Albergue in Villavieja

[ranthr]

Read a link to ELBIERZONOTICIAS.COM on the the facbook site of Camino de Santiago de Invierno that el ayuntamiento de Priaranza will open an albergue in Villavieja in the old school.
Perhaps some of you who speak Spanish could have a look and do some translation. I could not see an openingdate. The headline was this: Después de 10 años - habemus albergue.

 

[KinkyOne]

Good news. Nice stage from Ponferrada to Villavieja and next day to Puente de Domingo Florez.

Link:
http://www.elbierzonoticias.com/bierzo/ayuntamiento-priaranza-inaugura-20180403121336-nt.html

Google translate:
"The City Council of Priaranza del Bierzo will hold Wednesday the opening ceremony of the municipal hostel for pilgrims in the old schools of Villavieja. It is the first to enter into operation after the recognition of the alternative route to Santiago, the Winter Road.

The new building, which will accommodate walkers traveling to the city of the Apostle, will be named after the ex-commissar of the Ways to Santiago de Castilla y León, Manuel Fuentes.

In this regard, the vice president of the association of the Camino de Invierno to Santiago by El Bierzo and spokesperson for the Coalition for Bierzo (CB) in Priaranza, David Pacios, praised the inauguration of the facilities as "very positive" news. "We have been claiming this for more than a decade, it was about time," said Pacios, thanking the efforts that have made it possible to address the claims of the group. "At last there is a shelter here, in our area, now we need it to start working, which is what we all want," he added.

In this sense, Pacios described the inauguration of the "first step" facilities in the enhancement of this alternative route to the traditional French Way, which already has official recognition by the Xunta de Galicia. "Regarding the recognition by the Board, today there is still nothing," lamented the association's vice president, who said that the route has already aroused the interest of both public and private initiative in its area Galician

Regarding the future of the facilities, Pacios stressed that "the principles are always complicated." "It is not a matter of opening and thinking that each day there will be 20 pilgrims, the big challenge will be to keep it open," explained the spokesman Bercianista in the municipality, which claimed that the opening of the shelter is accompanied by additional services for the pilgrim like a small store or a bar. "Hopefully it is not the last," he said."

 

[peregrina2000]

Hooray!! this one is the first of a number of planned albergues. Hope the 2019 guide will include several more.

So @ranthr you can be one of the first to sleep there. Please report back.

Hopefully a more permanent presence in Villavieja for pilgrims will encourage the owner of the mastiff to be more responsible.

 

[Ribeirasacra]

Dates of inorgorations are never set in stone in Spain. The AVE train link Madrid to Galicia. Originally 2010 now around about 2018. Pilgrims centre in Monforte de Lemos. It is ready, but no money to staff or furnish it. Opening delayed. I could give a few more examples but I think you get my drift. That is why it has taken so long.

 

[KinkyOne]

...
Hopefully a more permanent presence in Villavieja for pilgrims will encourage the owner of the mastiff to be more responsible.

Or the mastiff will get used to passing pilgrims

 

[Charrito]

Good news. Nice stage from Ponferrada to Villavieja and next day to Puente de Domingo Florez.

Link:
http://www.elbierzonoticias.com/bierzo/ayuntamiento-priaranza-inaugura-20180403121336-nt.html

Google translate:
"The City Council of Priaranza del Bierzo will hold Wednesday the opening ceremony of the municipal hostel for pilgrims in the old schools of Villavieja. It is the first to enter into operation after the recognition of the alternative route to Santiago, the Winter Road.

The new building, which will accommodate walkers traveling to the city of the Apostle, will be named after the ex-commissar of the Ways to Santiago de Castilla y León, Manuel Fuentes.

In this regard, the vice president of the association of the Camino de Invierno to Santiago by El Bierzo and spokesperson for the Coalition for Bierzo (CB) in Priaranza, David Pacios, praised the inauguration of the facilities as "very positive" news. "We have been claiming this for more than a decade, it was about time," said Pacios, thanking the efforts that have made it possible to address the claims of the group. "At last there is a shelter here, in our area, now we need it to start working, which is what we all want," he added.

In this sense, Pacios described the inauguration of the "first step" facilities in the enhancement of this alternative route to the traditional French Way, which already has official recognition by the Xunta de Galicia. "Regarding the recognition by the Board, today there is still nothing," lamented the association's vice president, who said that the route has already aroused the interest of both public and private initiative in its area Galician

Regarding the future of the facilities, Pacios stressed that "the principles are always complicated." "It is not a matter of opening and thinking that each day there will be 20 pilgrims, the big challenge will be to keep it open," explained the spokesman Bercianista in the municipality, which claimed that the opening of the shelter is accompanied by additional services for the pilgrim like a small store or a bar. "Hopefully it is not the last," he said."

Too close to Ponferrada, methinks. I wish they'd open something in Las/As Médulas!

 

[KinkyOne]

Too close to Ponferrada, methinks. I wish they'd open something in Las/As Médulas!

It suits me as a perfect stage from Molinaseca (if sleeping in Foncebaddon) or even El Acebo because my knees can't do the up and down over Foncebaddon in one day. Also for me nothing much to see in Ponferrada except the castle and the market. And I've seen them both.
And after that killer uphill to Villavieja, whew, an albergue and adjoining bar

 

[Charrito]

It suits me as a perfect stage from Molinaseca (if sleeping in Foncebaddon) or even El Acebo because my knees can't do the up and down over Foncebaddon in one day. Also for me nothing much to see in Ponferrada except the castle and the market. And I've seen them both.
And after that killer uphill to Villavieja, whew, an albergue and adjoining bar

You're a man after my own heart! As long as there's a bar we're happy!

 

[KinkyOne]

You're a man after my own heart! As long as there's a bar we're happy!

I think we are just pleased or merely satisfied if there is a bar. But if there would be at least three bars then we'll be really happy

OK, enough of beer-bar-off-topic-spamming, hahaha.

 

[peregrina2000]

Or the mastiff will get used to passing pilgrims

Well, the owner of the very pretty casa rural in Villavieja told me that the owner of the dog and the dog have been oblivious to his pleas to do something to keep the dog from running and barking all over the village. Apparently, this dog routinely terrorizes the kids whose families are staying in the CR and the owner of the dog seems to care not one whit. So I am dubious that the dog will get used to the pilgrims any more then it has gotten used to the people renting the Casa Rural. But we can hope!!!

 

[ranthr]

 

[ranthr]

Hooray!! this one is the first of a number of planned albergues. Hope the 2019 guide will include several more.

So @ranthr you can be one of the first to sleep there. Please report back.

Hopefully a more permanent presence in Villavieja for pilgrims will encourage the owner of the mastiff to be more responsible. [/QU

@peregrina2000
After reading Lukas post about the dogs - and wolves en route - I really don't know. If I pass through Villavieja I'll have a look inside and report.

 

[KinkyOne]

It reminds me of the albergue in Lubian on Sanabres

 

[amancio]

Beautiful village, great looking albergue, but the place is pretty much dead, unless it does have a well equipped kitchen, I cannot see much usage for it. And Villavieja is stunning as a place! But you need minimum services/help. The Camino up to Villavieja and the castle at Cornatel is a beauty, a bit steep in places, but thoroughly enjoyable, indeed!

 

[ranthr]

Beautiful village, great looking albergue, but the place is pretty much dead, unless it does have a well equipped kitchen, I cannot see much usage for it. And Villavieja is stunning as a place! But you need minimum services/help. The Camino up to Villavieja and the castle at Cornatel is a beauty, a bit steep in places, but thoroughly enjoyable, indeed!

I did not see the albergue, was it off the camino higher up? Only passed the big dog who was quiet and loose but did not bother about me before climbing up towards Cornatel.

 

[amancio]

I think the Albergue was on your left as you come into the village. I hope it catches up and somebody might open a bar and give that tiny village a bit of life. When we walked through Villavieja, it was pretty much dead, except for a farmer that had Scorpions music blaring off loudspeakers (not nice).

 

[peregrina2000]

except for a farmer that had Scorpions music blaring off loudspeakers (not nice).

Pure conjecture on my part, but I think that might be the owner of the large mastiff. Was it coming from the left, after you went through the little nucleus of houses? He had loud music blaring when I walked through so he couldn't hear either the dog barking or me yelling "oiga." But I remember he was standing up on some sort of balcony and looked like he might be a fan of heavy metal .

But the good news may be that he has decided to keep his dog somewhere where it won't terrorize pilgrims or the children whose families rent the casas rurales in town.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

I passed Villavieja one week ago. No sign of the mastiff. What I did see are brand new announcements of Albergue in Villavieja. Written on or above the mojones, some signs beautifully written on signs of wood... It starts well before the ascent to the castle Cornatel. So I guess the albergue is up and running?

 

[Charrito]

I passed Villavieja one week ago. No sign of the mastiff. What I did see are brand new announcements of Albergue in Villavieja. Written on or above the mojones, some signs beautifully written on signs of wood... It starts well before the ascent to the castle Cornatel. So I guess the albergue is up and running?

Signs everywhere, indeed! It's just a bit too far off the beaten track, though.

 

[caminka]

It's just a bit too far off the beaten track, though.

but it's in a perfect position for a shorter first day from ponferrada that can include a leasurely backpack-free visit of castillo de cornatel in the afternoon, then a shorter second day to las medulas with a leasurely visit of the roman mines. and let's not forget those that can only walk short, 15-20km, days.

 

[Charrito]

All I meant to say is that there is little or nothing to do once you are in Villavieja!

 

[KinkyOne]

All I meant to say is that there is little or nothing to do once you are in Villavieja!

Well, I guess you just have to stock up on things (like beer) and carry them up that killer incline