you are....That's a mountain, @Travelite!
@Travelite you had an incredibly difficult day, and I'm so glad all was well in the end.
It's really good you've posted your story, because there are lessons in it for all of us.
What jumps out for me are the underlined bits of your story (above). Walking in the dark without knowing exactly where you are going can be a recipe for disaster, as you found out. 'Everyone' says that you can walk the Frances without a map or GPS and that's generally true. But in the dark, at a place where there are several options, having a decent map and paying attention to it are important safeguards.
And when you don't know for sure where you are, don't just keep going, especially if the terrain is getting dicey. You're not the only one who's ever come to grief from doing this: I have my own story like yours (without the broken wrist
So if you're lost or just uncertain, it pays to back-track right away to the last known waymarker rather than waiting until you're much farther amiss. There's an invisible fine line between an 'Interesting adventure' and a preventable tragedy.
Please don't be hard on yourself, @Travelite. Many of us have done something very like what you did, getting hopelessly lost in the process. It's actually human nature to do this - just another version of the 'sunk cost fallacy.' Which is why your post is so important.
Hola, Travelite...There is an ancient church(unused so far as I can tell) as well. I really would like to know if anyone has ever been here and what the place is called. The church and crucifix are both right on top of a wooded mountain. If anyone can identify the place. I would be grateful. I am unable to post both pis at once so will post the church later Thanks all.
Hi Tom. There are actually two separate structures in this story : the shrine AND an ancient church(at least, I think it is a church). I just can't get the Pic of the church to load. And you may be right about the shrine not being UNUSED - that crucifix gleams like newly polished wood.
Lesson to be learned: wait for the light of the day.
Lesson to be learned: wait for the light of the day.
I mean why you came so far to walk in the dark? You can do that at home, even within your own house/apartment...
Glad to read all is well with you
The information provided by @Olivares and other posters is correct. It is the Eremita de San Ciprian and the Cristo Negro de Montejurra. A photo on Wikiloc shows that the small square structure on one side of the chapel is a kind of utility hut, for hikers and perhaps also for events. @Olivares mentioned the Carlists; I read up a bit on the Carlist party and Montejurra and recent history. There is so much where we walk past without having a clue as to what happened there.
. Your photo shows the back of the chapel and the adjacent square structure; note the painted brick wall vs the plastered wall of the chapel; also note that the chapel's roof tiles differ from the small structure's roofing which you can see more clearly in other photos. It all helps for identification and confirmation of the match. Here is a side view of the chapel:
Used or unused, church or not church... a wonderful place to stumble upon.
Thank you so much. I am quite enjoying seeing myself so clearly clambering up there. Yes, internet is great but ofttimes I just can't get my mind around all it offers. Thanks again.@Travelite, I have something that I hope you will enjoy. It's a Strava heat map, it shows you where people like to walk, jog, hike. The Irache wine fountain/monastery (top right corner) and the chapel/cross (bottom right corner) are marked. The main Camino Frances trail is marked by purple dots and the alternative Camino Frances trail is marked by green dots. You took the green dotted trail and at one point you went left and took one of the many yellow, orange, red or white trails that lead up the mountain and to the chapel. Are the tools of the internet not great sometimes?
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that is really cool, @Kathar1na !@Travelite, I have something that I hope you will enjoy. It's a Strava heat map, it shows you where people like to walk, jog, hike. The Irache wine fountain/monastery (top right corner) and the chapel/cross (bottom right corner) are marked. The main Camino Frances trail is marked by purple dots and the alternative Camino Frances trail is marked by green dots. You took the green dotted trail and at one point you went left and took one of the many yellow, orange, red or white trails that lead up the mountain and to the chapel. Are the tools of the internet not great sometimes?
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