The Project
✠ Be the very first Castle Hostel accommodation for Pilgrims on the Way of Saint James
✠ Unique spiritual Retreat for people who are searching for physical and spiritual renewal
✠ Camino & Templar Museum, and build the first Pilgrim Archive on the Way of Saint-James.
✠ Operated fully with the latest renewable energy systems
✠ Practical organic farming
✠ Restaurant, gift shop, library
✠ Host students of all age for educational purposes.
There are endless abandoned castles in Spain, and if they get financed, they are rebuilt as
uninhabited museums with empty walls, open only in restricted hours for visitors. On contrast to
that, we would like to rebuild a self-sustainable, living castle: a very special pilgrim hostel and
healing & meditation center unique in the Camino and maybe the world.
Pilgrims can spend the night in a real castle on the way of Santiago adding an exceptional
experience to their journey. Burned out people from the craziness of modern busy, and stressful
life can come and recharge themselves in this healing environment. It will be empowered with
renewable energy systems, solar panels, small wind turbines, water recycling and all modern
techniques to create a fortress independent from external sources, like in the medieval times. (For
many centuries, the advantages of castles was to protect the surrounding area, and to provide
enough food and water for several months, if the castle was under siege).
The idea is to recreate this self-sustainability, but adding the needs of XXI. Century people:
electricity, heating and hot water! The modern systems will be well hidden under the structure, so
we are not damaging the medieval ambiance of the Castle. On a special tour, guests can visit and
learn about this new and practical vision to resurrect abandoned places with the help of modern
technologies.
Due to the restricted living areas inside the castle, we will build stone and wood houses around the
castle to recreate the village which existed 500 years ago. In the long term, we will produce our
own food in our farms and have animals to produce milk and meat. We will create a very unique
and exemplary community which serves the pilgrims, locals, and whoever wishes to spend time in
a real Templar castle retreat.
A day in the Castle
Pilgrims will have to walk up to the castle from the pilgrim route. It’s almost a kilometre long, and the fortress is 150 meters above the village. Not everybody will walk up to the castle from the pilgrim crowd, making it an exceptional journey for those who will take that challenge. They will enjoy the walk among an amazing forest leading to the castle. Along the way, they will be able to relax several times on special hand carved benches and quench their thirst
with fresh mountain water coming from a well.
At the entrance of the Castle, they will be welcomed with fresh fruit from our garden, and they can remove their boots, while the Hospitalero/a helps wash their feet from a running water source specially built for that purpose. This is a very important symbol, reinforcing the spirit of the Camino and the teachings of Jesus. Also a deeper connection is created between two people: the one willing to wash the feet of an unknown individual with love and humility, and the other letting the other accepting the gift and kindness.
Then, a page boy will escort the exhausted pilgrim to the medieval Tavern to register and receive a special Templar castle stamp. Pilgrims will have several options while staying in the castle: They can participate in the Templar work life of the castle, meditate in our Templar chapel, enjoy the amazing view and fill the lungs with pure fresh air from the mountains. Pilgrims can visit our Eco village and learn how to grow fresh vegetables in their home or just chill for a few hours in the
special built medieval spa, with a huge wooden bath and medieval steam room and sauna to ease the achy muscles after a long walk. They can get to know more about the life of the Templars or read other pilgrims memories in the library, while having coffee. They can help us to prepare food, and then enjoy the extensive dinner among other guests in the medieval dining room next to an amazing fireplace. At night, if the weather conditions allow it, we will sit by the fire and listen to songs or just enjoy the night after a long journey. They can expect to have the best sleep in their Camino, in a strong wooden bed, especially hand made for the need, and comfort of an exhausted pilgrim.
The Templars
"Lions in war, lambs in peace" Jaques de Vitry
I have studied for many years the mystical order of the Nights Templars, and their story is fabulous and exemplary. In 1018, nine brave knights from the first crusade decided to create an order out of the ordinary. They have sworn poverty, lived like monks, but trained as warriors. They have created something non existing before: A warrior monk! Fully devoted to their faith, but fearsome soldiers for only one goal: protect pilgrims no matter what faith they believed in.
Their emblem was of two knights riding on a single horse, emphasizing the order's poverty and brotherhood among them.
They had no possession, only a modest humble clothes they were wearing and their military equipment: their sword and horses. They weren't allowed to look and talk to a woman, not even their relatives. Despite all this many noble wealthy men gave up their wealth, donated everything they had to the Order, and gave up completely their personal freedom.
With perseverance and faith, they have built an empire. They became bankers, entrepreneurs, they had had lands, forests, castles and headquarters all over Europe and the Holy Land.
Nothing for themselves, but everything for the common cause.
I believe they found a true and very direct source to Christ. A divine light source they understood and cultivated mostly in secret. Their history is surrounded with legends, who inspire thousands. Independent Templar associations are growing and everybody is searching in themselves to try to acquire that knowledge.
I believe this can be achieved with ...
A few years ago, I was talking to a modern Templar, who lives alone in a small abandoned village. Locals consider him a gifted man, with incredible knowledge about the Order. Not just literal knowledge, but way beyond. I asked him, how come so many Templar organizations are appearing nowadays?
He told me, that times are coming, when Templar spirit and strength is needed more than ever, and old Templar souls are being reincarnated.
"Reincarnation" may not be a Christian idea...but I think Templars have reached that level, and I truly like to think aboutr that possibility. Templar spirituality is needed more than ever in our world!
