Recovery Day - Roncesvalles

April 4, 2025 From the itinerary: Take the day to rest and recover from yesterday's ordeals

Some history of Roncesvalles: elevation 3110 feet - all of which were climbed yesterday. Population = 30. Roncesvalles (or Orreaga as it's known in Basque) has been an influential pilgim hostel virtually since the beginning of the Camino Frances. Due to continual bad weather, the original pilgrim hospital at the Ibaneta Pass was moved in 1132 to the more protected vale where it currently resides. For centuries, monks, after appropriate religious services, tended to the health and well-being of every pilgim (man, woman, child).

Important buildings in the complex include:

Real Colegiata church which was consecrated in 1219 and restored in the 1940s. This Gothic masterpiece houses the Virgin of Roncesvalles, a 13th c. wood and silver statue from Toulouse, sheltered under an ornate silver baldachin canopy. Walking up the circular staircase takes you to the viewing area overlook of the main church and alter. The Chapter House holds the tomb of Sanches VII

Nearby is the Chapel of Santiago which holds a bell rung in the evening for centuries to help guide pilgrims down the mountainside to a safe harbor among the monks.

Breakfast was delightful with a full buffet which included croissants, local ham and cheese, and decaf cafe au lait.

The church was quite beautiful - you can see the Virgin of Roncesvalles at the front. Chris made a comment about not needing to go to confession because he was without sin and the lights went out. Only later did we find out they were timed and payment was 1 Euro to keep them on. I think it was a sign.

Here is a funny picture of Chris running out of stairway and stepping on my head and various other interesting pictures from the church

This tomb is a king who was 2 meters tall!

Nearby there were two horses in a field- we think they were pregnant

We had the pilgrim dinner tonight- basically the same dinner as the night before, but no salad and no whipped cream on the vanilla cake. vegetable soup, trout and white cake with a glass of local red wine.