Thursday, July 30, 2009

RONCEVALLES and HISTORY

Roncesvalles and the Legend of Roland
The earliest existing French epic, dated about 1100, is the famous 'Song of Roland'. Basque mountaineers say that on stormy nights in the Pyrenees the ghostly echoes of a horn can be heard. The horn wasblown many centuries ago by the Frankish hero Roland as he lay dying at Roncesvalles(Roncevaux, in French) in Spain.
Roland was a favorite French hero of the Middle Ages. The many stories told about him were gradually woven together into a great epic poem, 'Song of Roland'. The poem relates that the Frankish king Charlemagne was fighting the Saracens in Spain when trouble at home compelled him toreturn. He left Roland and a small band to guard the rear of his army by holding the pass at Roncesvalles.
Soon an army of 400,000 Saracens attacked the heroic band. Roland fought in the front of the battle with his sword, Durandal. Even the utmost heroism, however,could not defeat the enemy hordes. Finally Roland was urged by his comrade Oliver to summon aid from Charlemagne by sounding hishorn. The horn had been given to Roland by Charlemagne. Of all the knights, only Roland could sound it. On hearing it, birdsfell from the trees, the ground shook, chimneys fell from houses, and people criedout from the pain in their ears. Only when in deadliest peril would Roland sound it, and he refused to do so now. One by one the Frankish knights fell. Only when in deadliest peril would Roland sound it, and he refused to do so now.

One by one the Frankish knights fell. Soon only a few remained alive. Then Rolandraised his horn. Charlemagne turned back, but it was too late. The little band had been slain, and Roland lay dying. Today it is known that the story has some basis in fact. In 778 Charlemagne was fighting the Saracens in Spain when a disturbance on the Rhine forced him to return home. He left a rear guard at Roncesvalles, and the force was destroyed by the fierce Basques of the region.



ST PIED DE PONT




Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (literally meaning "Saint John at the foot of the mountain pass









TGV TRAIN FROM PARIS





Saturday, July 25, 2009

PLANES,TRAINS AND AUTOBUSES

After 20 hours in the air we managed to find ( first that our backpacks had arrived with us) and then bus connections into Gare Montparnasse Railway Station (Central Paris)and then to the hotel near there.

To make up the exercise deficit we walked up to the Seine and took in local sites ; St Geramin Church, Sorbonne Uni, Luxemborg Gardens, glimpses of the Louvre and finally to Notre Dame Cathedral which was our destination.

Outside, I have seen pictures of it before , and it is grand and inpressive as the pictures . Inside it was quite a different feeling. The filtered light from the thousand upon thousand of stained glass windows created a special type of atmosphere and feel. The domed and vaulted ceilings created space and dark voids. The inside is huge and we didn't really have time to see and appreciate everything... it was a place that I will remember

On our weary return I accidently travelled down Rue de St Jacques(St James Street).....this was pretty coincidental as I understand it is down this street that pilgrims set out from Notre Dame for Santiagio de Compostela... or so it is said.

We catch a fast train to Bayonne tomorrow and then a small train to the French side of the Pyranees. So far so good..happy trails

BEGINNINGS



To celebrate the 140th of ST JAMES COLLEGE the Assistant Principal Mission. Mr Stephen Byrne, planned a study tour to Northern Spain and the tomb of the patron saint and namesake of the college, JAMES THE APOSTLE.
Unfortunately, this pilgrimage was not able to proceed .
This 2009 pilgrimage walks this historical path ( Camino) carrying thanksgiving and blessing for the whole one hundred and forty one years journeying community of St James College.