The encierrillo
The name "encierrillo" is given to the task to moving the bulls up to the bullpen from where they will start their morning run. This event takes place the night before each run. When the bulls are brought to Pamplona they are first put in pens just outside the city walls on the far side of the river.
The night before each run they are moved from this place up to the pen in Santo Domingo Street from where they will start the morning run to the bullring. This distance between the two pens is about one kilometer and is covered by the bulls on foot. However, in this case there are no runners allowed to lead the bulls from one pen to the other. The Drovers will do this job using their long rods. Spectators may line the route at certain points and many people avail of this opportunity to get a first look at those bulls who will do the run the following morning and who will be killed in the ring that same afternoon.
It is necessary to get a pass to watch the event. You can get it at the Cultural City Office at Descalzos street the previous days of the fiesta. Call the information phone 010 of the city council and they will tell you which day can you get them (2 per person). This name is used to describe the removal of the bulls from their pens in the Rochapea the night before the running of the bulls. The six bulls are brought up on foot to the pen in Santo Domingo in readiness for the following morning's running of the bulls. There are no runners used on this stretch between the Rochapea and Santo Domingo. The event takes place at about 11.00 at night.
The stretch is about 440 meters long. A few minutes before the bulls are let loose, a group of municipal police clear the stretch and the bull-minders take up their positions along the route. A cornet is sounded to announce that the pen in Santo Domingo is opened and in readiness. A guard on the bridge of the Rochapea, on hearing this, blows a second cornet to announce that the route is all clear and then the pens are opened and the six bulls and bell-oxen are let out with the bull-minders in close attendance behind them.
The spectacle is watched in silence in total contrast to the noisy reception the bulls will experience the following morning when they make their run from the Santo Domingo pen up to the Bullring. This event takes place late at night when it is already dark and for some people it has a certain mystìc - the majestic bulls cantering silently along under the still light of the shining moon. If you are not a real fan of the bulls the whole thing might seem a bit of a damper but for some people it has its emotion.
