Oseira Monestery

[Jay_Walker]

Has anyone stayed at the Monestery lately. I recall reading somewhere that you can stay in the Monestery (not albergue) if you stay a minimum of 2 nights. I'm wondering what the experience is like. Are you expected to meditate? Or can you move around? What is meal time like? What are the accomodations? Etc.

Appreciate any advice. Currently in Banos de Montemayor on the VLPD.

 

[MesaWalker]

I have never heard of anyone staying in the Oseira Monastery itself. There is a Xunta albuquerque onsite, which is beautiful and comfortable and renovated in one of the old, separate buildings on the grounds. That's where we stayed last fall, and it is a fantastic albergue.

But I've never heard of the Trappist Monks who live in the monastery actually permitting pilgrims to stay within the main part of the monastery.

 

[TulasiPriya]

I still haven't walked my Camino yet, but if I found out I can stay in a monastery, I would definitely like to.

 

[MesaWalker]

By the way, if you can confirm when the last tour of the day starts at Oseira Monastery (I think it varies by time of year), you can show up in time for that, tell the person in the gift shop who sells the tickets that you'd like to attend Vespers, and a monk will come at the end of the tour and whisk you off to a small chapel where the monks chant vespers in Spanish. it's a beautiful, peaceful service. When my wife and I were there, we were the only people attending Vespers other than the monks.

At least that's the way it worked last fall.

 

[peregrina2000]

I recall reading somewhere that you can stay in the Monestery (not albergue) if you stay a minimum of 2 nights

The night I spent in the Oseira monastery (which was at that time the coldest, clammiest place on the planet), there was a cyclist who arrived to spend some time in the monastery itself for a multi-day retreat.

Their web page describes their monastic retreat and their rules (2-7 days, no tourism, no groups of peregrinos in any circumstances). That page also gives the email contact address, so I would write to them directly with your questions.

p.s. The Oseira monastery is new and apparently very much improved from those days so long ago.

 

[jungleboy]

By the way, if you can confirm when the last tour of the day starts at Oseira Monastery (I think it varies by time of year), you can show up in time for that, tell the person in the gift shop who sells the tickets that you'd like to attend Vespers, and a monk will come at the end of the tour and whisk you off to a small chapel where the monks chant vespers in Spanish. it's a beautiful, peaceful service. When my wife and I were there, we were the only people attending Vespers other than the monks.

At least that's the way it worked last fall.

When I was there the year before the attending of Vespers wasn’t ‘tied’ to the tour. We went on a tour in the afternoon and then returned to the albergue for some time before returning to the monastery for Vespers.

 

[LTfit]

When I was there the year before the attending of Vespers wasn’t ‘tied’ to the tour. We went on a tour in the afternoon and then returned to the albergue for some time before returning to the monastery for Vespers.

That was my experience too, albeit years ago in the old albergue.

I'm really curious to hear about the renovations since I've stayed in the very damp, rustic albergue twice. Still glad I did although the second time was the day of the train accident on its way to Santiago for the July 25th festivities. The monks held a special vespers mass on that evening.

 

[MesaWalker]

The albergue is beautiful. It's in a standalone building on the grounds of the monastery with walls of large stones visible both inside and outside the building. Inside it's comfortable, clean and typical of newer Xunta albergues. Like other Xunta albergues, pots, pans, utensils, plates and cups are all mysteriously absent.

 

[el-pe]

It is possible if you set it up before arriving and meet the qualifications. I did the tour, attended vespers and stayed in the alberque - a great experience.