Canfranc
In the 11th century, right next to the road to France, Canfranc was born as a perfect example of border village. In the middle of a deep valley, with scarce agricultural resources, its inhabitants had to turn to commerce, basing their income on the transactions they made between Aragón and the French Bearn, and on the lodging they could offer to pilgrims and travelers.

Picture of Canfranc

The current village district extends from the very border with France over to the Mediterranean kermes oak woods of Villanúa, comprising the valley of the river Aragón, down the waters of the river Rioseta, and the well known Canal of Roya, Canal of Izas and Canal of Ip. We are therefore dealing with a typical example of a valley of the Pyrenees, where we can feel the influence of the Atlantic approaching through the nearby valley: slopes covered carpeted with a mixed forest, and the higher areas devoted to vast alpine pasturelands and rocky summits.

From the times of yore, maybe even from Roman times, up to our times, the communication between the two borders has been the angular stone for the origin and historic development of the valley. The valley of Somport- also known as mountain pass of Canfranc- is the least abrupt and busiest border pass of the central Pyrenees. Starting with the old horse trail, which was transformed into a road in 1876, up to the construction of the railroad connecting both countries (initiated in 1928) and the recent road tunnel, the history of communications through Somport mixes up with the history of Canfranc itself.

The old village of Canfranc, despite the devastating fires of 1617 and 1944, still preservers part of its old monumental riches. The remainders of the castle, of medieval origin and expanded in the 14th century, are still kept on top of a rock; the facade of the torre de Barrocos and the monumental set of la Trinidad (the Holy Trinity), founded in the 16th century by Don Blasco de Les to attend to the needs of the poor and the pilgrims.

After the fire of 1944, the city council was moved somewhere else and the head of the city taken to what used to be the Station district, built along the 20th century on the plains of los Arañones. The international railroad station, a monumental building somewhat reminiscent of the French style and with a spectacular slate roof, has become the best known symbol of Canfranc.

The strategic and military importance of the valley of Canfranc, due to its proximity to the border, caused the construction of several fortresses and military strongholds, among which we must highlight the fortress Coll de Ladrones (17-18th century) and the Torreta de Fusileros (Turret of Fusiliers), dating from the 19th century.