Church of Saint James the Greater

Church of Saint James the Greater, Roncesvalles

The Church of Saint James the Greater, also known as the Pilgrims’ Church, is located in Roncesvalles, in Navarra, Spain, on the Camino de Santiago Frances. This small Gothic-style church dates from the 13th century and stands next to the “Silo de Carlomagno” (Charlemagne’s Silo), a landmark site in the area.

Its structure is simple, with a rectangular shape made up of two sections, including a straight end and a basic rib vault. Cylindrical pillars support the roof. Inside, a statue of Saint James the Greater stands out. On the outside, it has walls of irregular ashlar masonry, without buttresses, and an entrance with a pointed arch decorated with a Chi-Rho symbol.

The church was formerly used as a parish until the 18th century. It then went a long period without services until it was restored in the 20th century by Florencio Ansoleaga. During this restoration, a small oculus was added above the door and the famous legendary bell that used to guide pilgrims was installed, taken from the chapel of San Salvador on the Ibaneta pass.

The Church of Saint James the Greater in Roncesvalles stands out for its simplicity and discreet design. Its structure is rectangular, divided into two sections with a straight head and a simple rib vault. The walls are reinforced with buttresses on the sides and supported by small columns.

On the facade, paved and attractive, an old bell tower and two capitals stand out, depicting the Original Sin and the Expulsion from Paradise. The entrance is formed by a pointed arch with three archivolts supported by plain columns with decorative capitals featuring plant motifs. There is a Chi-Rho symbol in the tympanum.

Above the entrance, there is an oculus that lets light into the interior. At the top of the church stands the Pilgrims’ Bell.

Today, this place has become a space for reflection and rest for those setting out on the Camino de Santiago.

In 2015, with UNESCO’s approval of the extension of the Camino de Santiago in Spain to “Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Frances and Routes of Northern Spain”, Spain submitted a “Retrospective Inventory – Associated Elements” in which item number 156 includes the chapel of Santiago, or the Pilgrims’ Chapel.

Church of Saint James the Greater

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