Albergue with no Electricity

[EricBerg]

I walked the Camino Frances last year and I recall passing a small Albergue, which I think was hosted by Italian monks (I could be wrong). I think it had no electricity and was lit by candles. Not sure what they did about hot water though!
Does anybody know where this is and have you stayed there?

Many thanks

Eric

 

[SabsP]

Here you go.

Albergue de San Nicolas | Camino de Santiago Apps and Maps

Albergue de San Nicolas, Parochial accommodation in Ermita de San Nicolás. One of the more unique albergues, it is operated by an Italian confraternity.

www.wisepilgrim.com

Albergue de San Nicolás de Puente Fitero | Albergue de Peregrinos en Ermita de San Nicolás de Puente Fitero | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue de San Nicolás de Puente Fitero, en Ermita de San Nicolás de Puente Fitero: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

Will not open this year.

 

[Albertagirl]

I passed by there twice on the Frances. Both times it was not open to passing pilgrims. If I remember correctly, it was closed on my first time through and booked for a group the second time. I would not count on it for reliable accommodation. However, I would still like to stay there if I ever pass through again. If you want an albergue with interesting historical roots and no electricity, you could try San Anton, just before Castrojeriz,.

 

[DonCamino]

Hi all,

my most impressive experience on all my caminos over 7 years! So fantastic. Mass at night, ritual foot washing, delicious dinner with wine and candle light, cosy hospitality! And donativo, imagine: there are people asking, „hmmm, how much should i give“....

Must shed a tear sometimes when I think of San Nicolas.

Was my best albergue ever. (Perhaps because it was my first and psychically important camino with very strong influences).

DonCamino

 

[Roland49]

Part of my Camino-family stayed there last year and told me that it was a wonderful experience.

I had to walk further to Itero de la Vega, b/c the San Nicolas was full. It is really small.
You are lucky if you can stay there for the night.

 

[VNwalking]

Same as @Don Camillo .
I walked a short stage from San Anton, and it was so wonderful to have two very special nights in a row like that. One thing about albergues with no electricity is it they attract people who 'get' the deeper aspects of the Camino. It's like stepping back in time.

 

[Anniesantiago]

We stayed there in 2009 when you still had to pump water to wash clothes. By 2013, the pump was gone. I also remember seeing ULTREIA for the first time there. It was one of the highlights of the Camino for me. The dinner was awesome and we drank wine and sang until bedtime.

 

[Sue127]

Sounds magical

 

[VNwalking]

These are from last year.
It was a magical place, and the two Italian hospitaleros were gentle giants.
We were hanging out in front of the building in the evening when the hospi who had just finished at San Anton the day before came by her a car to check on one of the pilgrims whose feet were in terrible shape, just to make sure he had made it OK. Very touching - such heart!

 

[josephmcclain]

Yes, i will never forget my night at St Nicholas. The ceremony of feet washing, the dinner by candle light, watching a huge starry sky with the Italian hospitaleros, waking with candle light before dawn.

 

[lt56ny]

There is also the albergue that is about 5k before Castrojerig called Albergue Hospital de perigrinos de San Anton. It is where the ruins of a church and the big arch we walk under. I found out about it on my second Camino but it was too early to stop. The last time I walked the CF was this past winter and it was closed. I have heard wonderful things about this donativo. I know there is no hot water either.

Albergue Hospital de peregrinos de San Antón | Albergue de Peregrinos en Convento de San Antón | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue Hospital de peregrinos de San Antón, en Convento de San Antón: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

I would love to stay here one day. It would be nice if anyone has stayed here and could share their experience.

 

[Albertagirl]

There is also the albergue that is about 5k before Castrojerig called Albergue Hospital de perigrinos de San Anton. It is where the ruins of a church and the big arch we walk under. I found out about it on my second Camino but it was too early to stop. The last time I walked the CF was this past winter and it was closed. I have heard wonderful things about this donativo. I know there is no hot water either.

Albergue Hospital de peregrinos de San Antón | Albergue de Peregrinos en Convento de San Antón | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue Hospital de peregrinos de San Antón, en Convento de San Antón: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

I would love to stay here one day. It would be nice if anyone has stayed here and could share their experience.

@lt56ny
I have copied the text below from my post on the thread: "Let's build an albergue!"

The wonderful welcome by the two female hospitaleras who were at San Anton the night that I stayed there, and the sense of the centuries of pilgrims who stayed there before me, are most vital to me when on pilgrimage. More than hot water, or electricity, or even wifi. I must be crazy, but the cold water shower, the very basic pilgrim vegetable stew, and the single dormitory with metal bunks proved to be all that I needed. It was simply heavenly. I left with a grateful heart and a sense of wonder for the privilege of being on pilgrimage.

It is certainly worth a visit and I shall return if I pass by there again.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

If you love Albergue San Anton, you can help them out!
The volunteer hospitaleros who serve there sleep in an old shipping container, hot in summer, damp in the rain, stone cold at night. With the gates closed for the year, the non-profit association that runs the place has finally decided to put the caretakers in more comfortable quarters: a camper!
A second-hand model has been found, which offers a bit of privacy as well as much more comfy temperatures. During the winter it can be moved under cover.
Now we just need to raise the money to pay for it! We hope for 4000, but we'll take whatever people can spare. With Ivar's permission, I will direct you to Peaceableprojects.org website, a US non-profit that supports these magical camino places, where you can make your tax-deductible donation via PayPal.

 

[dougfitz]

If you love Albergue San Anton, you can help them out!
The volunteer hospitaleros who serve there sleep in an old shipping container, hot in summer, damp in the rain, stone cold at night. With the gates closed for the year, the non-profit association that runs the place has finally decided to put the caretakers in more comfortable quarters: a camper!
A second-hand model has been found, which offers a bit of privacy as well as much more comfy temperatures. During the winter it can be moved under cover.
Now we just need to raise the money to pay for it! We hope for 4000, but we'll take whatever people can spare. With Ivar's permission, I will direct you to Peaceableprojects.org website, a US non-profit that supports these magical camino places, where you can make your tax-deductible donation via PayPal.

As a one-time short-term resident of the shipping container, this deserves all the support we can give it.

 

[lt56ny]

If you love Albergue San Anton, you can help them out!
The volunteer hospitaleros who serve there sleep in an old shipping container, hot in summer, damp in the rain, stone cold at night. With the gates closed for the year, the non-profit association that runs the place has finally decided to put the caretakers in more comfortable quarters: a camper!
A second-hand model has been found, which offers a bit of privacy as well as much more comfy temperatures. During the winter it can be moved under cover.
Now we just need to raise the money to pay for it! We hope for 4000, but we'll take whatever people can spare. With Ivar's permission, I will direct you to Peaceableprojects.org website, a US non-profit that supports these magical camino places, where you can make your tax-deductible donation via PayPal.

Thanks I will go and check this out and help. Thank you Rebekah. I have heard you interviewed and read many of your posts you are a cherished and valued Perigrina of the Camino.

 

[dougfitz]

It would be nice if anyone has stayed here and could share their experience.

Many have in the past. Try searching using the term 'San Anton'. You might get another 'San ...' but you will get any mentions of San Anton.

 

[Massey]

Albergue San Nicholas is between Castrojeriz and Formista just before Boadilla del Camino. Details are in Brierley guide. I’ve stopped there for coffee and found it very welcoming.

 

[jmcarp]

There is also the albergue that is about 5k before Castrojerig called Albergue Hospital de perigrinos de San Anton...

... It would be nice if anyone has stayed here and could share their experience.

It was our favorite night on the Camino. There's something magic about that place -- maybe because the lack of amenities cause many to pass it by, but if you're one of the ones who look deeper than the surface and decide to stay there, be assured you'll be among kindred souls.

 

[John Hungerford]

Back in 2009 the small albergue in San Bol (between Hornillos del Camino and Hontanas) also did not have electricity, nor a toilet, nor running water (except for a pipe leading to an outdoor swimming pool). Nevertheless we had a good stay there. The Brazillian hospitalero cooked on a gas stove - paella for dinner then crepes for breakfast. Also a donativo. We were the only two pilgrims staying. So the hospi and his girlfriend (a Dutch pilgrim who 'lingered') plus an Irish lad who had been a temporary hospi there - all slept in the attic.

 

[linkster]

In October 2018, I left Castrojeriz and was at the top of Alto de Mostelares to watch the sunrise. I caught the tail end of a hurricane. High winds, and deluged with rain. The albergue was a welcome sight. It was the last day they were open for the year. They gave us some hot coffee, and little biscuits. We changed into dry clothes and warmed up before heading back out. At the time it was perfect!

 

[VNwalking]

It would be nice if anyone has stayed here and could share their experience.

I got there early in the afternoon as it was a short stage from Rabe, but I thought the albergue would fill, so...
better safe than sorry. It didn't. All afternoon people streamed past on their way to places with electricity and wifi and modcons, sometimes having a quick look around and hurrying on their way. That left just a few of us to bliss out on a full moon night inside the ruins of this amazing place. I got the bunk by the glass door, so could see the full moon coming up behind the ruined apse from my sleeping bag. It doesn't get much more magical than that.

Except that the moon part was after a shared meal and very warm companionship around the table.
I felt a little sorry for the people who had gone on to stay in the albergues in Castrojerez; the whole evening was pure magic.

Softly awakened by music in the morning and saying farewell to the two hospitaleras, I left feeling full of heart.

Now we just need to raise the money to pay for it! We hope for 4000, but we'll take whatever people can spare.

Joyfully done!

 

[Allyson Hughes]

I stayed there in October 2019. I knew it was there and made sure to stay there. I walked from Hontanas, another special place to stay. It was magical. I think if I were to do the Camino Frances again, I would stay at 5 special places, even though some of them are only five miles apart. I don't care what time I get into Santiago, I care how the trip getting there is.

 

[linkster]

I think if I were to do the Camino Frances again, I would stay at 5 special places, even though some of them are only five miles apart.

@Allyson Hughes What are the 5 special places?

 

[Allyson Hughes]

http://www.alberguesdelcamino.com/sarria/albergue-monasterio-de-la-magdalena Go here from Triacastella instead of straight to Sarria. I didn't stay in the monastery. I stayed at a small hotel with a friend that we split for something like $15. It was raining when we got there and the monastery looked very cold! But the monastery is amazing. I have done the mental twice, and the second time I did some of the things that I missed from the first time. This is one of them. Atapuerca is another one. Villafranca de Bierzo, Arroyo San Bol, Molinaseca, LaFaba on the way up to O cebreiro. Don't stay there... Too touristy. Go from La Faba over the mountain and down to Fonfria.

 

[VNwalking]

Go from La Faba over the mountain and down to Fonfria.

Yes!
Or if you want to go farther, from La Faba to past Triacastella, to stay in Albergue El Beso. Also special. ☺

 

[EricBerg]

@Allyson Hughes What are the 5 special places?

My question as well

 

[EricBerg]

http://www.alberguesdelcamino.com/sarria/albergue-monasterio-de-la-magdalena Go here from Triacastella instead of straight to Sarria. I didn't stay in the monastery. I stayed at a small hotel with a friend that we split for something like $15. It was raining when we got there and the monastery looked very cold! But the monastery is amazing. I have done the mental twice, and the second time I did some of the things that I missed from the first time. This is one of them. Atapuerca is another one. Villafranca de Bierzo, Arroyo San Bol, Molinaseca, LaFaba on the way up to O cebreiro. Don't stay there... Too touristy. Go from La Faba over the mountain and down to Fonfria.

Thanks for the info and I will bear it in mind for my next camino. I see the villages/towns you stopped at, but which Albergues?
Eric

 

[EricBerg]

Thank you all for your wonderful comments.

 

[DeaconJohnny]

Yes, I stayed at the Hospitál San Nicolas. It was one of the most memorable stays on the Camino. The Italians were the best hosts. They fed us, washed our feet, prayed, sang, and shared our stories. The 1100-year-old church has no electricity but an outbuilding is behind it with some solar power for warm showers. The Ermita de San Nicolás is near Km marker 435 about 2 KM before Itero de la Vega.

 

[henrythedog]

Pretty much everything that Peaceable support, deserves support - so I have. I do wish that relatively small projects such as this where one feels a contribution might actually make a difference, made themselves more visible, I’m sure the funding would be there.