Promotion of the Camino Aragones by local government

[Bradypus]

An article yesterday about plans by the Government of Aragon to promote the Caminos which pass through the region. Better publicity for their albergues, improved signposting and the creation of a post for someone to coordinate the work of local authorities on the Caminos. One detail drew my attention in particular. “We are not going to put up any benches or picnic tables, because the municipalities cannot be responsible for cleaning up the garbage that is generated there,” (Google Translate.) Sad that this is the practical reality these days.

El Gobierno de Aragón potenciará los albergues del Camino de Santiago - El Pirineo Aragonés

elpirineoaragones.com

 

[helenvw]

We absolutely loved this walk 2 years ago, in May but the infrastructure: bars, toilets, water, shops to buy food was sadly very lacking. We experienced several days where we could not find any food or water!

 

[Bradypus]

We absolutely loved this walk 2 years ago, in May but the infrastructure: bars, toilets, water, shops to buy food was sadly very lacking. We experienced several days where we could not find any food or water!

It is interesting how SJPDP has almost eclipsed Somport/Canfranc as a starting point. In his very influential 1985 guide book Don Elias Valiña - the inventor of the yellow arrows - put Somport first in his route descriptions. SJPDP was the second option.

 

[Flog]

One detail drew my attention in particular. “We are not going to put up any benches or picnic tables, because the municipalities cannot be responsible for cleaning up the garbage that is generated there,” (Google Translate.) Sad that this is the practical reality these days.

It is.. but the Aragon Valley gets far more day hikers, climbers, ski tourists etc than pilgrims, and many of them care little about the environment. Thankfully, pilgrims by nature are (mostly!) self sufficient and less demanding.

 

[debigetsout]

An article yesterday about plans by the Government of Aragon to promote the Caminos which pass through the region. Better publicity for their albergues, improved signposting and the creation of a post for someone to coordinate the work of local authorities on the Caminos. One detail drew my attention in particular. “We are not going to put up any benches or picnic tables, because the municipalities cannot be responsible for cleaning up the garbage that is generated there,” (Google Translate.) Sad that this is the practical reality these days.

El Gobierno de Aragón potenciará los albergues del Camino de Santiago - El Pirineo Aragonés

elpirineoaragones.com

It's a beautiful and relatively short route that deserves more attention. The Albergue at Ruesta was particularly special as it was run by young people who were involved in local activist projects. Not sure if that is still the case... Just realizing that it has been 14 years since we walked the Aragon.

 

[Flog]

..but the infrastructure: bars, toilets, water, shops to buy food was sadly very lacking. We experienced several days where we could not find any food or water!

I'm suprised you think that, but are you comparing to the Camino Frances, perhaps? Aragonês has more than adequate infrastructure, especially in May when everything is open..

 

[helenvw]

I'm suprised you think that, but are you comparing to the Camino Frances, perhaps? Aragonês has more than adequate infrastructure, especially in May when everything is open..

Very little was open when we walked there in May, 2022 apart from in the biggest towns. Our biggest problem though was where to get drinks since many of the water fountains and vending machines were not working and bars and cafes, if they existed, were shut! But the spring flowers were amazing!

 

[helenvw]

We are on our 8th camino this year and this was by far the least supported. We prefer quieter, less travelled walks but we were caught out several times at the start of May on this walk. One night we ate 2 slices of left over pizza that we had carried in our bags for 2 days, just in case. And one day we relied on an extra large bar of chocolate that someone had dropped on the path. The camino provides

 

[dick bird]

I'm suprised you think that, but are you comparing to the Camino Frances, perhaps? Aragonês has more than adequate infrastructure, especially in May when everything is open..

I agree. The infrastructure was good enough if not as plentiful as on the Francés. Picnic tables and benches are a poor use of resources. Even the ones on the Francés are rarely used. It’s an under-appreciated Camino. The scenery is beautiful and there are some gems of history and architecture. When we walked it in 2018, a very high proportion of walkers were Spanish, which was an added bonus. You can also precede it with the Chemin d’Arles, another Camino that should be better known.

 

[Flog]

When we walked it in 2018, a very high proportion of walkers were Spanish, which was an added bonus. You can also precede it with the Chemin d’Arles, another Camino that should be better known.

In Canfranc in 2021 and 2022, we found that Spanish pilgrims made up about half, French about a quarter and the other nationalities combined made up the other quarter.

 

[Adelina]

A very nice Camino - much lesser walked by people from the States, and plenty of services at the beginning of May 2023. We served at the albergue in Canfranc for two weeks in late May, we served 89 pilgrims from 28 countries and 6 continents. The only pilgrims from the U.S. were friends of ours who knew we would be there!

 

[Former member 104756]

A very nice Camino - much lesser walked by people from the States, and plenty of services at the beginning of May 2023. We served at the albergue in Canfranc for two weeks in late May, we served 89 pilgrims from 28 countries and 6 continents. The only pilgrims from the U.S. were friends of ours who knew we would be there!

Hi @Adelina It was a pleasure for me/us to be counted as one/two of those you welcomed. It was my third time on the Aragones and first time since the Canfranc albergue opened. What a treat.

 

[Anthony Rocco]

An article yesterday about plans by the Government of Aragon to promote the Caminos which pass through the region. Better publicity for their albergues, improved signposting and the creation of a post for someone to coordinate the work of local authorities on the Caminos. One detail drew my attention in particular. “We are not going to put up any benches or picnic tables, because the municipalities cannot be responsible for cleaning up the garbage that is generated there,” (Google Translate.) Sad that this is the practical reality these days.

El Gobierno de Aragón potenciará los albergues del Camino de Santiago - El Pirineo Aragonés

elpirineoaragones.com

One of our most memorable, and when the Amigos Association of Navarra hosted us last May for a tour of their province, they took to us Javier, the monastery at Leyre, Sanguesa and Eunate, some of the top highlights of this camino, all in Navarra. We loved walking in the Aragon portion, with the top sites Jaca and San Juan de la Pena.

There were very few pilgrims and we were alone when we hit Somport. After Jaca, we picked up 4 other pilgrims that seemed like they were taken from the movie The Way. There was brilliant, young PhD German gal who was dragging her father along so he would lose weight. But at every stop, he quickly downed beer after beer. Had to smile. Then there were two retired professors, one English, one Danish who became friends on an earlier camino. One afternoon we arrived in a seemingly abandoned village with the albergue locked. The Dane found a way in and we all followed. The Brit immediately made us all tea and our few moments of anxiety were immediately dispelled.