The name Roland has great significance in the Basque region. Roland accompanied his Emperor Charlemagne on an expedtion into Moorish neld Spain from the Northern side of the Pyrenees.  They must, at some point, have angered the Basques because on their return from the Spanish campaign the rearguard commanded by Roland was attacked and destroyed by the Basques at the battle of Roncevalles (Ronceveaux).  The walking route described in the next section follows what was supposedly the route used by Roland on his way into Spain.  It can be reached by train from St Jean Pied de Port either stopping at St Matin d'Arrosa and then walking via Bidarray North to Itxassou to return by train or vice versa.  The section North of St Martin d'Arrosa rises some 500 metres while the section from Bidarry which follows the bank of the river Nive is comparitively flat.