Dubrovnik - Roland

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.