Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Durendal

"Bremer Freimarkt" is one of the oldest fairs in Germany, first held in 1035 after Emperor Conrad II (aka "Conrad the Older") had granted the right to hold a fair to Archbishop Bezelin. In the 14th century the right was transferred to the civil authorities and since 1339 the word "Freimarkt" was used. Not only goods were traded, but as well "entertainment" entered the Freimarkt. Already in 1445 a lion got displayed here, followed by bears, monkeys and camels. Today about four million visitors come to Bremen each year during Freimarkt. Seen here is the market place. The "Bremer Roland", a statue of Roland, erected in 1404, is seen to the right. Roland was paladin of Charlemagne and hero of the Battle of Roncevaux. Roland is shown as protector of the city. He holds his legendary sword Durendal (that today can be seen in Rocamadour, France). The 5.47 m tall statue is "embellished" by balloons and a large heart with an "ISCHA FREIMARKT" inscription.

"Bremer Freimarkt" is one of the oldest fairs in Germany, first held in 1035 after Emperor Conrad II (aka "Conrad the Older") had granted the right to hold a fair to Archbishop Bezelin. In the 14th century the right was transferred to the civil authorities and since 1339 the word "Freimarkt" was used. Not only goods were traded, but as well "entertainment" entered the Freimarkt. Already in 1445 a lion got displayed here, followed by bears, monkeys and camels. Today about four million visitors come to Bremen each year during Freimarkt. Seen here is the market place, where the "Kleiner Freimarkt" is held around the "Bremer Roland", a statue of Roland, erected in 1404. Roland was paladin of Charlemagne and hero of the Battle of Roncevaux. Roland is shown as protector of the city. He holds his legendary sword Durendal (that today can be seen in Rocamadour, France). The 5.47 m tall statue is a little hard to see, as it is "embellished" by balloons and a large heart with an "ISCHA FREIMARKT" inscription.

Since my first visit, Rocamadour is one of my favourite places. In 2009, when I followed the Via Podensis, I took a detour, to reach Rocamadour by foot, like so many pilgrims since medieval times. Rocamadour attracted pilgrims over centuries and hass a legend, similar to that of Santiago de Compostella . Here in 1166 the grave of St. Veronica´s husband Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19) was found. He had moved from Jerusalem to this place in Gaul / France in his older age and lived here as a hermit under the name of Amadour. The medieval pilgrims climbed up the 216 steps to the sanctuary, a cluster of churches and chapels, on their knees. Here is "Notre Dame de Rocamadour" (aka "La Vierge Noire", "Black Madonna of Rocamadour", "Our Lady of Rocamadour"..). Near the chapel they could see a sword sticking in the cliff. The legend told, that this was the magical sword Durendal. Durandal manufactured by Wayland the Smith (aka "Völund") and given to Charlemagne by an angel. Charles endowed the sword to his palladin Roland (aka Errolan, Roldán, Orlando, Rotllà). Roland was killed by Basques near Roncevalles on the return from Spain ("Battle of Roncevaux Pass"). He had battled the Maurs with Charemagne´s armee. To preserve his sword Durendal (containing a tooth of Saint Peter) from heathenly hands, he threw it over a distance of about 400kms to Rocamadour, where it still sticks in the cliff today.... Pilgrims seeing the sword knew the whole "story" from "The Song of Roland" ("Chanson de Roland"), the oldest surviving major work of French literature.

Dubrovnik was founded probably within the 6th century. It grew in medieval times and was known as "Republic of Ragusa" between 1358 to 1808. It was added to the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy - and after the Congress of Vienna was part of the Habsburg Empire. The old town of Dubrovnik, since 1979 on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, is a wonderful city - and a major tourist destination. The center of Dubrovnik is small, so it can get pretty crowded, when two cruise ships have arrived - even in October. A Roland statue (Roland - Orlando - Hruodland) in the center of Dubrovnik. Roland was a (mythical) military leader under Charlemagne, who got killed at the Battle of Roncevaux in 778. The oldest major work of French literature, the "Chanson de Roland", tells the story about this battle. His legendary sword Durendal can still be seen, sticking in the cliff over Rocamadour. In Germany Roland became a symbol of the independence of the growing cities. In the late Middle Ages many cities placed statues of Roland in their marketplaces. There are still some dozends Roland statues in Northern Germany (eg in Bremen fom 1366, Wedel from 1450). This Roland statue, dated to the early 15th century, is the southernmost I have ever seen.