Roncevaux Pass

Chapel on the pass

The Puerto de Ibañeta (Fr. Col de Roncevaux ) is a pass in the Spanish Pyrenees. It is located at 1057 msnm height and connects via the National road N 135 Valcarlos with Roncesvalles.

At the summit stands the modern chapel of San Salvador, which replaced an older chapel. It marks the starting point of the Camino Francés, the here three of the four French pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela is recording: Via Podiensis of Puy and Conques, Via Turonensis - Paris, Tours and Poitiers and the Via Lemovicensis - Vezelay, Limoges and Perigueux coming.

The pass is since prehistoric times an important Pyrenees transition, at least since Roman times there was a pass station, and later a monastery was for pilgrims in Roncesvalles furnished with hostel. The monks of the monastery occupied the chapel on the pass and rang the bell in fog to show pilgrims the way.

Charlemagne happened 778 the pass as part of his campaign Spain twice, the retreat became his rear guard in an ambush. This conflict became known as the Battle of Roncesvalles.

Burguete-Auritz Uterga Obanos Cirauqui – Zirauki Villatuerta Los Arcos Sansol Viana, Spain Navarrete, La Rioja Azofra, Spain Santo Domingo de la Calzada Redecilla del Camino Castildelgado Viloria de Rioja Belorado Tosantos Villambistia Espinosa del Camino Villafranca Montes de Oca Atapuerca, Burgos Burgos Tardajos Hornillos del Camino Hontanas Castrojeriz Itero de la Vega Boadilla del Camino Villarmentero de Campos Ledigos Moratinos (Palencia) Calzada del Coto Bercianos del Real Camino El Burgo Ranero Mansilla de las Mulas Valverde de la Virgen San Justo de la Vega Astorga, Spain Molinaseca Ponferrada Camponaraya Cacabelos Villafranca del Bierzo Trabadelo Vega de Valcarce Triacastela Samos, Lugo Sarria Palas de Rei Melide, A Coruña

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