Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles [ ˌ ronθesβaʎes ] (Basque Orrega, French Roncevaux, literal German translation Tal / valleys of briars ) is a city in the autonomous region of Navarra in Spain. It is situated in the Pyrenees at the southern foot of the Ibañeta Pass (Spanish for Puerto de Ibañeta, French Col de Roncevaux ) on the river Urrobi.
The notoriety of the place arises in part from its capacity as an important pilgrimage station on the Way of St. James, on the other hand on August 15, 778 at the battle of Roncesvalles The rear guard of the troops train Charlemagne was destroyed under the leadership of Roland by the local Basques, what was the historical basis for the song of Roland. There the poet himself can occur under the Moors Marsilis as opposing players, which might be due but the spirit of the times.
History
Even in pre-Roman times there was a Pyrenees crossing and at least since the Romans and their highway Bordeaux Astorga also pass a station.
Charlemagne used the transition from Roncesvalles for his Spanish campaign of 778, during the retreat came to the aforementioned battle as revenge for the destruction of Pamplona by the troops of Charlemagne. As a place for this battle but other locations are brought into play again and again. According to legend, the nearly 100 km to the east rock formation of the Breche de Roland, a 40 m wide and 100 m deep and 2807 m high saddle in the Pyrenees main ridge above the Cirque de Gavarnie, resulting from a blow Roland with his sword Durendart.
Roncesvalles has been immensely important on the grounds of the pilgrimage of 813: Three of the four main pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela go here bundled over the Pyrenees ( Via Podiensis of Puy and Conques, Via Turonensis - Paris, Tours and Poitiers, Via Lemovicensis - Vézelay, Limoges and Périgueux coming via Tolosana -. Arles, Toulouse - via the Somport ).
The coastal route with the many ( dreaded and expensive) river crossings could be avoided and at the same time Roland battlefield be visited, albeit a steep rise and changing weather deterred the pilgrims.
The place with the old Augustinian monastery of 1132 was an important stopping point is on the Camino de Santiago and this function has regained with the revitalization of the way.
After the village or the battle also an area of land on Saturn's moon Iapetus is named as Roncevaux Terra.
Roncesvalles Monastery
Heilig- Geist-Kapelle in Roncesvalles
La Fleur des Histoires de Jean Mansel, Scene: The Battle of Roncesvalles, Roland blow the trumpet.