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I am also wondering the same thing as I am starting out on the 7th of April. Once I make it over I will let you know if I pushed on.
The new albergue is Roncesvalles is very big but nice. The layout of the very large dormrooms are set up in way that they do not feel big at all. Small 4 bed cubicles with each his own locker.
If you arrive late and have to sleep it the overflow, hmmm, thats not so nice.
Roncesvalles is ok, but Very very small. The one thing i did not like about Roncesvalles was the inability to get breakfast anywhere. First possible shop is, if i remember correctly, 30 walk and every pilgrim and his mother is standing in line to buy bread, fruits ect...
I must say, that was the first check-out line where i ever had fun....soooo early in the morning
Hello! I am leaving in 6 weeks and I am concerned about the weather and what to take and what to leave. I know weather is unpredictable in that area but any little help will be appreciated. Thank you.I'm in the Roncesvalles camp. It's an amazing and very spritual village, with a fantastic albergue, plenty of eating options, amazing history, lots of places to sit out and relax / contemplate and a wonderful pilgrim mass. It shouldn't be missed.
Hello! I am leaving in 6 weeks and I am concerned about the weather and what to take and what to leave. I know weather is unpredictable in that area but any little help will be appreciated. Thank you.
This post probably should be under "gear".
Early May? Between SJPDP and Roncesvalles fog is quite likely and it could get cold. After Pamplona it is likely to warm up.
Don't be too concerned about your final choice of what to take - no-one ever gets it completely right. And the weather makes fools of us all. The best advice is to layer your clothing - I like a fine merino wool t-shirt under a fine merino cardigan with the ability to pull on a poncho or something similar to stop the wind and protect from rain - I'm trialling a Packa this weekend. If it gets hot I strip down to the t-shirt. Bottom half I wear light quick dry zip hiking pants with zip off legs. In my pack I carry knitted silk long johns.
If you really need something you can buy it there, if you take too much you can post it on or donate to an albergue.
Search this forum and you'll find plenty of packing lists. Just be careful that you are comparing the same time of the year and the same route - conditions vary greatly from one season to another and from one route to another.
You can do both DP. Don't forget to check the paths down to the streams and look for the trout!Thanks everyone for your inputs. I think I will stop at Roncesvalles after all. The ulterior motive for moving on past it was to try to maybe get to Pamplona by Saturday night. I think I should stick to embracing the "Camino de Santiago Pilgrim" experience (the reason for this journey) and not try to also mix in the "Hemingway - The Sun Also Rises" experience.Again, my thanks for everyone's input, including you too Odem.
Thank you. I needed to hear that.I say you decide whether to spend the night in Roncesvalles when you get to Roncesvalles. Your body will tell you whether you can continue. Your spirit will tell you whether to stay.
There's a lot of camaraderie in the bar in Posada de Roncesvalles. You'd also get a chance to see this work of art!I will be beginning the Camino Frances on May the first. I will spend my first night in Orrison (I have a reservation). I had planned to stay in Roncesvalles on the next night. From my Brierley guide, I see that the distance from Orrison to Roncesvalles is about 17 K. My question is, would I be crazy to not stop in Roncesvalles and push on to either Espinal of Viskarret? Might I be too tired from crossing the Napoleon Pass to continue past Roncesvalles? Might I miss a wonderful Camino experience by passing up Roncesvalles?
Thanks.
There's a lot of camaraderie in the bar in Posada de Roncesvalles.
There is a cafe in Espinal. Turned out to be one of my favorites, maybe because it was my first experience of a Spanish bar/cafe. The coffee was great, and the bartender was playing some great music.From the *technical* point of view, crossing a tough mountain pass the first day is not a good call. But I can understand (and share) the appeal. So, I would recommend making it as easy as possible, which means stopping at Roncesvalles. The new albergue (I was the 3rd pilgrim to arrive, on its inauguration dayis huge, well designed, modern, a bit impersonal. It actually has a kitchen http://www.alberguederoncesvalles.com/servicios.php, vending machines, computer room, etc.
I did not specially like the dinner at the restaurant, but it was an opportunity to meet people. But you should not, really, miss the ecumenical Mass.
Burguete is just half an hour after Roncesvalles, but believe me, when you are dead tired, that´s a lot. And after sleeeping in Roncesvalles, walking in the morning through the forest was magical. You can have breakfast in Burguete, there is a restaurant that opens early in the morning, and it will be full of pilgrims. This may be a good idea, bcs there is not another cafe before Zubiri.
Buen camino!
Can you give directions or a name for the Bar/Cafe? Would like to stop there next week.There is a cafe in Espinal. Turned out to be one of my favorites, maybe because it was my first experience of a Spanish bar/cafe. The coffee was great, and the bartender was playing some great music.
I will be beginning the Camino Frances on May the first. I will spend my first night in Orrison (I have a reservation). I had planned to stay in Roncesvalles on the next night. From my Brierley guide, I see that the distance from Orrison to Roncesvalles is about 17 K. My question is, would I be crazy to not stop in Roncesvalles and push on to either Espinal of Viskarret? Might I be too tired from crossing the Napoleon Pass to continue past Roncesvalles? Might I miss a wonderful Camino experience by passing up Roncesvalles?
Re Roncevalles did you book it ahead?I love staying in Roncesvalles.
You can attend the Pilgrim's Mass there and be blessed for your Camino.
Also, breakfast wasn't difficult for me to find - and you can also walk a short way to the next village where there are many places serving breakfast.
I think Ronc is a must! There is a special feeling that comes with ascending down into it...then if a pretty day the rest of your day is sitting at a table outside of a restaurant watching pilgrims come in. I would make the time to walk thru the beautiful hotel there that shares a courtyard with the new auberge. It is so pretty. I have nothing bad to say about the new auberge BUT it is just that in my eyes a new auberge that looks like IKEA came thru and made the inside of it...nothing bad but can't say I'd stay there JUST for that...
But the rest...I'd make sure I stayed there!
Make sure when you sign up for dinner you don't conflict with mass.
When people stand to receive the bread offering know that YOU ARE WELCOME to participate no matter your religion, it was said during my mass that we are all one there.
If there was anything I would reconsider it would be the dinner...I found it to be a rushed event, like a cattle call of sorts. I was not the only one who said this. Instead I would have filled up on food there at the outside tables at the restaurant that has them (name escapes me).
I would know the legend tale of Roland, Charlemagne's legendary knight...it will make the water fountain and the monument a little more special.
...and in the morning...make sure you stop going into Burgette at the small grocery market there, I will never forget the owner and his long line of pilgrims...he stopped and asked questions of each one of us. I loved that man and he obviously loved us!
A night with pilgrims just starting out there in Ronc can not be bought for any sum of money...my vote...stay!!!!!!
Could you tell me did you book in advance? I am going in SeptemberThe dinner at Roncesvalles was dismal to say the least- Thank God the Menu del Dia only improved greatly after that!. That said, I cannot even imagined not staying at Roncesvalles, it is spectacular and the Pilgrim's Mass at 6pm was lovely. Given: the towns that followed are very quaint, but Roncesvalles's monuments and history are a true highlight of the Camino. If staying at the Casa de Beneficiados (hotel attached), they do have a buffet breakfast that was fantastic.
Could you tell me did you book in advance? I am going in September
Could you tell me did you book in advance? I am going in September
thank you can you tell me how much it cost at the Hotel Casa pleaseAnnieY-- if you are referring to the private lodging, I booked in advanced as a cautionary measure not knowing in what shape was I going to be after the crossing from SJPDP. I booked the Hotel Casa de los Beneficiados and made arrangements in advance to share with another pilgrim because the rooms in this hotel are actually apartments with small kitchenettes and living room. There was a soccer championship game that night and many pilgrims gathered at our room to watch the game. A great time. The room included dinner the day of arrival and buffet breakfast the next morning. All fantastic.
There are 4 private lodging options at the Roncesvalles historical complex: Hotel Casa de los Beneficiados, Casa Sabina, Hotel Roncesvalles, and Posada de Roncesvalles. The Posada has a small store. Hope this helps. I do agree that Burguete and Vizcarret further down some KMs are lovely, but honestly, it is a bad move to missed Roncesvalles in favor of advancing down the route. You can feel the "soul" of a 1,000 Years of Pilgrimage on this place....just amazing.
thank you that's reassuring!No need,i was there last september n although there were a lot of pilgrims there was loads of space.
thank you can you tell me how much it cost at the Hotel Casa please
I split it with another pilgrim and my share was $50 (May 2011). This included dinner and breakfast; this was an apartment. I think this is the pricier lodging option at Roncesvalles. The Hotel Roncesvalles and Casa Sabina were booked.thank you can you tell me how much it cost at the Hotel Casa please
had you booked?I arrived Roncesvalles two hours ago. What a place
Nice athmosphere and lot of space.
had you booked?
I have emailed them as I am also going in September, solo, so wanted the reassurance that I would get a bed for the night, how long did they take to get back to you?I have booked the Aubergue for September. I am not quite sure how it all works as I didn't think it could be booked. They asked for a bank transfer of the full amount. Happy to do it as am travelling solo. This will be my first night and I am very nervous about the exertion of the first day as I have some vertigo issues! After that I am going to trust the Camino and hope that if I slightly alter the regular stages I will find a bed. I have no tent, sleeping mat or other fall back solution though! As a minor question, do you think a silk bag liner treated with permethrin will be enough to counter the bedbugs or should I take a light treated fitted sheet too? Am nervous as my daughter recently had a very severe reaction to bedbugs in a home stay in the USA.
Kanga as you have stayed there before could you enlighten me about a sleeping bag, as they say on their website you need one, I had hoped not to be carrying one! And just making do with a silk liner)I assume he would be staying in the Albergue. Very few people stay elsewhere. It is also, like Orisson, a great way to meet people. There is no need to book; it is huge.
Kanga as you have stayed there before could you enlighten me about a sleeping bag, as they say on their website you need one, I had hoped not to be carrying one! And just making do with a silk liner)
One downside of the albergue is the banging of the bathroom doors in the night!
I aim to be there 21st sept and you?They were good in replying in a day or so. When are you going to be there? Hope to meet you.
thank you so muchAnnie,
The first time I stayed there the Albergue was in the main monastery complex, up several flights of stairs. It was cold as a brass monkey. You needed a fur rug, let alone a sleeping bag. The second time I stayed the Albergue had combined with the youth hostel and the heaters were on and it was too hot. The third time I stayed it was the old stone building below the roadway which was fine, although I did have a light sleeping bag. The current Albergue is back where I stayed the first time but it has been extensively refurbished so hopefully not glacially cold. I haven't stayed there since the renovations - last time I bypassed Roncesvalles and stayed in Burguette. So I can't really answer.
Mainly pilgrims are asked to use sleeping bags so they are not directly on the mattresses, but a sleeping sheet does that anyway.
thank you so muchAnnie,
All they really want is a protection between your body and the mattress. A liner will do. No one will look at what exactly you do have.
Kanga,
The new "Hiltonesque" albergue in the renovated old youth hostel space closes in November for the winter when smaller facilities are used; not much heat, however.
MM
Without a doubt for me it has always been and shall be Roncesvalles where I have had nine exhausted but memorable stops during nine caminos. Staying there one senses history in the continuous monastic tradition of welcome to all.
January 2009 I walked 18 k in 5 hours through strong wind, heavy rain, sleet and eventually dense snow up the Valcarlos road to the almost mythic monastery of Roncesvalles! Saw few people and no other pilgrims; I was the only pilgrim staying in the old winter albergue.
The monk who stamped my Credential invited me to the evening benediction for pilgrims. It was lovely. The service was held in the ancient Romanesque church (wonderfully heated!!) in front of the magnificent silver sculpture of the Virgin. Three monks assisted and asked me to stand with them at the altar. ...In retrospect how special it was that snowy night to be the single pilgrim where crowds have stood throughout time. ...
Margaret Meredith
Without a doubt for me it has always been and shall be Roncesvalles where I have had nine exhausted but memorable stops during nine caminos. Staying there one senses history in the continuous monastic tradition of welcome to all.
January 2009 I walked 18 k in 5 hours through strong wind, heavy rain, sleet and eventually dense snow up the Valcarlos road to the almost mythic monastery of Roncesvalles! Saw few people and no other pilgrims; I was the only pilgrim staying in the old winter albergue.
The monk who stamped my Credential invited me to the evening benediction for pilgrims. It was lovely. The service was held in the ancient Romanesque church (wonderfully heated!!) in front of the magnificent silver sculpture of the Virgin. Three monks assisted and asked me to stand with them at the altar. ...In retrospect how special it was that snowy night to be the single pilgrim where crowds have stood throughout time. ...
Margaret Meredith
We are staying at the hotel in an apartment. I have booked our first 3 nights on the Camino so we know we have a bed and we can assess just how we are feeling - then we will take it from there! The buffet breakfast is pricey but it might be a good option to consider. We will have a kitchen area so we could prepare a simple dinner as an alternative. Is there somewhere we could buy a few basics? Thanks for the advice.The dinner at Roncesvalles was dismal to say the least- Thank God the Menu del Dia only improved greatly after that!. That said, I cannot even imagined not staying at Roncesvalles, it is spectacular and the Pilgrim's Mass at 6pm was lovely. Given: the towns that followed are very quaint, but Roncesvalles's monuments and history are a true highlight of the Camino. If staying at the Casa de Beneficiados (hotel attached), they do have a buffet breakfast that was fantastic.
Just a couple of points.
The big newish Albergue has an elevator, thru a door at the end of the Dorm rooms. They don't advertise it.
The pilgrims dinner at the Albergue restaurant is a bit of a scramble, and altho adequate, the general opinion was that it left a bit to be desired. And that was a shame because I was looking forward to the famous Basque meal of baked whole trout.
Folks 'in the know' were pre booking dinner at one of the other establishments. You MUST book in advance apparently.
Regds
Gerard
We are staying at the hotel in an apartment. ... Is there somewhere we could buy a few basics? Thanks for the advice.
Is there a decent place for dinner in Roncesvalles?
Besides the inexpensive pilgrims' dinner which must be booked in advance three restaurants at Roncesvalles have a separate regular menu. Those restaurants are within the La Posada, Casa Sabrina and the Hotel Roncesvalles.
Over the years I have eaten at both La Posada and Casa Sabrina; my preference is for La Posada.
MM
Thanks MM. You are a gem.Besides the inexpensive pilgrims' dinner which must be booked in advance three restaurants at Roncesvalles have a separate regular menu. Those restaurants are within the La Posada, Casa Sabrina and the Hotel Roncesvalles.
Over the years I have eaten at both La Posada and Casa Sabrina; my preference is for La Posada.
MM
To the OP, the obvious question for me is why stay in Orrison? Why not go through to Roncevalles on the first day?
The walk to Orrison is extremely brief and would have driven me crazy staying for the rest of the day. We had a wonderful stay in Roncevalles and it was a great start to our camino.
Over the years I have eaten at both La Posada and Casa Sabrina; my preference is for La Posada.
MM
In my case I stayed and walked around St Jean in the morning and went to the grocery store and then left up the hill ( mountain)... Arriving at Orisson at the perfect time.I think the most obvious answer to that question is: different folks, different strokes.
Also, I wouldn't regard the walk to Orisson as being extremely brief. Certainly, by the time I settled into the Camino, anything less than 20 kms felt like a short day, but on that first day, I was quite glad when I saw Orisson looming in the near-distance. Yes, it is 'only' 8 km from St Jean and the incline becomes more pronounced beyond that point, but I recall feeling that climb in my legs and being more than happy to split the walk. I stayed in Roncesvalles the next night and didn't feel at all disadvantaged.
As others have alluded to above, I see two potential pluses to stopping at Orisson, depending upon the individual - 1. It helps to ease your body into the walk, thus helping to avoid little strains and injuries that could come back to haunt you further on, and 2. It's a great way to meet fellows pilgrims at the start of the walk and make those personal connections that help to make the Camino as special as it is.
In my case I stayed and walked around St Jean in the morning and went to the grocery store and then left up the hill ( mountain)... Arriving at Orisson at the perfect time.
Coming in from the States late this was an enjoyable morning. I was so fortunate to share it with " Black Dog" from this forum.
As tough as it was for me to get to Orrisson, I don't regret it one bit! I met two wonderful couples, and even though they are in better shape and most likely won't meet again on the Camino, but who says our paths won't once again cross.To the OP, the obvious question for me is why stay in Orrison? Why not go through to Roncevalles on the first day?
The walk to Orrison is extremely brief and would have driven me crazy staying for the rest of the day. We had a wonderful stay in Roncevalles and it was a great start to our camino.
Of course, and I was not saying that there should be only one way.As tough as it was for me to get to Orrisson, I don't regret it one bit! I met two wonderful couples, and even though they are in better shape and most likely won't meet again on the Camino, but who says our paths won't once again cross.
Canuck, your preference is yours...each pilgrim must walk their own Camino.
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Well i do not know if it is your case, but being a Roman Catholic, did the Camino mainly for religious purposes in 2010 , i left St.Jean at around 10:30 i arrived pooped out at 20:30... missing the pellegrino Mass at 20:00 with a special blessing to the peregrines attending... This year i am trying to start earlier to get there on time. for mass. Roncisvalle's accommodations ....and trout dinner... is something that is nice to remember... nice medieval surroundings and atmosphere... i would not miss it ... besides i think i would not be able to do more in a day. especially in the first week's Camino... this to me was the hardest part of the whole Camino not being very trained and with way too much stuff in my backpack (i was the one with the heaviest backpack 19,5 kg!) and so started off wrong with a lot of blisters...i had to send stuff back home (tent is useless) and other stuff to Santiago post office to get a good "light" load...that permitted me to complete the Camino.I will be beginning the Camino Frances on May the first. I will spend my first night in Orrison (I have a reservation). I had planned to stay in Roncesvalles on the next night. From my Brierley guide, I see that the distance from Orrison to Roncesvalles is about 17 K. My question is, would I be crazy to not stop in Roncesvalles and push on to either Espinal of Viskarret? Might I be too tired from crossing the Napoleon Pass to continue past Roncesvalles? Might I miss a wonderful Camino experience by passing up Roncesvalles?
Thanks.
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