REAL COLEGIATA DE NUESTRA SENORA DE RONCESVALLES

The Colegiata is a complex of buildings, the first of which were erected in the ^12th century. The museum contains precious pieces of silverware and a chessboard attributed to Charlemagne. The cloister dates from the ^17th century and replaced the Gothic cloister that collapsed under the snow in 1600. From the cloister, we go to the chapter house, whose magnificent starry vault houses the tomb of Sancho the Strong, who was the founder of the collegiate church and who was said to be 2.25 meters tall, hence his nickname. The church, in the French Gothic style, is characterized by beautiful rose windows that, on sunny days, illuminate the entire temple, and, above all, a beautiful piece of silverware with the effigy of the Virgin Mary. Legend has it that in the ^ninth century the monks hid it for fear of theft by Arab invaders. The Virgin was forgotten, until one day a hunter heard crying in a nearby cave. The story reached the bishop of Pamplona, who did not believe a word of it, until an angel visited him while he was sleeping and told him where the statue was buried. It was dug up and returned to its original location.

On leaving the collegiate church, you can visit the chapel of Sancti Spiritus, which is the oldest building in the complex. It is said that Roland and the soldiers of Charlemagne were buried here after their defeat. Further on, the Romanesque church of Santiago houses the bell that once rang in Ibañeta.