Roncesvalles [Orreaga]
Camino Frances
The popular dinner spot is at the Posada, and you can buy a ticket for dinner from the albergue. The dining room sees pilgrims from the world over sat down at random to fill the tables. Half are about to start their walk, beginning here, the other half just came off the mountain. The length of their stride tells them apart. It is also possible to eat dinner at the Hotel.
It doesn’t take much to see the whole town, but nearly every building is a treasure of some kind.
Nearest the albergue is the Iglesia de Santa Maria, where a pilgrim Mass and benediction is held daily at 8pm (6pm on weekends). The Real Colegiata de Santa María de Roncesvalles is also not to be missed, but the relics and other notable items are part of the Museum (small fee).
The small Capilla de Santiago o de los Peregrinos and the Silo de Carlomagno (also known as the Capilla de Sancti Spiritus) sit side by side along the road.
Dia de la Virgen de Roncesvalles is celebrated every year on September 8th. Romerías (a local piligrimage) are held on the Sundays of May and June, and the Wednesday before the 8th of September.
Roncesvalles is the setting for the epic battle between Roland and Charlemagne's rear guard. The Basques ambushed and destroyed the guard, Roland perished, and a legend was born. Centuries later the church would capitalize on the name, and the abbey here controlled a significant territory up and down the valley as far as Pamplona.
The camino leaves along a footpath to the west of the main road (your right hand side), pressing deeper into the forest before returning to the road as it approaches Burguete.
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