Canfranc International Station

• Opened1928
• Façade~240 m
• Hotel since2023
• From Jaca~30 min

Opened in 1928 on the line between Pau and Zaragoza, Canfranc's international station was built on a grand scale, with a façade around 240 metres long, to handle the change of gauge between France and Spain. During the Second World War, it saw Nazi gold, smuggled goods, spies and refugees pass through.

Decline and revival

The French side of the line closed after a bridge collapse in 1970, and the station slowly decayed. After a long restoration, the main building reopened as a hotel in 2023, and the surrounding area has been redeveloped. Plans to reopen the cross-border line to Pau are in progress.

Visiting

• Guided tours of the station and its history run through the local tourist office.
• Regional trains still run to Canfranc from Zaragoza and Jaca.
• The nearby Somport pass and the Camino Aragonés make a good combination.

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.