Roncevaux

Geography

With the foot of the southern slope of the collar of Ibañeta or Roncevaux.
To 49 km northern of Pampelune.

The Roncesvalles toponym

Traditionally the Roncesvalles toponym was translated by “valley of hawthorns”, and the name out of Basque is based on this interpretation: Orreaga “place of genévriers”, it is probably the corruption of the old toponym “Orierriaga”. Other theories give like origin the toponym “Erro-zabal”, the “plain of Erro”, the valley with which Roncesvalles was associated during several centuries.

The successive movements of pilgrims ended up francizing the name: Rozabal, Ronzaval, Roncesvals, and finally Roncevaux. Undoubtedly, the French influence is also the consequence of the tragedy memory of the failure of the army of Charlemagne into 778.

Nevertheless, the name of Roncevaux referred originally to the small plain; then, since the 12th century, with the commune of origin of current Auritz-Burguete.

A few decades later, after the foundation of the Collegiate Church, one has to differentiate the commune and the hospital. The first, known like " Borough of Roncevaux " or even " Roncevaux " during the the Middle Ages, and finally by the toponym “Burguete” (the " had to be known; small borough " ), because of its size. Although it was later founded, the hospital adapted the old toponym.

History

The old vault and the hospital of the pilgrims of Ibañeta were transferred there in 1132 on order from the bishop from Pampelune, Sanche Larrosa.

In a few years, the great charity of the canons of Saint-Augustin in charge of the reception was worth many gifts come to them from the four corners from Navarre, Spain and several countries of Europe. The pilgrims, whose flood could oscillate between 30.000 and 50.000 per hour of the jubilees, there until the 17th century received, maintained and were nourished three days during.

Disaster victim by an avalanche at the 16th century, the monastery had also to suffer from the French imperial army at the time of his backward flow of Spain.

At all events, this monument, starting point of Camino frances, are one of the high places of the European way of Saint-Jacob. Since a score of years, the hospital tradition was restored there by the small canonic community (from now on secularized) which must deal with surge growing pilgrims.

Culture and inheritance

The Pilgrimage of Compostelle

On the Camino navarro of the Pilgrimage of Saint-Jacques-to-Compostelle. One comes from Valcarlos, the next commune is Espinal.

Real colegiata of Santa Maria

The current building, high at the edge of the medieval Way, replaced at the 13th century the old Romance church built at the time of the bishop Sanche Larrosa (1222 - 1142) at the instigation of Alphonse Ier the Fighter, king of Aragon and Navarre (1104-1134.) The popes took it as of the beginning under their protection.

The church

Inspired by Notre-Dame de Paris, but with more small scales, was started towards 1209, under the reign of Sanche VII the Fort of Navarre (1194 - 1234), and was devoted in 1219. It shelters a very beautiful statue out of wooden of the Virgin to the Child sitting on a throne, plated money except for the hands and of the faces, brought back Toulouse at the beginning of the 14th century.

She presents a plan to three naves, the power station of double width of the side ones, which are divided into five spans for which it is necessary to add in the central nave a pentagonal bedside.

The vault San Augustin

Of square plan, it has a splendid vault on intersecting ribs out of star, it is the old capitulary room Gothic of the 14th siècle.
It shelters the skin of the king Sanche VII the Fort (1154-1234), winner with the Bataille of Mow Navas de Tolosa against the Almohades in 1212, like that of his Clémence wife. The lying one of the tomb of the king, particularly expressive, was carved under the reign of its successor Thibaud Ier (1234 - 1253.)
As well as the chains which surrounded the tent of the Almohades chief, known under the name of Miramamolin, present on the blazon of Navarre.

The vault of Santiago or los Peregrinos

Set up at the 13th century in Gothic style , it is of a harmonious simplicity and has only one nave arched on intersecting ribs.
The pinion is crowned of a bell-tower where celebrates it bell of San Salvador de Ibañeta was installed.

The vault Sancti Spiritus

It is the oldest building of Roncevaux, and is located beside the vault of Santiago.
In spite of the successive alteration work, this vault is of historical and artistic interest considerable.
It was set up in Romance style at the 12th century on the rock where, according to the legend, Roland would have broken his sword Durandal after the defeat.
Summoned of a cross, this vault, of plan square and arched on intersecting ribs, was used as burial to the pilgrims who died with the hôpital.
It has moreover a crypt arched in cradle. At the beginning of the 18th century, one added to the unit a porch with Roman arches, whose walls were decorated with paintings, disappeared, illustrating the famous battle.

The reception of the pilgrims according to the “ Préciosa . ”

The collegial one of Roncevaux preserves splendid a handwritten whole beginning of the 13th century including/understanding a poem, written by a clerk scholar, who speak in praise of the establishment, such a “tourist folder”: “Worthy House, glorious house, admirable house, profitable house, which in the Pyrenees mounts flowers like a pink, largely favorable to all the people of the universe! ”
One can wonder whether such a table is always of topicality at the end of XVe century, when Jean de Tournai visit this “paradise of pilgrim” like a local curiosity and prefers to place with the close inn…

Cruz of los Peregrinos

This “cross of the Pilgrims” is with approximately 300 meters in the south of Roncevaux, on the left side of the road of Burguete.
It is about stone a Gothic martyrdom of the 14th century, decorated image of the Virgin and effigies of the king Sanche VII the Fort and his Clémence wife.

Civilians

The Museum of the Collegial one

Installed in the old stables, it has very beautiful pieces (of old goldsmithery: Romance box mudéjar, évangéliaire, reliquary enamelled of the 14th century, etc).
At the ground floor, the library or are exposed remarkable parts of goldsmithery, like the évangéliaire of kings de Navarre of the 12th century, or a reliquary enriched by money, gold and enamel, said chess-board of Charlemagne, undoubtedly because of its provision in small geometrical compartments of the 14th siècle.
One can see there a mass of weapon, known as of Roland, who imitates those the time of Sanche the Fort. One shows also the chains which one tells that the king brought them back Bataille of Mow Navas de Tolosa, they are those who are reproduced on the blazon of Navarre, as well as an emerald which would have decorated the turban of the Miramamolin sultan Vert.
Among beautiful paintings on wood, it is necessary to quote the Holy Family of Shine of Morals of the 17th century, and the triptych of the Crucifixion, works Dutchwoman of the workshop of Jerome Bosch of the 16th siècle.
The most important object of the museum of the Real colegiata is a statue of the Virgin of Roncevaux, out of wood of cedar, gilded and silver plated, dating from the 13th century. According to the legend, it would have been revealed by a stag, in the close mountains.

See too

the Song of Roland, account epic reporting celebrates it battle of Roncevaux
Camino frances, the way in Spain of the Pilgrimage of Saint-Jacques-to-Compostelle
Bataille of Roncevaux

External bonds

Roncevaux in images
Localization on the chart
the way since Saint-Jean-Foot-of-Port

Random links:

Worcestershire sauce | Beverley Craven | Europlanétarium Genk | Performers | Boutros_Ghali