History of the "encierrillo"

Two centuries ago, before the advent of lorries or today's roads, bulls were driven along paths and tracks on foot and horseback. The bulls were driven through the countryside and that's why nearby breeders were normally chosen. The Bullrun existed, but by another name, "La entrada" (The entry). And that's exactly what it was, the entry of the bulls into the city along different streets to the bullring. It was an extremely complex job orchestrated purely by cowherds and practically without the participation of amateur runners.

Pamplona grew and grew, the bulls came from further and further afield, and the situation became more complicated. The route of the Bullrun, almost as we know it today, was established in 1856. A few years later, in 1899, a corral was set up for safety and other reasons in an abandoned gas factory and the bulls were taken there first before being sent to the bullring.

The bulls were driven the distance between the hill of Santo Domingo and the corral the previous night, and so the "encierrillo" was born. A quiet, small-scale Bullrun with no runners and conducted in silence, almost the absolute opposite of the Bullrun held at eight in the morning.

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