Monastery of San Anton Ruins Albgergue

[Dennis Gemini Guru]

My wife and I leave from Australia for our first camino in approx 19 days and just saw a you tube clip of Monastery of San Anton Ruins Albgergue.. looks awesome and never heard anyone talk about it ..Has anyone been lucky enough to stay there?? 12 beds

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There was just a fundraiser in the Forum for new beds for San Anton. It opens only in the high season. It gets good reviews for its traditional atmosphere.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/mattresses-at-monasterio-san-anton.33155/

 

[Rebekah Scott]

There's no hot water there, (there's very little water at all). No electricity. And no WIFI! Aaaaauuuugh! Brutal!

 

[Kanga]

Yes, Robyn and I had a wonderful night there last year. We had not intended staying because I knew there was no electricity and not much water. We dropped in to have a look, and were greeted by the happy Christine, an Australian hospitalero, and our own @sillydoll from South Africa, as well as a lovely local. How could we not stay?

As it turned out it was one of our best nights. The lack of electricity only added to the ambiance, and we really enjoyed our shared candlelight dinner, the new bunks are very comfortable; no-one snored, no-one got up early, a great night's sleep. Then in the morning we walked across the fields in the early light, to attend mass at the convent. Wonderful.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I stayed there on my very first Camino. The scheduled hospitalero had been killed in a train wreck and a wonderful woman named Marina made us so welcome! It remains one of my most precious Camino memories.

 

[jmcarp]

Because of its lack of electricity and water limitations, it's not for everyone. But for those so inclined, it's a magical place. Our night at San Anton was our favorite night on the Camino Francés. The people who do stop there for the night usually turn out to be some of your favorite Camino friends.

 

[GreatDane]

There's no hot water there, (there's very little water at all). No electricity. And no WIFI! Aaaaauuuugh! Brutal!

No WiFi? Brutal yes. But when you get to Castrojerez there are free WiFi zones all over town you can treat yourself to!

 

[naplesdon]

There's no hot water there, (there's very little water at all). No electricity. And no WIFI! Aaaaauuuugh! Brutal!

Love you Reb, especially the long "Aaaaaauuuugh!" Your post is along the lines of current thread "dreadful walk, awful people" warning anyone about going on that horrible Camino. Let's keep it a secret and stop the crowds from invading our experience.
Guru, I will be your host between 14 and 24 June along with Renshaw. We have some of the nicest 12 mattresses on the Camino in a very basic refugio. Granted there is no electricity, no wifi and one very cold, slow shower but we will prepare for you a fine Camino evening meal and breakfast on our gas stove along with some fine local wine. The skies at night are magic and the monastery and church are memorable.

 

[KinkyOne]

Love you Reb, especially the long "Aaaaaauuuugh!" Your post is along the lines of current thread "dreadful walk, awful people" warning anyone about going on that horrible Camino. Let's keep it a secret and stop the crowds from invading our experience.
Guru, I will be your host between 14 and 24 June along with Renshaw. We have some of the nicest 12 mattresses on the Camino in a very basic refugio. Granted there is no electricity, no wifi and one very cold, slow shower but we will prepare for you a fine Camino evening meal and breakfast on our gas stove along with some fine local wine. The skies at night are magic and the monastery and church are memorable.

WHAAAAAT???? You and Renshaw together as hospitaleros??? OMG, I shouldn't miss that, although I think I'll be a bit too fast for you guys. That's a pity, arghhhh

 

[Davey Boyd]

My favorite place on the Camino Frances!

 

[Terri B]

What town is this in??

 

[mspath]

What town is this in??

It is just east of Castrojeriz.
See more here in Gronze.com.

 

[Terri B]

It is just east of Castrojeriz.

Thanks, found it. One guidebook says it's open summer only, but another says open in September so hopefully I'll be able to check it out. Buen Camino

 

[Dennis Gemini Guru]

Love you Reb, especially the long "Aaaaaauuuugh!" Your post is along the lines of current thread "dreadful walk, awful people" warning anyone about going on that horrible Camino. Let's keep it a secret and stop the crowds from invading our experience.
Guru, I will be your host between 14 and 24 June along with Renshaw. We have some of the nicest 12 mattresses on the Camino in a very basic refugio. Granted there is no electricity, no wifi and one very cold, slow shower but we will prepare for you a fine Camino evening meal and breakfast on our gas stove along with some fine local wine. The skies at night are magic and the monastery and church are memorable.

we start walking on may 25th ..is it only open between 14th and 24th june???

 

[Anemone del Camino]

we start walking on may 25th ..is it only open between 14th and 24th june???

I think he means he will be the hospitalero during that period. Others will be there before and after.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I will be hospitalera there between June 1 and June 10, so I know it is open then.

 

[naplesdon]

I think he means he will be the hospitalero during that period. Others will be there before and after.

Correct, it's open all summer.

 

[KinkyOne]

I will be hospitalera there between June 1 and June 10, so I know it is open then.

Oh, how nice, Annie. I'll be passing by one of those days. Looking forward to meet you

 

[Dennis Gemini Guru]

I will be hospitalera there between June 1 and June 10, so I know it is open then.

cant wait to meet u there

 

[domigee]

We stopped by, on my first camino, although not for the night. Arriving in Castrojeriz, we heard someone behind us running and shouting my fellow pilgrim's name...
Turned out she had left her credencial on the table in San Anton and the lovely hospitalera had run after us all the way to return it.
I am still moved thinking about it.

 

[sillydoll]

Pilgrims peer through the big metal gates into the enclosure where the small albergue has been grafted into the lee of the monastery walls.
SCENARIO ONE:
"Can we look around?"
"Please do - you're welcome to have a rest here."
"Can we actually stay here?"
"Yes, of course, we have 4 beds left".
"Wow! Have you got WiFi?"
"No, no WiFi."
"Oh. Can I charge my iPad?"
"No electricity here. Just candles."
"No electricity! What about hot water for the shower?"
"No hot water either?"
"Mmmm? How far did you say Castrojeriz is from here?"

SCENARIO TWO:
Pilgrims run through the door, up the bank to the albergue door - panting.
"PLEASE tell us you've got beds for us? We read/heard about this albergue and we've run all the way from Hontanas to make sure that we can stay here."

(Once I had to turn two desperate pilgrims away as we were completo. It was the worst Camino day for me, ever.)

 

[Kanga]

Hi @sillydoll we had such a great time with you last year I became a convert to the simple albergues. This year I'm going to try and bounce my way from San Bol to San Anton to San Nicholas - and then line up for a good shower/hair wash at Boadilla!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Just for the record: Albergue Monasterio de San Anton de Castrojeriz is open from May through September... and maybe through October this year, if hospitaleros can be found to staff the place. It now has a woodstove, so nights in the dormitory are not quite so chilly (hospis are not so lucky!).

A communal dinner is served, as well as a simple breakfast. As always, pilgrims leave a donation to cover the cost of their stay. There is no set fee.

 

[Albertagirl]

Just for the record: Albergue Monasterio de San Anton de Castrojeriz is open from May through September... and maybe through October this year, if hospitaleros can be found to staff the place. It now has a woodstove, so nights in the dormitory are not quite so chilly (hospis are not so lucky!).

A communal dinner is served, as well as a simple breakfast. As always, pilgrims leave a donation to cover the cost of their stay. There is no set fee.

Rebekah:
I shall look in when I pass through in October, as I should love to stay there if it is open. I was most disappointed when I passed there last fall, although I had an idea that San Anton was a summer only albergue. An enterprising gentleman had parked his vehicle out front to sell souvenirs and offer a sello for a donation, so I have a sello which reads "Hospital de Peregrinos San Anton" but I should love to get the real thing.