Canfranc Estacion is in the news

[VNwalking]

Europe’s unluckiest train station gets new lease of life as hotel

Once-grand Canfranc was known as the Titanic of the mountains, but fell into disrepair thanks to fire, derailment and war

www.theguardian.com

I'm itching to get up there, and walk from France via the Chemin de la Mature.

 

[Sirage]

For those of us who have walked through Canfranc this article from the Guardian is interesting news. The Railway Station to become a hotel and the railway line re-opened (although that is not exactly new).

Europe’s unluckiest train station gets new lease of life as hotel

Once-grand Canfranc was known as the Titanic of the mountains, but fell into disrepair thanks to fire, derailment and war

www.theguardian.com

 

[Sirage]

Europe’s unluckiest train station gets new lease of life as hotel

Once-grand Canfranc was known as the Titanic of the mountains, but fell into disrepair thanks to fire, derailment and war

www.theguardian.com

I'm itching to get up there, and walk from France via the Chemin de la Mature.

Is this where you are intending to go.

 

[VNwalking]

Is this where you are intending to go.

Exactly.


Edit: More information here, and on Alan's original thread:

In the meantime, to avoid the nasty narrow road up to Somport from Borce, I can strongly recommend a day's detour going on the Chemin de la Mâture, past the lovely lacs d'Ayous and up into Spain vía the Col des Moines, where monks welcomed pilgrims from Arles across the watershed for nearly a millennium. And then down to Somport and Canfranc. Very lovely, no tarmac, no traffic.

 

[Vacajoe]

Glad to hear it, but every year there seems to be a new plan to reinvigorate the station. I hope that eventually one comes to fruition.

 

[peregrino_tom]

Ha! I was about to post the link - but clearly I don't get up early enough...
It's a nice article with great background, and positive news for those of us who are in awe of that part of the world.
BTW although Sirage's picture of the Chemin de la Mature makes it look like you need a head for heights, it's actually wider than this pic suggests and pretty much family-friendly.
Really hoping to get back there soon

 

[dick bird]

Europe’s unluckiest train station gets new lease of life as hotel

Once-grand Canfranc was known as the Titanic of the mountains, but fell into disrepair thanks to fire, derailment and war

www.theguardian.com

I'm itching to get up there, and walk from France via the Chemin de la Mature.

Just posted this somewhere. Looks like we all read the same newspaper. Hmm.

 

[Old Hillwalker]

Such a hopeful news. I have been through CanFranc twice, once on the Camino Aragon from Pau France, and once while hiking the GR 11. I was saddened by seeing such a magnificent old station sitting there in apparent abandonment. If you go there I recommend walking over to the old RR tunnel entrance at night just to experience the wind blowing through the tunnel from France. Definitely spooky. Old Hillwalker on YouTube

 

[rappahannock_rev]

I have pleasant memories of exploring this remarkable place in 2018. And the more time passes the more I'm tempted to do the CA again.... But if they turn it into a luxury hotel I'll stay elsewhere. Like most Forum folks, I very rarely stay in luxury hotels.

 

[lt56ny]

Europe’s unluckiest train station gets new lease of life as hotel

Once-grand Canfranc was known as the Titanic of the mountains, but fell into disrepair thanks to fire, derailment and war

www.theguardian.com

I'm itching to get up there, and walk from France via the Chemin de la Mature.

Love reading stories like this. Thanks so much.

 

[VNwalking]

Love reading stories like this. Thanks so much.

You're most welcome. It kind of balances out the other stuff, doesn't it?

 

[lt56ny]

You're most welcome. It kind of balances out the other stuff, doesn't it?

We sure do need a lot more balancing these days.

 

[Ronald Boivin]

Europe’s unluckiest train station gets new lease of life as hotel

Once-grand Canfranc was known as the Titanic of the mountains, but fell into disrepair thanks to fire, derailment and war

www.theguardian.com

I'm itching to get up there, and walk from France via the Chemin de la Mature.

Did it in Fall 2019. Be very informed about possible violent weather as you scale up from France Into Spain there. The area is beautiful. Arrange for a tour from a local guide before you get there.

 

[Steven Dwyer]

In 2005 it was possible to explore the interior of the station. So glad to see it finally being renovated. Back in April they opened a new rail station on the site since the old station is slated to become a hotel.

A pilgrim information building has been completed according to the architects for the project. wonder when it will open.

Centro de acogida e información del Camino de Santiago — Ingennus

ingennus.com