A new beginning in the heart of the French Way
The historic pilgrim house The House of Smiles, located in Grañón, on Calle Mayor number 16, reopens its doors in a new stage marked by continuity and respect for its essence. Antonio, a volunteer hospital worker, is now in charge of the shelter, taking on the challenge of reactivating a very special space within the Camino de Santiago.
Its reopening means recovering a place where hospitality goes beyond accommodation, keeping alive a way of understanding the Camino based on coexistence and humane treatment.
The legacy of Ernesto Díaz Sobremazas
To talk about The House of Smiles is to talk about its founder, Ernesto Díaz Sobremazas, a key figure in the recent history of the Camino in Grañón. It was he who promoted this project with a clear idea: to create a space where pilgrims not only rested, but lived a shared experience.
Ernesto opted for a different model, based on trust, hospitality and the participation of the pilgrims themselves. For years, the house became a place of reference, where conversations, shared dinners and experiences were part of the Camino itself.
Although in this new stage he has decided to stay in the shadows, his spirit is still present in every detail of the hostel.
Antonio, new volunteer hospitalero
Antonio now takes over with the aim of keeping the original philosophy intact. His role as a volunteer hospitalero goes beyond day-to-day management: he is the one who receives, accompanies and shares the Camino with those who arrive in Grañón.
The hostel has:
- 17 beds distributed in 7 rooms
- A close and calm environment
- Spaces designed for coexistence
And it maintains one of the most authentic elements of the Camino:
👉 lunch, dinner and breakfast for donation
Hours and operation
The House of Smiles opens during the hours of:
🕐 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
📞 Contact: 645 247 092
A schedule designed to facilitate the arrival of pilgrims after the stage, in a welcoming and familiar environment.
Grañón, land of hospitality
Grañón is one of the towns with the most Jacobean tradition on the French Way. Over the years it has stood out for its welcome model, becoming a reference for many pilgrims.
The reopening of this hostel reinforces that hospitable spirit that characterizes the town.
A project that returns with soul
The House of Smiles begins a new stage, but without losing its identity. With Antonio at the helm and with the legacy of Ernesto Díaz Sobremazas present, the hostel once again is a place where the pilgrim finds something more than rest.
Because on the Camino, there are places that are not forgotten... and this is one of them.
