Established as a market village on the Arles route of the Way of St. James, Canfranc is nestled in the Aragon Valley of northeastern Spain. It comprises two settlements, the original village of Canfranc and Canfranc Estacion, with the latter named after the international station that once served railway traffic crossing the Pyrenees.
Things to do in Canfranc
In the heart of Canfranc is the Iglesia de la Asuncion, a stone-built church that dates back to the 16th century. Gaze up at the octagonal bell tower before stepping inside to see the Neo-Gothic sculptural altarpiece crafted in Zaragoza. A short stroll away are the remains of Canfranc Castle, a medieval fortification that was extended by Tiburcio Spanocchi.
One of the area’s most magnificent buildings is the Canfranc International Railway Station, which was opened in 1928 to serve as a major transportation hub for cross-border services. It was often referred to as the “Titanic of the Mountains” and was the second-largest railway station building in Europe at the time of its completion. Admire its Beaux-Arts-style architecture and explore its recently renovated interior before visiting the steam locomotive depot.
Sprawling north-west of Canfranc is Parque Natural Valles Occidentales, which encompasses rugged mountains and forested valleys across more than 27,000 hectares. You can learn about the area’s karst formations, native fauna and flora at the Nature Interpretation Centre in Anso before soaking up the majestic views across the Pyrenees peaks from the park’s network of steep hiking trails.
Getting around Canfranc
Canfranc is just under two hours’ drive from Zaragoza and Zaragoza Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect from Zaragoza to the Canfranc railway station while renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the region.