Latest Status of Beds in Roncessvalles

[John Chin]

While I was on camino Portuguese in May, someone mentioned that the Colegiata Albergue in Roncesvalles was downsized as a result of potential fire hazards. What is the current capacity, short term plans, and plan for spring 2018?

 

[Kanga]

I am not sure it was downsized, just that they are no longer allowed to use the overflow facility. It has 183 beds. Here is the webpage

 

[Ianinam]

The Colegiata Albergue in Roncesvalles still has 257 beds: 183 beds in the renovated part of the building, 40 beds in the basement and 34 beds in the so called 'winter albergue'.

 

[Kanga]

But, @Ianinam , as I understand it, they are now only legally allowed to sleep 183 people in the renovated section of the albergue. See this previous thread; unfortunately you have to scroll a fair way down to get an explanation of why it has happened. Basically because of increased health and safety standards:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...imit-number-of-beds-to-183-from-monday.47560/

 

[Thomas1962]

The most recent update I heard -from quit close to the heat- is that there are still enough beds in general. It seems like there are a littles less pilgrims passing Roncesvalles. Indeed the overflow is closed.

 

[Ianinam]

Kanga, I returned from Roncesvalles last week after working there for two weeks as a hospitalero and I definitely know how many beds we cleaned in the morning after a busy night ;-)
257 beds it is and will be during the next months. Not more, but certainly not less .....

 

[Anniesantiago]

I don't know HOW many beds they have, but when I passed through last season, they were turning away pilgrims because they were full.
And those exhausted pilgrims had no choice but to get a taxi and find their own beds elsewhere.
So I strongly suggest people reserve their bed.
It is easy and you pay via Paypal.

 

[jo webber]

I have reserved at Roncesvalles in Sept. My understanding is this is no longer shoulder season, but as busy a month as most.

One question, I am having some of my things transported, do they drop off at the albergue? Or elsewhere?

 

[Saint Mike II]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the number of beds available in the Roncesvalles albergue and quoted by @Ianinam is correct, ie way above 200 beds but below 300 beds (unlike in previous years where it was 300+) because the "camp" with 88 beds is closed since spring 2017. I note that @Ianinam was a Dutch hospitalera in Roncesvalles in 2015 and assume she has access to their newsletter and other up to date info about the actual situation.

There was a recent article in Diario de Navarra which gave the view of the regional administration: there are no accommodation problems for pilgrims in the Roncesvalles area because there are about 500 beds available within a radius of 7 or 9 kilometers and they are never fully occupied; also 94 in Valcarlos, 350 in Roncesvalles [this includes the hotel beds], 165 in Burguete, 330 in Espinal, 170 in Viscarret. The influx of pilgrims during the 1st of May "bridge" weekend could be absorbed with the help of the shuttle services offered by the local taxis, according to these statements.

Hola Katharina - would you please explain how you came by the figure of 330 beds in Espinal! Brierley lists 48 (in the two albergue). Yes I am sure there may be other "unlisted" B & Bs (casa rurals etc) but if this information is not easily accessible then the average pilgrim will not be aware of this. When I reached Roncesvalles on May 2 (this year) the 183 limit was being strictly enforced. In fact it was being so strictly enforced that pilgrims were only being admitted in numerical order. Hence my decision to share a taxi down to Espinal - showered and changed and having a beer before 14.00 (the time Roncesvalles starting admitting). Cheers

 

[Anniesantiago]

I have reserved at Roncesvalles in Sept. My understanding is this is no longer shoulder season, but as busy a month as most.

One question, I am having some of my things transported, do they drop off at the albergue? Or elsewhere?

They now leave packs at the albergue. The people at the albergue will put it in a special room, and you'll have to ask to retrieve it.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Sorry, I thought I had made it clear in my post that it was a direct (translated) quote from the linked article of 2 July 2017 in the Diario de Navarra. The statement was given by el vicepresidente del Gobierno, Manu Ayerdi, responsable del área de Turismo, en una reciente comparecencia parlamentaria.

Thanks for the explanation, but if I had understood your quotation I would not have needed to pose the question. My Spanish is insufficient to make real sense of the linked article, so I still do not know where these 300 beds in Espinal are - the village in no way appear large enough to accommodate anything like this number.
Still as I will not be returning to the Frances (as a walking pilgrim) anytime soon it is not something that will worry me - but may worry others planning their pilgrimages.

 

[hotelmedicis]

I stayed there in late April 2017 and I was put in the "old" area now reserved as an overflow section. I paid 8 euros compared to the 12 euros people paid in the renovated area.

Unfortunately it was completely full and others had to go to Burguete to find a bed. One person who had to go to Burguete for a bed told me that late comers there found no beds in Burguete and were forced to continue on looking for beds elsewhere. I can't confirm this however.

 

[trecile]

I have reserved at Roncesvalles in Sept. My understanding is this is no longer shoulder season, but as busy a month as most.

One question, I am having some of my things transported, do they drop off at the albergue? Or elsewhere?

It's my understanding that the busiest months are May and September.

 

[Thomas1962]

An update from someone who is a hospitalero in Roncesvalles now: at this moment there are enough beds.
August will be more busy, don't know what the situation will be by then off course.

A reason might be what Fraluchi writes about the june statistics:

The overall increase of starters from Sarria, as compared to last year, was 17% whereas for the total Camino Frances it was “only” 5%.
Walkers who had started from Saint Jean Pied de Port, Roncesvalles and Pamplona actually reduced by 3% compared to the same semester in 2016.

See: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-arrivals-statistics-1st-semester-2017.49107/

 

[Nigel Clark]

I stayed in Roncesvalles on the 5th May and was glad that I had booked ahead as they were turning pilgrims away by late afternoon.

 

[Ove Garpeman]

New
I stayed in Roncesvalles on the 6th June and was glad that I had booked ahead as well, it was full in the afternoon.