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Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls

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So you’ve been skydiving. And rock climbing. And whitewater rafting. And bungee jumping. And now you’ve got the “been there, done that” blues. Well, maybe it’s time to give Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls a shot – and to experience a whole new kind of

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Day 1 - Running of the Bulls

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Day 1 - Running of the Bulls
Chupinazo - San Fermin
Fuenting in Navarrería Square
The Chants, The Crowd, The Action
The San Fermín Experience
San Fermín - Fire Bull
Fireworks in Pamplona
Partying in Pamplona - La Fiesta de San Fermín
Pobre de Mí 2010
San Fermín 2007 - Marching Band in the Streets of Pamplona
Police Force at San Fermín
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  • Running of the Bulls

The Run/Course

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The run is the centerpiece of the festival, and you’ll need to be prepared for it whether you’re a runner or a spectator. The information that follows should arm you with everything you need to know for a safe and exhilarating adventure.

  • H History of the Run
  • 1 Calle de Santo Domingo
  • 2 Calle de Mercaderes
  • 3 Calle de la Estafeta
  • 4 Telefónica and Callejón

Stages of the Run

Stages_of_the_run_photo

We've broken the run down into three stages. Each stage can be measured in average time, number of heart palpitations, or frequency of adrenaline spikes. Whichever way you count it, there are six hard-charging bulls breathing down your neck. So move!

  • Pre-Run (Pre-Dawn to 8am)
  • The Run (8-8:03am)
  • Post-Run (8:03-9am)
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  1. 4
  2. 3
  3. 2
  4. 1
  5. H

History of the Run

Beginning on July 7 and continuing each day of the festival, the Fiesta de San Fermín features a bullfight in the Plaza de Toros – and for a bullfight, you obviously need some bulls. The bulls, however, are not raised or housed in the Plaza de Toros, so they need to be transported there. The night before each bullfight, the bulls are moved from their farms into a corral a short distance from the Plaza de Toros, and from there are led to he bullring on the morning of the bullfight.

Originally, the bulls were simply herded through the streets by their drovers, with locals gathering to watch along the route. But over the years, more people took interest in this procession, which generated more excitement, which in turn meant that the walking eventually turned to running.

The number of participants also grew over time into what now amounts to thousands of people who run with the bulls each day, and thousands more who watch and cheer for them (and the bulls) from the sidelines. Read more

The Course

The bulls are housed each night in a corral about 825 meters (1/2 mile) away from the Plaza de Toros. Every morning at 8am, the bulls are released from their corral and led along a set course through the streets of Pamplona to the bullring.

If you plan on participating, we suggest walking the course the night before to understand the route and be better prepared for the run. If possible, it’s a good idea to have an experienced runner guide you through and give you pointers.

The course is broken into the following segments:

Calle de Santo Domingo

This street marks the point where the runners gather and the pandemonium begins. The initial stretch leads the bulls from their corral up Santo Domingo to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, where they’ll make their first turn left onto Mercaderes.

Santo Domingo is considered the most dangerous part of the course because the bulls sprint out of their corrals and run very close together. In fact, it is on this street that most injuries occur. Read more

Calle de Mercaderes

Mercaderes is a very short street that leads to a sharp right turn onto Calle Estafeta.

This second turn is another treacherous corner that often trips up the bulls, and subsequently the runners. Traditionally, the bulls tend to run on the left side of the street and, because they can’t get enough traction with their hooves on the cobblestone, they have a difficult time making that sharp turn.

The result can be chaotic and dangerous as bulls slip and fall into walls and people. Read more

Calle de la Estafeta

The longest stretch of the course that leads to the finish line, Estafeta is a straight path on which the bulls pick up speed, gain ground, and eventually overtake the runners. Read more

Telefónica
and Callejón

Veering left at the end of Estafeta is the short stretch of Telefónica, which leads to the narrow Callejón – the final entrance into the bullring.

Many runners wait at Telefónica to “escort” the bulls into the ring, but this can be a particularly dangerous idea given the very narrow path through which the bulls and the runners must pass to enter the bullring.
Read more

Click marks on the map below to get tips for Time , Time, Runners for Runners or Spectators for Spectators.
Read more
  • Festival of San Fermín Highlights

  • Chupinazo

    Opening Ceremony

    Pamplona_fest_highlights_txupinazo
  • Bullfights

    Daily Spanish Tradition

    Pamplona_fest_highlights_bullfights
  • Plaza Abierta

    Nightly Concerts

    Pamplona_fest_highlights_plaza_abierta
  • Fireworks

    Nightly Competition

    Pamplona_fest_highlights_fireworks
  • Procession
    of San Fermín

    Annual Festival Tradition

    Pamplona_fest_highlights_san_fermin
  • Fountain Jumping

    The Wildest and Craziest

    Pamplona_fest_highlights_fountain_jumping
  • Las Dianas /
    Reveille

    Morning Street Parades

    Pamplona_fest_highlights_las_dianas_reveille
  • Pobre de Mí

    Closing Ceremony

    Pamplona_fest_highlights_pobre_de_mi
  • Schedule of Events

Festival of San Fermín 2013

Saturday July 6, 2013

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© www.viajar24h.com Chipanzo Festival 2013

Festival / Party

12:00 pm
Plaza del Ayuntamiento
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© www.viajar24h.com Fountain Jumping 2013

Party

12:05 pm
Navarrería Square
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San Fermin Bullfights - Bull Fighting in Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls. San Fermin Bullfights 2013

Bull Fighting

Plaza de Toros
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© www.pamplona.net Fireworks 2013

Festival

Parque de la Ciudadela
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Sunday July 7, 2013

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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Procession of San Fermín 2013

Parade

10:00 am
Church of San Lorenzo
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San Fermin Bullfights - Bull Fighting in Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls. San Fermin Bullfights 2013

Bull Fighting

Plaza de Toros
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Running of the Bulls 2013

Festival

Plaza de Toros
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Las Dianas/Reveille 2013

Parade / Party

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© www.pamplona.net Fireworks 2013

Festival

Parque de la Ciudadela
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© www.pamplona.net Plaza Abierta 2013

Concert

Plaza del Castillo
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Monday July 8, 2013

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San Fermin Bullfights - Bull Fighting in Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls. San Fermin Bullfights 2013

Bull Fighting

Plaza de Toros
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© www.pamplona.net Fireworks 2013

Festival

Parque de la Ciudadela
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Running of the Bulls 2013

Festival

Plaza de Toros
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© www.pamplona.net Plaza Abierta 2013

Concert

Plaza del Castillo
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Las Dianas/Reveille 2013

Parade / Party

Add to Calendar

Tuesday July 9, 2013

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San Fermin Bullfights - Bull Fighting in Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls. San Fermin Bullfights 2013

Bull Fighting

Plaza de Toros
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© www.pamplona.net Fireworks 2013

Festival

Parque de la Ciudadela
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Las Dianas/Reveille 2013

Parade / Party

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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Running of the Bulls 2013

Festival

Plaza de Toros
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© www.pamplona.net Plaza Abierta 2013

Concert

Plaza del Castillo
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Wednesday July 10, 2013

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San Fermin Bullfights - Bull Fighting in Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls. San Fermin Bullfights 2013

Bull Fighting

Plaza de Toros
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Running of the Bulls 2013

Festival

Plaza de Toros
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© www.pamplona.net Fireworks 2013

Festival

Parque de la Ciudadela
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Las Dianas/Reveille 2013

Parade / Party

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© www.pamplona.net Plaza Abierta 2013

Concert

Plaza del Castillo
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Thursday July 11, 2013

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San Fermin Bullfights - Bull Fighting in Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls. San Fermin Bullfights 2013

Bull Fighting

Plaza de Toros
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Running of the Bulls 2013

Festival

Plaza de Toros
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Las Dianas/Reveille 2013

Parade / Party

Add to Calendar
© www.pamplona.net Plaza Abierta 2013

Concert

Plaza del Castillo
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© www.pamplona.net Fireworks 2013

Festival

Parque de la Ciudadela
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Friday July 12, 2013

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San Fermin Bullfights - Bull Fighting in Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls. San Fermin Bullfights 2013

Bull Fighting

Plaza de Toros
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© www.pamplona.net Plaza Abierta 2013

Concert

Plaza del Castillo
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Running of the Bulls 2013

Festival

Plaza de Toros
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Las Dianas/Reveille 2013

Parade / Party

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© www.pamplona.net Fireworks 2013

Festival

Parque de la Ciudadela
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Saturday July 13, 2013

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San Fermin Bullfights - Bull Fighting in Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls. San Fermin Bullfights 2013

Bull Fighting

Plaza de Toros
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© www.pamplona.net Fireworks 2013

Festival

Parque de la Ciudadela
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Las Dianas/Reveille 2013

Parade / Party

Add to Calendar
© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Running of the Bulls 2013

Festival

Plaza de Toros
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© www.pamplona.net Plaza Abierta 2013

Concert

Plaza del Castillo
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Sunday July 14, 2013

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San Fermin Bullfights - Bull Fighting in Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls. San Fermin Bullfights 2013

Bull Fighting

Plaza de Toros
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Running of the Bulls 2013

Festival

Plaza de Toros
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© www.pamplona.net Fireworks 2013

Festival

Parque de la Ciudadela
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Las Dianas/Reveille 2013

Parade / Party

Add to Calendar
© www.pamplona.net Plaza Abierta 2013

Concert

Plaza del Castillo
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© www.sanfermin.pamplona.es Pobre de Mí 2013

Festival

11:59 pm
Plaza del Ayuntamiento
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