The Town Hall Square section of the encierro route is where everything changes. After the steep, narrow climb up Cuesta de Santo Domingo, the herd bursts onto the wide, flat plaza in front of the Ayuntamiento. This is the transition point, the place where the geometry of the run shifts dramatically and where the dynamics between bulls and runners reset entirely.
For those unfamiliar with the encierro route in Pamplona, the Ayuntamiento stretch refers to the roughly 100-meter section that begins at the top of Santo Domingo and continues through the Plaza Consistorial before funneling into Calle Mercaderes. It is one of the most strategically significant sections of the entire Running of the Bulls course.
Why the Geometry Matters
What makes the Ayuntamiento section distinct is the sudden widening of space. After 280 meters of running uphill through a street barely 10 meters wide, both bulls and runners suddenly have room. The plaza opens up dramatically, and this changes the dynamics in ways that inexperienced bull runners often fail to anticipate.
The herd tends to spread slightly as they hit the flat ground, and individual bulls may drift from the pack. A runner who has maintained good position on Santo Domingo can find themselves suddenly exposed as the corridor of safety widens.
We walk this route for hours every day during San Fermín, and the Ayuntamiento stretch is where we spend the most time explaining positioning. The wide-open space creates a false sense of security.
Dennis Clancey, Founder of EncierroPositioning Strategy at the Ayuntamiento
Experienced bull runners in Pamplona know that the Ayuntamiento section requires a different mindset than Santo Domingo. On the hill, the strategy is vertical: stay ahead of the herd, use the incline to your advantage, and keep moving upward. At the Ayuntamiento, the strategy becomes lateral: you need to be aware of where you are relative to the edges of the encierro route, not just how far ahead you are.
The ideal position is along the left wall (facing downhill) as the herd comes through. This gives you the best sight lines and the most escape options. The right side of the plaza, closer to the Ayuntamiento building itself, can become a compression zone when the herd drifts that direction.
Reading the Herd at the Transition Point
The transition from uphill to flat ground causes a predictable shift in bull behavior. As the incline disappears, the bulls typically accelerate. A herd that was moving at a manageable pace on Santo Domingo will suddenly pick up speed. This acceleration catches many first-time bull runners off guard during San Fermín.
Always know the location of the nearest barrera (emergency exit barrier) when running the Ayuntamiento section. There are barriers positioned at both the entry and exit of the plaza. If a suelto (separated bull) stops in the open space, you need to know exactly where to go.
The Funnel Into Mercaderes
The most critical moment on the Ayuntamiento stretch is the exit. The plaza narrows sharply as it feeds into Calle Mercaderes, creating a natural funnel. When the herd hits this compression point, spacing between runners tightens and the risk of pileups increases. Experienced bull runners either commit to running through the funnel ahead of the herd or step aside well before the compression begins.
This is where spatial awareness on the encierro route becomes most critical. The rocket system has already fired, the herd is in motion, and the transition from open plaza to narrow street happens in seconds. There is no room for hesitation.
Mat Dowsett describes the Ayuntamiento section in Encierro! (2003) as the place where the run truly begins for most participants: the wide space and flat terrain create the first opportunity for a runner to find their rhythm alongside the herd.
Referenced in: Mat Dowsett, Encierro! (2003)Historical Significance
The Ayuntamiento, or Town Hall, has overlooked the encierro in Pamplona since the run was formalized along its current route. The building itself plays a dual role during San Fermín: its balconies are among the most prized spectator positions, and the chupinazo (opening ceremony rocket) is launched from its facade on July 6 each year.
For bull runners, the Ayuntamiento represents the dividing line between the raw, uphill intensity of Santo Domingo and the technical, faster sections that follow through Mercaderes, La Curva de Estafeta, and Calle Estafeta itself. Understanding this stretch is not optional for anyone serious about running with the bulls in Pamplona.