Pilgrims Office of SJPP

[Bradypus]

The Pilgrim's Office and the albergue will inform you if the Napoleon route is open or closed. Last April it was closed the day I checked into the albergue. Found out the authorities were arresting pilgrims venturing past Orrison.

I find that very puzzling. The route reopens officially on 1 April. After that it is up to the personal discretion of the walker whether to attempt the route or not. What grounds would the police have for arresting people after April 1st?

 

[chybcam]

OK! Thanks!

 

[Kathar1na]

I find that very puzzling. The route reopens officially on 1 April. After that it is up to the personal discretion of the walker whether to attempt the route or not. What grounds would the police have for arresting people after April 1st?

Are you asking the right question here? Shouldn't one ask: Found out from WHOM? ☺. Or: Does it matter if foreign pilgrims believe it?

Of course "the police" is not arresting pilgrims venturing past Orrison. The land being French and the law in question being Spanish is one of the reasons ...

What I find a bit dangerous is the often repeated claim that "the Pilgrim's Office and the albergue [or the locals] will inform you if the Napoleon route is open or close" throughout the year.

 

[White Peacock]

I bought my passport online! Do I still need to go to this office before I start in SJPdP?

No, you don't have to go to pilgrim office but there are some advantages to do so.
I had te same doubt and got some very good answers here

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/credential.66821/

 

[chybcam]

No, you don't have to go to pilgrim office but there are some advantages to do so.
I had te same doubt and got some very good answers here

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/credential.66821/

Thanks WP. I think I will anyway - since it's my first!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Are we able to order your credentials for postage overseas @Monasp ?
They are so much better than the 'official' credentials from SdC.
Much more space for stamps!

If available, I'll take 10

Oh No............. I see on your website you are now using the official SdC versions
Is this True? I loved your version............

View attachment 57380

This is the Credential I got from Ivar and my gosh, I love it!
It's much more sturdy with more spaces than the ones I'm used to.
I also have the one from SJPP, which is very nice, but this black one is special.

 

[Monasp]

I find that very puzzling. The route reopens officially on 1 April. After that it is up to the personal discretion of the walker whether to attempt the route or not. What grounds would the police have for arresting people after April 1st?

Your security ! !

 

[Monasp]

People died in this mountain with bad weather

 

[Bradypus]

Your security ! !

Are you confirming that police have really arrested people in the past to prevent them from walking the Napoleon route in April? Police will actually detain people who have chosen to walk after the official closure is over? Clearly it would be unwise to walk in bad weather but I had never heard that French police have actually placed people under arrest in order to stop them doing so.

 

[JR9162]

I find that very puzzling. The route reopens officially on 1 April. After that it is up to the personal discretion of the walker whether to attempt the route or not. What grounds would the police have for arresting people after April 1st?

On the grounds they had closed the Napoleon that day due to adverse weather past April 1st. Those pilgrims took that route abyways endangering themselves and rescue personnel. The day I began my Camino it was officially open but not recommended. We were warned that if we got into trouble we'd have to pay for any required rescue to get us off the mountain. So beware April 1st is not always the go / no go date. It's officially closed until then and afterwards it's day by day situation as the weather dictates.

 

[Adam.Osthed]

...Do I presume correctly that you want to start in St. Jean Pied de Port? Up to Pamplona this part of the camino was this year sort of a bottleneck concerning accommodation, because two albergues which could take up a lot of pilgrims were closed, still are, if I'm informed correctly and nobody really knows if or when they will open again, so it was quite difficult for some pilgrims to find a bed then.

Yes, we arrive in Paris 5/16, then SJPD on 5/17, the plan to leave Monday 5/18...

I have booked SJPDP for 5/17 and evening of 5/18 in Roncesvalles. Based on your advice I may book through to Pamplona.

I wonder how crowds will be affected by Corona Virus. We plan to go as long as they allow us to fly to France from the U.S.

 

[Eve Alexandra]

Is anyone in SJPP or know anyone there? Not trying to start a covid discussion since there are other threads for that.

I'm just wondering if there are still pilgrims starting out every day? Or if its a ghost town in terms of new pilgrims arriving?

 

[Monasp]

Is anyone in SJPP or know anyone there? Not trying to start a covid discussion since there are other threads for that.

I'm just wondering if there are still pilgrims starting out every day? Or if its a ghost town in terms of new pilgrims arriving?

Last week 208 pilgrims started the Camino there. SJPP is not a ghost town. There is hostels open and shops too.
Pilgrims office is open too every day

 

[Eve Alexandra]

Last week 208 pilgrims started the Camino there. SJPP is not a ghost town. There is hostels open and shops too.
Pilgrims office is open too every day

Thank you.

 

[Fred_MG]

Hello, I will start my journey on March 26th, from what I am seeing, will I have to follow Vancarlos? Even if the weather is good? Tks

 

[trecile]

Hello, I will start my journey on March 26th, from what I am seeing, will I have to follow Vancarlos? Even if the weather is good? Tks

Yes, the Napoleon Route is closed until April 1st at the earliest.

 

[jgiesbrecht]

The technical date is April 1, but at times of really bad weather they still close throughout other days of the year.

 

[Monasp]

Hello, I will start my journey on March 26th, from what I am seeing, will I have to follow Vancarlos? Even if the weather is good? Tks

Yes of course the Napoleon Route is closed untill 1st of April. Maybe after you could not go by Napoleon Route it's depend of weather. Last week it was snowing a lot at Roncesvalles so so much on the top of the mountain

 

[Monasp]

Hello, I will start my journey on March 26th, from what I am seeing, will I have to follow Vancarlos? Even if the weather is good? Tks

Hi Fred,
Cause coronavirus in Spain the hostels close so it's better don't start the way now.

 

[Fred_MG]

Hi Fred,
Cause coronavirus in Spain the hostels close so it's better don't start the way now.

Hello Monasp,
Thanks for the information. Unfortunately I canceled my way. I hope you can go in October, too bad!

 

[trecile]

The pilgrims Office 39 rue de la Citadelle Saint Jean Pied de Port is open every day all year long from 7:30 am to 11pm. The volunteers can give you all you need to start your "Camino" (credenciale, informations, documentation, shell......). Don't forget to go there !

Sorry to drag up this old thread, but I wanted to confirm the hours that the hours that the office is currently open. I couldn't find the hours on their website, but I found this on Google. Is it correct?

 

[trecile]

Sorry to drag up this old thread, but I wanted to confirm the hours that the hours that the office is currently open. I couldn't find the hours on their website, but I found this on Google. Is it correct?


View attachment 104112

I got my answer already on Facebook.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/818222641542543/permalink/4330446190320153/

 

[Aloha From Kauai]

The pilgrims Office 39 rue de la Citadelle Saint Jean Pied de Port is open every day all year long from 7:30 am to 11pm. The volunteers can give you all you need to start your "Camino" (credenciale, informations, documentation, shell......). Don't forget to go there !

Mahalo Nui Loa for all that the Pilgrim's Office does for everyone! See you in April!

 

[chooleekr]

The pilgrims Office 39 rue de la Citadelle Saint Jean Pied de Port is open every day all year long from 7:30 am to 11pm. The volunteers can give you all you need to start your "Camino" (credenciale, informations, documentation, shell......). Don't forget to go there !

Thank you for providing the information. It's also a good idea to post it on social media. I think more pilgrims can see it if you post it on the bulletin board of the pilgrim office site or https://www.compostelle.fr/forums/. Thank you.

 

[C clearly]

I am closing this thread, as there are more recent update threads from the Pilgrim Office in SJPP.