Most pilgrims will spend at least several nights in the company of their fellow walkers in a local albergue. These places form the backbone of the Camino experience. Some are very rustic (the albergue at Manjarín), delightfully eccentric (Albergue parroquial San Juan Bautista in Grañon), religious (Albergue del Monasterio de Samos) or beautifully restored in an historic building (Albergue de peregrinos in Roncesvalles). For many, it is the essence of their Camino. As the popularity of the route blossomed, alternatives to a night in the dormitory appeared. Now, in addition to an albergue stay, the modern pilgrim can enjoy a night in a less communal space. Private rooms, hot showers with clean sheets and towels help ease the stress of a long day on the road.
Future posts will take a look at those special accommodations offered to a weary traveller along the Camino Francés. From boutique hotels and inns to restored palaces, we will look at distinctive lodgings where the pilgrim can take a moment to rest a tired body, awake refreshed and begin the way forward again.