The Templar Refuge of Manjarín, founded in 1993 by Tomás Martínez de Paz, has closed its doors to pilgrims. Located at the highest point on the Camino de Santiago Frances, this iconic hostel offered traditional hospitality in an austere, symbolic setting.
Tomás, known as “the last Templar“, spent more than three decades welcoming pilgrims, offering coffee, broth and a place to rest, all in exchange for a donativo. However, financial difficulties, a lack of institutional support and the deterioration of the facilities, such as the collapse of the roof, have led to the refuge’s closure.
Despite no longer offering overnight stays, Tomás continues to offer coffee and broth to pilgrims passing through Manjarín between 8am and 1pm, keeping the essence of Jacobean hospitality alive.
The refuge’s closure represents a significant loss for the Camino de Santiago community, since Manjarín was a symbol of selfless hospitality and the spirit of pilgrimage. Tomás has expressed his wish for this tradition to continue and has called on the community to find ways to preserve this legacy.
Written by Tomás.
29 YEARS HAVE PASSED NOW, IN WHICH MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED HERE. THE LITTLE SCHOOLHOUSE HAS BEEN THE LITTLE REFUGE THAT HAS SHELTERED MORE THAN 65,000 PILGRIMS FROM EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. SOME 2 MILLION HAVE PASSED THROUGH OVER THESE YEARS, WE ARE STILL HERE FIGHTING ON. THE WEATHER IN WINTER, AND EVEN IN MAY, IS COLD AND HARSH… WE ARE AT 1460m. AND IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LEON… BEFORE THERE WAS NOTHING AND NO ONE, THE CAMINO WAS AND STILL IS PURER..34KM TO PONFERRADA FROM RABANAL AND HERE TOOK SHELTER EVERYONE WHO PASSED THROUGH IN FOG, WIND AND RAIN OR SNOW. THE COFFEE OR THE HOT BROTH WAS LIKE FOOD FROM HEAVEN. FONCEBADÓN WAS NOTHING BUT A RUIN ON THE GROUND. NOW THERE ARE 5 HOSTELS AND 6 BARS AND RESTAURANTS WITH ROOM FOR MORE THAN 120 PILGRIMS…AND IN EL ACEBO 5 REFUGES AND 5 TAVERNS..HERE OVER TIME THE FACILITIES HAVE DETERIORATED….SO WE HAVE CLOSED OVERNIGHT STAYS WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE NECESSARY GRANT TO FIX THEM. ANYWAY, I’VE BEEN HERE ALMOST 30 YEARS…AND IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT STEPPING BACK..WHICH IS NOW CLOSE. TODAY IS A GOOD DAY..
UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES HAVE BEEN ETCHED INTO MY SPIRIT….A BIG, BROTHERLY EMBRACE FOR EVERYONE…”
TOMÁS OF MANJARÍN.
Stage Rabanal del Camino >> Ponferrada
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