Uhamboo.com: Canfranc

Canfranc Spain

The name of the village comes from Campus Franci, literally “the field of foreigners.” It was originally a small market village that also offered pilgrims on the Arles route of the Way of St. James their first rest after the difficult crossing of the Pyrenees over the Somport Pass. It was founded between 1080 and 1090 by Sancho Ramírez, King of Aragon. Canfranc also served as a command post, protecting the borders and controlling taxes, which were donated to the Cathedral of Jaca. On October 29, 1288, the Treaty of Canfranc, mediated by Edward I of England, was signed here, providing for the release of Charles II of Naples from his imprisonment by Peter III of Aragon. The village, located in the valley of the Aragón River, covers an area of 71.6 km² and sits at an elevation of 1,040 m. Notable remains include a Romanesque pilgrim bridge and two churches of interest: Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (12th–16th centuries), which contains four Baroque altarpieces, and La Trinidad (16th century). The town was destroyed by fire in 1617 and again in 1944, after which most of the villagers moved to nearby Canfranc Estación. The current population is 77.

Recommended airport

Pamplona (PNA)

Nearby destinations

Canfranc, Spain

Canfranc Spain