Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Puente la Reina

Puente la Reina ( aka "Gares") was an important place in medieval times, as here the "Camino Aragonés" joined the "Camino Francés". The pilgrims having crossed the Pyrenees via the Somport met their collegues, who had used the Roncevaux Pass. A bridge over the Rio Arga gave the name to the town. It was built within the 11th century, commissioned either by Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho III, or by Doña Estefanía, wife of García III of Navarra. The "Iglesia de Santiago" is located on the Rua Mayor, right in the center of Puente la Reina. The church was built within the 12th century, but rebuilt about 3 centuries later and so mixed Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The masterly carved late Romanesque portal shows Moorish influence. There are five unfortunately very weathered archivolts. Here are details from two of them. The lower one depicts fish, the upper may depict (left) a centaur (?), two humanoids with strange tails, holding spears and a musician playing a stringed instrument (vielle) with a bow. He is as well equipped with a long tail.

Puente la Reina ( aka "Gares") was an important place in medieval times, as here the "Camino Aragonés" joined the "Camino Francés". The pilgrims having crossed the Pyrenees via the Somport met their collegues, who had used the Roncevaux Pass. A bridge over the Rio Arga gave the name to the town. It was built within the 11th century, commissioned either by Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho III, or by Doña Estefanía, wife of García III of Navarra. The "Iglesia de Santiago" is located on the Rua Mayor, right in the center of Puente la Reina. The church was built within the 12th century, but rebuilt about 3 centuries later and so mixed Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The masterly carved late Romanesque portal shows Moorish influence with its decorated polylobed arch. The five unfortunately very weathered archivolts once had biblical scenes taken from the Nativity and the Genesis. The large statue to the left is not Samson, what was my first idea. It is a fighting scene. The fighter to the left behind a shield kills his opponent with a sword. To the right St. James (nimbus) accompanies a pilgrim (staff) . maybe... I was puzzled by the heads on top of the pillars, as the faces are rough and the expressions are unhappy. They might be "trophies" of the Reconquista, similar to portals in Oloron-Sainte-Marie and Morlaàs, both places as well part of the Camino.

Puente la Reina ( aka "Gares") was an important place in medieval times, as here the "Camino Aragonés" joined the "Camino Francés". The pilgrims having crossed the Pyrenees via the Somport met their collegues, who had used the Roncevaux Pass. A six-arched-bridge over the Rio Arga gave the name to the town. It was built within the 11th century, commissioned either by Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho III, or by Doña Estefanía, wife of García III of Navarra. The Iglesia del Crucifijo was erected just outside of the town, what explains the old name "Santa Maria de Hortis". It belonged toa convent of the Knights Hospitaller, who supported the pilgrims by operating "hopitals". The church was built within the 12th century, but an older structure had probably already a century ago. It got enlarged by a second nave later, when the number of pilgrims rose, as the Knights Hospitaller offered lodging. As at most medieval "hopitals", there are graffitti around the portal. I doubt, that "ROUCEAU" was a pilgrim. It is probably a French name, so Rouceau may have carved his name into the facade during the "Peninsular War" (Spanish: "Guerra de la Independencia Española"), after Napoleon´s armee had invaded Spain 1807 on the way to Portugal via the "Col de Roncevaux".

Puente la Reina ( aka "Gares") was an important place in medieval times, as here the "Camino Aragonés" joined the "Camino Francés". The pilgrims having crossed the Pyrenees via the Somport met their collegues, who had used the Roncevaux Pass. A six-arched-bridge over the Rio Arga gave the name to the town. It was built within the 11th century, commissioned either by Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho III, or by Doña Estefanía, wife of García III of Navarra. The Iglesia del Crucifijo was erected just outside of the town, what explains the old name "Santa Maria de Hortis". It belonged to a convent of the Knights Hospitaller, who supported the pilgrims by operating "hopitals". The church was built within the 12th century, but an older structure had probably already a century ago. It got enlarged by a second nave later, when the number of pilgrims rose, as the Knights Hospitaller offered lodging. The South Portal of the church (previous upload) was probably completed early 14th century, when the church got enlarged. The outer archivolt is populated with animals, angels, humans - and devouring lions. Here is the head of a lion, devouring a miser. The miser´s huge moneybag, the symbol for his avarice, is (following the law of gravity) hanging out of the lion´s mouth.

Puente la Reina ( aka "Gares") was an important place in medieval times, as here the "Camino Aragonés" joined the "Camino Francés". The pilgrims having crossed the Pyrenees via the Somport met their collegues, who had used the Roncevaux Pass. A six-arched-bridge over the Rio Arga gave the name to the town. It was built within the 11th century, commissioned either by Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho III, or by Doña Estefanía, wife of García III of Navarra. The Iglesia del Crucifijo was erected just outside of the town, what explains the old name "Santa Maria de Hortis". It belonged to a convent of the Knights Hospitaller, who supported the pilgrims by operating "hopitals". The church was built within the 12th century, but an older structure had probably already a century ago. It got enlarged by a second nave later, when the number of pilgrims rose, as the Knights Hospitaller offered lodging. The South Portal of the church (previous upload) was probably completed early 14th century, when the church got enlarged. The outer archivolt is populated with animals, angels, humans - and devouring lions. Here is one of them.

Puente la Reina ( aka "Gares") was an important place in medieval times, as here the "Camino Aragonés" joined the "Camino Francés". The pilgrims having crossed the Pyrenees via the Somport met their collegues, who had used the Roncevaux Pass. A six-arched-bridge over the Rio Arga gave the name to the town. It was built within the 11th century, commissioned either by Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho III, or by Doña Estefanía, wife of García III of Navarra. The Iglesia del Crucifijo was erected just outside of the town, what explains the old name "Santa Maria de Hortis". It belonged to a convent of the Knights Hospitaller, who supported the pilgrims by operating "hopitals". The church was built within the 12th century, but an older structure had probably already a century ago. It got enlarged by a second nave later, when the number of pilgrims rose, as the Knights Hospitaller offered lodging. The South Portal of the church has a slightly pointed arch. It was probably completed early 14th century, when the church got enlarged. Note the elaborately carved columns.

Puente la Reina ( aka "Gares") was an important place in medieval times, as here the "Camino Aragonés" joined the "Camino Francés". The pilgrims having crossed the Pyrenees via the Somport met their collegues, who had used the Roncevaux Pass. A six-arched-bridge over the Rio Arga gave the name to the town. It was built within the 11th century, commissioned either by Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho III, or by Doña Estefanía, wife of García III of Navarra. The Iglesia del Crucifijo was erected just outside of the town, what explains the old name "Santa Maria de Hortis". It belonged to a convent of the Knights Hospitaller, who supported the pilgrims by operating "hopitals". The church was built within the 12th century, but an older structure had probably already a century ago. It got enlarged by a second nave later, when the number of pilgrims rose, as the Knights Hospitaller offered lodging. The belltower, probably from the 13th/14th century, is crowned by a rather Baroque architecture.

This bridge gave the name to the town. The "Puente la Reina" was commissioned either by Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho III, or by Doña Estefanía, wife of García III of Navarra. For sure, it was a Queen (= Reina), who built this six-arched bridge over the Rio Arga. The bridge is about 110 meters long and 4 meters wide and serves the pilgrims since the 11th century. This bridge marks the end of the "Via Tolosana" and the "Camino Aragonés", as from here on all the pilgrims follow the busy "Camino Francés". Some years ago, after having reached Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (from Vezelay), I had walked the first leg of the "Camino Francés" to Roncesvalles, but walking in such large groups is not my prefered way to move around. So I did not continue. So this ended my walk, but I stayed in the area for a while.

I reached Puente la Reina. This is the portal of the Iglesia del Crucifijo, once erected outside of the town and belonging to a convent of the Knights Hospitaller. Successors of the knights still exists under the name "Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta". During medieval times the Knights Hospitaller supported the pilgrims by operating "hopitals". Even today pilgrims may stay here a night. In Puente la Reina the "Camino Aragonés" joins the "Camino Francés", which is the busiest of all caminos. So there are hundreds of beds in different hostels in town. As this was the very last day of my walk - I choose a hotel.