Monasterio de Zenarruza

Camino del Norte

To end of camino
734.5
Altitude
305

Ziortza

0.30

Monasterio de Zenarruza

4.00

Munitibar

History

On the west gate of the Monastery is a relief carving of an eagle carrying a skull, not a traditional motif for any building but one that illustrates the story of the monastery’s early days. On the day of the Assumption in 968, residents of a nearby Munitibar (the next town on the camino) were celebrating mass when an eagle flew into an open tomb and made off with the skull. They tracked the bird to this spot, where he released the skull. Recognizing divinity when the saw it a church was built, which grew to sustain a town and by the 14th century work on the monastery had begun.

The Road

Beyond the monastery the camino turns right and into the forest again.

City Map

Comments

All Caminos App User (not verified)

They will find a place to sleep for everyone who comes. You can also camp in the gardens. Really nice dinner of pasta with tomato sauce and vegetables and baguette with jam for breakfast. The place is beautiful and calm and perfect to relax if you need a little break.

All Caminos App User (not verified)

Great albergue at the monastery with great hospitality, we felt so welcome! Be there in time to make sure you get a bed. We ate dinner together and got a pilgrim blessing from the monks. They also had local produced beer for sale. Good washing and drying clothes possibilities. Donativo based.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

Great albergue, highly recommend. Am a solo female and had no encounters with a touchy monk, seems the problem may have been resolved.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

I stayed there last night. Asked about Ramon. He is a 82 year old monk with dementia.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

Saw reviews here, tried to stay together but one girl was alone arriving and met old man asking for a hug. His name is Ramon, white man in 70s. Sent info and pic to tourist office in Deba, hoping they can resolve. Still a special place to stay - dinner was great, by donation. Bathrooms are accessed from outside.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

Wonderful place to stay. The monks are helpful. You get an insight in the rhythm of monastic life. Clean and good communal meal.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

The monks are simply charming. We arrived in a downpour and they took the time to show us around.
Vespers at 7.30
Dinner served in our accommodation at 8pm
Benediction and pilgrim blessing at 9pm

The food was good and wholesome, washed down with wine bought from the monastery shop.

The whole experience was up lifting and more than I could hope for.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

Didn't stay there because of the comments with the old man, and a peregrina told me the day after that the same happened to her.
Apart from that, it looks lovely and some people said they had a wonderful communal dinner and there was a mass for peregrinos as well.
Probably around 30-40 people stayed there.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

Also had similar encounter with the old man who appeared to me to be a monk covered with black anorak. Quite disconcerting. I'm 71!

Camino de Sant…

We missed this pace and stayed in Markina instead but honestly its so picturesque we would probably have chosen to stay here instead. Seems like it was open as other pilgrims we met stayed here.