Collar of Roncevaux

The collar of Roncevaux (in Spanish: Puerto de Ibañeta ) is the name given to the principal passage of the Pyrenean chain, in its Western end. Close to the Franco-Spanish Border, it is nevertheless in Spain.

In its current layout, it culminates with 1057 meters of altitude. It is returned famous for the combat which opposes to it, on August 15th 778, the Arrière-garde of the army of Charlemagne, ordered by Roland, with the Vascons , episode which provides the legendary screen of the Song of Roland and of part of the Chronicle of the Pseudo-Turpin.

History

Geographical variations

It is certain that the name of collar of Roncevaux always indicated the principal point of passage between France and Spain, but that this point varied.

To connect Bordeaux ( Burdigala ) and Astorga, the Romans make pass a Roman Voie to the collar of Arnostéguy, which is probably the prehistoric route. This route, different from the contemporary route, is attested by the Roman trophy with Urculu, which dominates the collar of Arnostéguy (1236 m), and by the passage of the Roman way with Saint-Michel-the-Old man, then Roman relay, announced by the Itinéraire of Antonin. The road followed the peak between Saint-Jean-Foot-of-Port and the collar of Roncevaux (current collar of Bentarte).

To the Middle Ages, the way of Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle follows another road, by Saint-Jean-Foot-of-Port and the collar of Bentarte (1344 m). This road is maintained until the 19th century, and is improved by Napoleon i (imperial road 133, then royal road (1815-1851) and again imperial (1851-1870)). As from 1841, the road is competed with by the coastal road, passing by Bayonne. In 1881, it is abandoned with the profit of a new road, broader, by the collar of Ibaneta.

Currently, the road passes by Valcarlos and the collar of Ibaneta (1057 m).

Antiquity

To cross the Summus Pyrenues , the author of the Guide of the Pilgrim says to us: “In the Basque Country, the road of Saint-Jacob crosses a remarkable mount called Port of Cize. To cross it, there are eight miles to go up and to go down as much. Indeed, this mount is so high that it appears to touch the sky, that which makes the rise of it believes capacity, of its own hand, touch the sky”.

It is the Roman road which followed, with the 5th century, Suèves, Vandales, Visigoths and Alains, and, in 732, but in the other direction, the Moslem troops, finally beaten by those of Charles Martel with battles of Poitiers.

The vault del Puerto de Ibañeta

The pilgrimage of Compostelle

On the ways of Compostelle, the Camino navarro.
One comes from Saint-Jean-Foot-of-Port, the next commune is Valcarlos, Luzaide in Navarrese, and the old hospital Midsummer's Day d' Irauzketa.

The pilgrims of Saint-Jacob followed the ridge line to the hermitage of San Salvador de Ibañeta, from which there remain only the vestiges of the vault founded in 1127, to the top of the coll They found there also a hospital very famous; its bell directed the pilgrims, since 1071, when the fog was done too thick, which rather frequently arrives in the area.
The current vault, inaugurated in 1965, año jacobeo (“year of Saint-Jacob”), by the government of Navarre, was built near the old one. To side, a trilingual stele invites in Basque, Spanish and French, to request the virgin of Roncevaux.

In the space of a few hundred meters, one arrives very quickly at Roncevaux, located at the entry of the plain of Burguete furrowed of many brooks. One can still follow the old way which separates from the current road, on the left, to engage directly in the imposing buildings of the hospital.

On a monticule, a monolith decorated with a Durandal out of wrought iron dedicated to Roland.

Legends

The legend of Roland

The two essential episodes are the moment when Roland sounds the horn, and the shock of its Durandal sword on the rock, which would have opened the breach of Roland. A horn carved out of ivory of the Carolingian time is traditionally regarded as the horn of Roland, whom represents a very famous stained glass of the 13th century to the Cathédrale of Chartres.
The tradition also retained the name of Ganelon like that of the traitor par excellence, and that of Olivier, companion of Roland, like symbol of the perfect friend.

The miracle of the Wearing of Cize

A legend proceeds with the collar of Roncevaux: it is the fifth miracle of the Of miraculi sancti Jacobi.

In the year 1080, thirty Lorraine knights decided to leave in pilgrimage in Compostelle, promising all, except for one only, mutual assistance along the way. They arrived until in Gascogne, when one of the participants, falls ill to the borough of Carried Clausa, was in the incapacity to go. Supporting with large-sorrow, his/her companions reached in fifteen days, instead of five, the Saint-Michel village, with the foot of the collar of Cize, before giving up it, perjuries with their serment.
Only, that which had abstained from swearing remained with its bedside. The following day, at the price of very main efforts, they climbed both the peak of the collar, where, the come night, the heart of the patient left this world, carried by Jacques saint with the paradise. Frozen fear, wanting to offer to late burial, the knight beseeched the assistance of the saint, who, emerging from darkness on his destrier, took it dead in his arms and invited the Lorraine one to go up in croup behind him. Before the rising of the sun, they had arrived at the Monte del Gozo dominating Compostelle, where the late one was buried by the canons of the basilique.
On order of Jacques saint, the knight joined his compatriots with León, the miracle told them, and all completed their pilgrimage in the repentance.


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