- Time of past OR future Camino
- Some in the past; more in the future!
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That’s good news. Even though ‘the piece’ was small, that would have made quite an impact from 20 metres up.There were no injuries;
Seeing the San Anton arch appear out of no where in the middle of the Meseta was one of the highlights for me and then exploring it was rather magical. Sure hope they can repair it and maintain the Alberque as well.Last week a piece of the San Antón arch 'somewhat bigger than a mobile phone' fell 20 metres and landed on the roof of a school bus as it was driving under the arch. There were no injuries; another bus was called and the students were taken to school, but the mayor of Castrojeriz said it could have been a disaster.
Article in Spanish from the Diario de Burgos: Cae una piedra del arco de San Antón sobre el bus escolar
In a follow-up article (not available online), the paper reports that the ayuntamiento of Castrojeriz will assume the responsibility of repairing and consolidating the arch to prevent further pieces from falling, and will do so as early as today.
¡Cuidado peregrin@s!
Did you take this photo? Superb! and Arleene, indeed, such a total surprise!
Yes taken about a month ago! Has anyone seen the man riding his bike and singing around the ruins? He was there when I took this (I have a video of him) - it was a very magical moment.Did you take this photo? Superb! and Arleene, indeed, such a total surprise!
Bob - I took this on Sept. 30 - we just missed each other!My wife and I walked under the arch on October 1. Always an inspiration to be hiking the long road to Castrojerez, then walk under the arch and head into town with great views of the hilltop castle. One other tradition for us is to see the elderly man in his car with a basket of camino related trinklets. Our first three caminos, we waived him off. This time we were happy to see him and I bought a small item to hang on my daypack for the rest of our camino. Bob
At the time, I never realized the ruins of San Anton had an albergue as well...dang! I was clueless, although Castrojerez was a lovely town to spend the night.One of my favorite albergues and best memories of my first Camino waaaaay back in prehistoric days.
I was hospitalera there one year and would love to do that again.
We were there Sept 28! It was such an awe inspiring place. With it and the castle, I think Castrojeriz was one of our favourite places. Our hotel also made the best Castillano soup in the country.Bob - I took this on Sept. 30 - we just missed each other!
Mine too!With it and the castle, I think Castrojeriz was one of our favourite places.
I hope they get some funds from outside the village to do that, because it might not be cheap.the ayuntamiento of Castrojeriz will assume the responsibility of repairing and consolidating the arch to prevent further pieces from falling, and will do so as early as today.
Stay in the albergue - you will not regret it!I look forward to the next time I can wander under those arches...
Why not ?Why are they driving vehicles under it in the first place?
Why are they driving vehicles under it in the first place?
You'd think there would be amble space to build a road around it
People hiking under the arch don't rumble and shake the ground to the extent that buses and trucks do. So, the site will be safer for pilgrims if vehicles are not going under the archWhy not ?
People walk there also, what about them.?
If it's about the safety of pilgrims it would be cheaper and easier to solve this problem by creating a short detour of the Camino Frances.People hiking under the arch don't rumble and shake the ground to the extent that buses and trucks do. So, the site will be safer for pilgrims if vehicles are not going under the arch
I checked google maps and there appears to be amble space south of the monastery to reroute the roadHi! I see that you plan to walk a Camino in 2022. When you will walk the Frances and you will pass San Anton you will notice the particularities and the details of this monument. And of course the road.
You could open google maps to see the details.
Here is some more info about San Anton.
Happy preparations!
Sure. I guess it won't be for tomorrow. Did you also check the Spanish rules for expropiación - the administration taking someone's land and property away from a citizen.I checked google maps and there appears to be amble space south of the monastery to reroute the road
The road has been going under that arch since it was built. And if the arch is stablized, it can continue to. It's a relatively lightly traveled country road, not an autovia. Anyway, it's not a realistic alternative: how much money do you have to pay people for their land, to build a new road easement, and to repair/conserve the existing structure?Perhaps there is some way to route motor vehicles well away from the ruins but still allow pedestrians, pilgrims' pack burros, and bicyclists to pass through.
I did not know that, thanks for clarifying the facts.The road has been going under that arch since it was built.
I don't care what the process is, they just need to get it started. Obviously, there are thousands of roads in Spain so building roads is something that is permittedSure. I guess it won't be for tomorrow. Did you also check the Spanish rules for expropiación - the administration taking someone's land and property away from a citizen.
I wondered that when we were there also. It seemed an odd design, but all I could find on-line was that the arches guarded the entrance of the monastery.I never thought about it but why are these two arches and the wall even there? Buttress function for the tower?
View attachment 114153
When I remember correctly the arch was build in the 16th. CenturyI did not know that, thanks for clarifying the facts.
I had assumed that the arch was about 800 to 1000 years old and that the road had been routed under it after the collapse of the roof of the associated abbey/church/monastery.
Thank you Rebekah! You have satisfied my nerdy need to know.I'm on the board of the new San Anton Foundation, although I am not actively involved in the daily round at San Anton any more. (I used to help run the albergue inside, and co-wrote a short history in English.)
The ruined building that exists now was the monastery church, center of a small monastic complex, with the road running right through it. The walls across the road from the church are what remains of the hospital and monastery buildings (and a cemetery!); the Antonine monks used to leave bread and wine in the niches you can still see inside the arches, for late-arriving pilgrims in need.
This was the national headquarters for the Antonine monastic order, a group that specialized in healing "St. Anthony's Fire," a disease that plagued medieval Europe. One of the best cures is lots of exercise, and not eating bread made from barley stored in damp northern conditions -- become a pilgrim! There's lots of legend hung about this place, and more is invented all the time.
The rise of hospitals and science in the Enlightenment put the Antonines out of business; San Anton was shut down when the monasteries of Spain were dis-established in the early 19th century, and fell into ruins. The retablo and lots of its decorative fittings were recycled into the Church of San Juan in Castrojeriz, where you can see them today.
The ruins were stabilized in the early 2000's when Ovidio and his little association took the lease of the church area, cleared out the tractor parts, and set up the beloved bare-bones albergue there. It now has a stable water supply, but still no electricity or hot water. It's a tough place, for tough people.
Re-routing the road is not a viable solution. What the site needs is a full, ongoing stabilization program, which will cost millions. The property is still privately owned, the foundation only holds a caretaker role -- which ties its hands when it comes to receiving public money for preservation or interpretation projects. Surprisingly for a Camino landmark, San Anton was never listed as a Bien Interesa Cultural (BIC), a historic monument -- so it doesn't enjoy special protections under national or regional patrimony law.
It's a tough nut to crack.
You're pretty spot on your guesses. I do masonry facade restoration in the US and the usual culprits where I work are water, freeze thaw, rust, and material weaknesses all compounded by time. My guess is that the stone or piece thereof fell because it was weakened by water and freeze thaw, and there may have been a fracture line in the stone that was exploited by time and the elements. I also think that if the mortar were bad it would have been a whole stone to fall and there would have been some serious injuries. There's no roof over any of the ruins and they will continue to decay. Stopping rain from above is the most important thing to do to keep a stone or brick wall in good shape.I am not a building engineer but I guess that bits of masonry fall off because of age, wind, rain, frost, heat and the mortar aging and disintegrating and no repair work/maintenance being done. Here's a photo I took a few years ago. One can see lighter spots here and there. I wonder whether this is the renovation work that was done some twenty years ago?
Click to enlarge:
View attachment 114176
Hey Reb , I was hoping that you would comment , without putting you on a pedestal , you are the 'go to ' person on the forum when it comes to San Anton. I suppose it IS necessary to caution pilgrims about tough conditions although the 'Hardships' can not possibly be as tough as what pilgrims that experienced up to 1000 years ago? At San Anton , when in operation , a pilgrim is offered a bed under shelter in a safe environment, There are modern ablution facilities with running water. There is a canal where one can draw water from to wash clothes. A pilgrim is then offered a FULL wholesome meal with vino.There is an adequate breakfast in the morning to start ones day. This all for a donation!? Where else in the World can one get such a deal? As far as I am concerned , if you are not tough enough , goodbyeThe ruins were stabilized in the early 2000's when Ovidio and his little association took the lease of the church area, cleared out the tractor parts, and set up the beloved bare-bones albergue there. It now has a stable water supply, but still no electricity or hot water. It's a tough place, for tough people.
Fascinating photos. Thank you for posting them. I see signs that say: Cuidado con las piedras! - Beware falling stones! Have the signs been removed since then? You said earlier that you were nearly hit by a falling stone and that you do believe that generic warning signs should be displayed?here are a few photos for us all to admire
This was almost 20 years ago so There has been renovations since , I am suggesting more 'Picture' type generic signs that can be visually interpreted.Fascinating photos. Thank you for posting them. I see signs that say: Cuidado con las piedras! - Beware falling stones! Have the signs been removed since then? You said earlier that you were nearly hit by a falling stone and that you do believe that generic warning signs should be displayed?
I had a look at my photos, and I see no signs. That doesn't mean they were not there, but simply that I was too busy looking up to notice. Looking at these photos with a less naïve eye, I wonder how these walls remain standing at all. It would be something to be there during an earthquake - fortunately this is a seismically quiet part of Iberia.Cuidado con las piedras! - Beware falling stones! Have they been removed since then?
What I did as a 'slow camino' stage was San Anton to San Nicholas. I'm not sure which is better - it's like comparing two delicious varieties of cherry. Both are superp places, full of history and caritas.might have to do both next time as part of a 'slow camino'
Did you say cherry?What I did as a 'slow camino' stage was San Anton to San Nicholas. I'm not sure which is better - it's like comparing two delicious varieties of cherry.
I opened myself up to that, definitely.Did you say cherry?
A wonderful little book for a worthy cause. Very interesting to read.(I used to help run the albergue inside, and co-wrote a short history in English.)
The walls across the road from the church are what remains of the hospital and monastery buildings (and a cemetery!); the Antonine monks used to leave bread and wine in the niches you can still see inside the arches, for late-arriving pilgrims in need.
Thanks for update. Sadly, so sadly, blame games are de rigueur in our times...Returning to the original story, the 'urgent' work on the arch began today, and will continue tomorrow. Pieces that were at risk of falling are being consolidated using fibreglass and steel rods. There's also a bit of a blame game going on regarding responsibilities etc that is playing out in the media.
More information (in Spanish) and a photo at the Diario de Burgos:
Se consolida el arco de San Antón de Castrojeriz
We have to be able to take responsibly for ourselves? one could even be hit by a Meteor? Accidents will happen , that's why they are called accidents? The authorities can spend billions and someone will still trip over a stone and immediately make enquires 'Who do I sue first'? To me , that arch across the road has been one of the epitomes of what my pilgrimages have been about.Thanks for update. Sadly, so sadly, blame games are de rigueur in our times...
The blame game mentioned in the Spanish news article is not about who is to blame for the falling stone. It is about the attribution of € 800.000,00 of taxpayer money that had been announced in the summer in the context of a plan to make these funds available for renovation and maintenance of historic buildings in the area. Originally, San Antón was included in the plan but then this was revoked and the reason given for it was that the San Antón project is a private project and not a public project.We have to be able to take responsibly for ourselves? one could even be hit by a Meteor? Accidents will happen , that's why they are called accidents? The authorities can spend billions and someone will still trip over a stone and immediately make enquires 'Who do I sue first'?
Unlike the good old days?Sadly, so sadly, blame games are de rigueur in our times...
Too funny. Doesn’t one need to have been baptized before one can be excommunicated?and St. Bernard excommunicated a swarm of flies that were persistent in annoying him
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