"Rail travel in Spain isn't just about getting from A to B - it's a chance to step inside, admire, and linger in some of the country's most intriguing buildings: its train stations. Scattered across Spain's 9,000-mile railway network are stations that double as architectural landmarks, each shaped by the era and region that built them. Some remain useful transport hubs for your travels; others have slipped into quieter roles as cultural spaces and historical sites."
"Set high in the Pyrenees, Canfranc Station opened in 1928 as a vast Beaux-Arts complex intended to serve as a glittering international gateway between Spain and France, earning the nickname "Titanic of the Pyrenees." At the time, it was the second-largest station in Europe, built entirely of concrete, iron, stone, and glass. Even now, the 200-meter-long facade looks wonderfully out of place in the mountain village behind it, home to just 500 residents."
"While beautiful, its story is equally intriguing. Fires, war, and political turmoil repeatedly stalled its promise, and during World War II, it became a crossing point for refugees and those escaping France. Then, in 1970, a derailment on the French side destroyed a key bridge and cut the line entirely, leaving Canfranc to decay. Today, the station has been given a second life. Much of the original structure has been painstakingly restored and reopened as a five-star hotel, Canfranc Estación, a Royal Hideaway Hotel."
Spain's railway network contains stations that function as architectural landmarks shaped by the era and region that built them. Some stations remain active transport hubs while others have become cultural spaces and historical sites. These stations embody engineering ambition, wartime history, and architectural beauty. Canfranc Station in the Pyrenees opened in 1928 as a vast Beaux-Arts complex and was once the second-largest station in Europe. Fires, political turmoil, World War II refugee crossings, and a 1970 derailment led to decay. Much of Canfranc has been restored and reopened as a five-star hotel, offering striking arches and mountain views.
Read at Elite Traveler
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