Canfranc: the train ride Hitler gold
[tab:Travel]
During the Second World War, the Nazi regime needed to feed their delusional surveillance arms race dodging Allied. From occupied France moved by rail, in just a year and a half, between 1942 and 1943, tens of tons of gold to pay the tungsten that Hitler needed to shield their tanks. The precious cargo arrived by train in Spain, through the Pyrenees, to the international station Canfranc (Huesca), a formidable presence for which no traveler should be a lover of history pass by.
In the old railway stations breathes a special atmosphere, permeated the same routes as travelers expected to train loud and friendly and quiet and cool the AVE. But if, as in this case, The building has nearly a century of history behind it, and is located in a special location of the Pyrenees in Huesca, the visit is pure devotion.
The traveler has traveled many times the majestic Canfranc station and always has assaulted a deep gloom, somewhere between melancholy and anger, as has been contemplating his progressive deterioration. In some years now, fortunately, that bitter sensation is gone, because sand has undertaken an ambitious renovation that will help recover some lost glory. It will not be the same, course, because visitors can not walk alone, as before, bundles that hallway carpeting, or browse in the old nineteenth-size lockers, come to our counters or small everyday stories pregnant. But, return, those who come now to Canfranc-Station (Canfranc not be confused with people, the original township, by which the traveler will spend earlier if driving from Jaca) will admire the progress of the work, already well developed, and workmanship of the station recovered.
The long-awaited reopening
Another time stamp, their empty sidewalks and buildings have always been rusty all an example of resistance, the commendable tenacity of loser who refuses to bow the knee. When contemplating its distinctive slate roof, thinks he is above all a symbol of Upper Aragón, theto expression of a collective desire: the long-awaited reopening of the railway line linking France and Spain, eternally delayed project that seems to hang on a death sentence that no one dares to sign.
His empty sidewalks and buildings have always been rusty a great example of resistance, the commendable tenacity of loser who refuses to bow the knee
A Good Friday 1970, a train headed way of the French town of Bedous suffered an accident on the bridge of L'Estanguet and fell into the river. There were no casualties, But the setback was the excuse he needed the SNCF, The red French railway, to close the line, which had been inaugurated 42 years earlier in style by Alfonso XIII and Gaston Doumergue, Frenchman President, after nearly half a century of works. Only way into the bowels of the Pyrenean massif through a tunnel nearly five miles, a daunting task for the time, took four years. When the two galleries were finally advance in October 1912, Spanish and French shouted in unison: "There are no Pyrenees!”.
The resists canfranero
The station is part of the incomparable. Guarded on either side by mountains of naked beauty without artifice, theto quickly view inevitably escapes into the Pyrenean foothills leading to the circus and Collarada Ip, the referent of the whole valley of Aragon. The traveler should not give, despite the works, to surround the grounds of the station and walk among the sea of back roads, where you can get an idea of the proportions of the nearly century-old infrastructure. And do not be surprised if, unexpectedly, an ailing convoy was ADA (Before The Ave) Travel pays at the station. The legendary canfranero still covering the route between Zaragoza and population Altoaragonesa, yearning for the past, when finished its journey across the mountains, where it joins the French network through cities and Pau Olorón. If not in a hurry, make that journey by train (or at least from Huesca) is an excellent way to approach Canfranc.
The papers left
The station survived the crisis 29 and the opening of rail links to France via Irun and Port Bou. And during World War II, was Over the silent witness of Nazi gold with which the Third Reich paid shipping tungsten, the mineral used to shield the tanks, circumventing the trade embargo by the Allies. A French bus driver found in the year 2000, between the files left on the dock of the old customs, documents proving the arrival of the consignments of gold from Holland and Belgium, then occupied by the Nazis, Canfranc and were loaded onto trucks to follow route. Not everything was in Spain. The Portugal's dictator Salazar and South America, suppliers of precious ore, were different from their destinations.
According to journalist Ramón J. Field, arrived at the train station for almost fifty submissions to less 86,6 tons of gold (in boxes of five bars) between summer 1942 and winter 1943. Today, its market value would be about 1.000 million.
A large pieces, these are some of the many arguments that there are to visit the station Canfranc, by which, according to the famous regeneracionista Joaquin Costa, Spain entered "modern life".
[tab:the way]
From Huesca, follow signs to the port of Jaca Monrepós, now works (if you prefer more tranquil travel can use the Santa Barbara, although more miles), and continue to France by the Somport. Canfranc-Station is the last village before reaching the French border. Be careful not to move to the neighboring country Somport tunnel. You have to turn right just before. Is indicated.
[tab:a nap]
In town, You can opt for the Villa Anayet (Pza. José Antonio, 8), quiet with good views. A 15 minute drive, Jaca hotel supply is abundant.
[tab:a table set]
If you want to enjoy good food and affordable home: Excise House (Albareda, 17), Canfranc-Pueblo, a little more down the road to Jaca.
[tab:highly recommended]
The nearby Coll de Ladrones strong, built on an ancient fortification of the reign of Philip II, was a requirement of the War Ministry to give the nod to the railway. Hung on a rock, watches over the valley to the gates of France. You can get there by car, a track that starts to the right of the road up to Candanchú (just past a bridge) in just fifteen minutes. Is abandoned for years, but in summer there are even guided tours. Narrow stairs carved into the rock down to a loophole allowing those who do not suffer from claustrophobia.
-There are two works which are a reference. "Canfranc. The Myth ", Santiago Parra and other (Editorial Pirineum) is the definitive account of the splendor and decline of the international railway station."Nazi Gold wolfram de-change", Ramon J. Field, History abounds here briefly pointed.
[tab:END]
Comments (1)
Raul Sierra
| #
All the Huesca Pyrenees is a delight, but Canfranc and the valley of Aragon has a special charm. He has evoked many memories the story..
Answer