Everything about Canfranc totally explained
Canfranc is a municipality in the Aragón Valley of north-eastern Spain consisting of two towns.
Political Information
Canfranc (Pueblo)
The name of the village is from
Campus Franci, literally the field of foreigners. It was originally a small market village, as well as providing pilgrims on the
Arles route of the
Way of St. James their first respite after the difficult crossing of the
Pyrenees over the pass of
Somport.
It was founded between 1080–90 by
Sancho Ramírez, King of Aragón. Canfranc was also a command post, protecting the borders and controlling taxes, which were donated to the Cathedral of
Jaca.
On
29 October 1288, the
treaty of Canfranc mediated by
Edward I of England was signed here, providing for the release of
Charles II of Naples from his imprisonment by
Peter III of Aragon.
The village, which lies in the valley of the
Aragón River covers an area of 71,6 km² and is situated at an altitude of 1040 m. The remains to be seen include a Romanesque pilgrim's bridge and two churches of interest: Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (12th-16th c) with four Baroque
retablos, and la Trinidad (16th century). The town was obliterated by fire in 1617 and again in 1944, after which the villagers for the most part moved to nearby Canfranc Estación. The current population is 77.
Canfranc Estación
This small village (altitude 1190 m.) was largely created due to the inauguration of a railroad crossing the Pyrenees on 18 July 1928. The trains continued running until an international train accident destroyed the bridge at nearby
L'Estanguet and severed the link on
March 27,
1970. Canfranc Estación is most well known due to the rumours of "German gold" arriving here during
World War II (see external link below).
Also, British espionage smuggled information and people from Vichy France to the consulate in
San Sebastián through Canfranc since the nearer
Irún bordered with occupied France.
The train station is the highlight of the village and was used during the filming of
Doctor Zhivago. There has been talk for some time of reopening international train traffic between France and Spain, but until that time the area is profiting from its nearness to the ski resorts of
Candanchú and
Astún. The current population is 454.
The tunnel is being used for the
Laboratorio subterráneo de Canfranc (Canfranc underground laboratory).
Principal Festivities
Canfranc-Pueblo celebrates the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary (its Patron saint) on the 15th August, while Canfranc Estación holds festivities on the anniversary of the inauguration of its train station, the 18th July.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Canfranc'.
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