Canfranc – Way of St. James, Castles and Nature

Pilgrimage route

Canfranc is a town on the Way of St. James; the town’s origins are connected with the pilgrimage to Santiago. The stage from Somport to Jaca leads to Canfranc-Pueblo and crosses the Aragón on a medieval bridge next to the cemetery. The Puente de los Peregrinos is located on the Way of St. James. This means that a historic route, a river crossing and a distinct bridge structure come together on this section.

History

The Castillo de Canfranc is included in Aragon’s list of castles classified as Bienes de Interés Cultural. It developed from a medieval defensive tower and was given an irregularly laid-out fortified area in 1592. The Torre de la Espelunca was built in 1592 by Tiburcio Spannocchi as a watchtower on the old road from France. Thus, different architectural functions stand side by side in the town: the defensive tower, fortified area and watchtower reflect different historical functions.

In the mid-16th century, don Blasco de Les founded a religious and social institution in Canfranc with a church, a hospital for the poor and pilgrims, and a house for eight clerics; the Iglesia de la Trinidad emerged from it. Of the Iglesia de la Trinidad, the presbytery and the chapel façade beneath the tower have been preserved in particular; the façade is considered an example of Renaissance architecture.

In the Iglesia de la Asunción, Baroque altarpieces survived the fire thanks to the assistance of the town’s residents. Alongside military traces and ecclesiastical architectural history, the churches’ preserved furnishings are therefore also part of the town’s history.

Nature

The Reserva micológica de Canfranc serves scientific communication, environmental education and nature conservation. The arboretum is an approximately 15-minute botanical walk through a forest, where examples of many tree species from the mountains of Canfranc and the Pyrenees can be seen. At Árboles con Historia, the trees are marked with labelled posts and panels as well as QR codes, through which information about the individual trees can be accessed. The nature stations combine forest paths, tree examples and accessible information.

Paths

The GR 11.1 leads from Canfranc along the main road to the Estación, crossing the Puente de Arriba on the way. From there, the old Way of St. James, GR 65.3, runs through forests and former orchards to Canfranc Estación. The routes described differ in their course and surroundings: one section crosses the town and leads to the Estación, while the other continues through forests and former orchards.

A holiday apartment in Canfranc can be compared with regard to travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions.

Other destinations

More travel destinations: Canfranc-Estación, Santa Cruz De La Serós, Astún, Santa Cilia, Bierge, Oncins, Lanaja and Benasque.

To the higher-level travel overview: Huesca.