Hostel of Santa Irene in the French Way
Public network of Pilgrims’ hostels in The Way of Saint James
Public network of Pilgrims’ hostels in The Way of Saint James
This takes the network of medieval hospitals as a model and today there are 69 centres and more than 3,000 public places. Nowdays, hostels develop an important work as dynamizers of local life, while contributing to the recovery of historial heritage.

The Public network of Pilgrims’ hostels in The Way of Saint James, managed by the S.A. de Xestión do Plan Xacobeo, commenced in 1993 and today there are 69 centres and more than 3,000 places. The model taken is the network of medieval hospitals which, dependent on the monastic, military orders or episcopal or monarchic initiatives, attended to the basic needs of pilgrims from the earliest times.
Receiving the pilgrim is precisely one of the foundational characteristics of the Way of Saint James
We must not forget that receiving the pilgrim is precisely one of the foundational characteristics of the Way of Saint James, which updates and renews the spirit of solidarity which has traditionally prevailed in Galicia.
The hostels of the public network are equipped with dormitories, toilets, kitchens, sitting rooms and laundries, and also have adapted installations.
Occupation and use of the public network of Pilgrims’ hostels in The Way of Saint James
The places will be occupied when the pilgrims arrive and those who have physical limitations and those travelling the Way on foot will have priority.

The order of priority for the occupation of the hostels will be the one set out below: pilgrims with physical limitations, pilgrims on foot, pilgrims on horseback, pilgrims cycling and, finally, persons travelling in support cars.
The use of the hostel to spend the night and/or the use of any of the services and installations will entail payment of €6 per person per day.
The places will be occupied when the pilgrims arrive at the hostels The places and, in no case, is it possible to make reservations.
The use of the hostel to spend the night and/or the use of any of the services and installations, will entail payment of €6 per person per day, which will be justified by the voucher which will be handed over by the person responsible for the hostel at the time of payment.
Schedules, services and rules of conduct
They are open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. and the maximum stay will be one night only. They have hot water and disposable bed linen.

The stay in each hostel will be for one night only except in the case of illness or another reason of force majeure. Doors open at 1 p.m. and close at 10 p.m. In order to respect people’s rest, lights go out at 10.30 p.m. except for the common areas. The hostels must be vacated before 8 a.m. the following morning.
The hostels must be vacated before 8 a.m. and all the space must be left tidy and clean.
The users must take care of the installations, leaving them tidy and clean. They must collect and deposit the rubbish in the corresponding containers. Neither water nor electricity must be wasted. Clothes will be dried exclusively on the clothes lines.
The bunk beds have disposable bed linen. The kitchen may be used (tableware is not guaranteed) and the showers have hot water.
Failure of the users to comply with the rules, as well as any conduct which might be considered to be disruptive of the good functioning of the hostels, will empower those responsible for the network to oblige the offenders to leave the hostels, without prejudice to the existence of responsibilities, including the prohibition to use any other hostel of the network.
The hostel is not responsible for the belongings of the pilgrims, both indoor and outdoor.
Where are they?
List of Network public Hostels of the Way of Saint James in Galicia, with location, contact, characteristics and images of each one.