This tiny hamlet (just a couple dozen inhabitants) in the Pyrenees of Navarre just across the French border bears a name that’s legendary in mediaeval history for the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778, when part of Charlemagne‘s army was destroyed by Basque tribes and his top knight Roland was killed. With perhaps the single loveliest setting of any site on this list, Roncesvalles’ main landmark is its 12th-century church Santa María de Orreaga, which celebrates a daily pilgrims’ mass.  From here it’s 755 kilometres (469 miles) to Santiago de Compostela!

Read more in our post 8 Splendid Stops on Spain´s Way of St. James.

Marianne Casamance