Joyeuse (river)

River in France

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LocationCountryFrancePhysical characteristicsSource • locationIholdy Mouth

• location

Bidouze

• coordinates

43°21′13″N 1°1′34″W / 43.35361°N 1.02611°W / 43.35361; -1.02611Length27 km (17 mi)Basin featuresProgressionBidouze→ Adour→ Atlantic Ocean

The Joyeuse (French pronunciation: [ʒwajøz] ^ⓘ; Basque: Iholdiko erreka) is a left tributary of the Bidouze, in the French Basque Country (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), in the Southwest of France. It is 26.7 km (16.6 mi) long.^[1]

Name

Its name Joyeuse, that applies also to the Aran and one of its tributaries, is in legend the name of the sword of Charlemagne. It was attributed after the battle of Roncevaux. At this time, many breaches or narrow passes in the Pyrenees were renamed in reference to Roland.