Located in a historic railway station in the heart of the Aragonese Pyrenees against the backdrop of the snow-capped Pyrenees mountains, Canfranc Station, which was once an abandoned railway station, is now a luxurious hotel.
Photo Courtesy: Barceló Hotels & Resorts
Canfranc Station opened as an opulent rail hub in 1928 on the border of France and Spain and during World War II, it witnessed multiple arrests for gold trafficking, leading to its closure in 1970. The station remained abandoned for decades until work began to transform the beautiful building into a hotel operated by the Barcelo Hotel Group. After years of regeneration, Canfranc Station welcomed its first guests in January 2023.
The new iteration of the station preserves its rich history, while also commencing a new chapter for the station and the region. The 1928 building had to be adapted to fit the standards and luxuries of a modern hotel, without losing its historical character.
Photo Courtesy: Barceló Hotels & Resorts
The hotel’s interior design aims to evoke the 1920s through its fabric, decor and staff uniforms. However, colours and tones evoke the natural, mountainous landscape surrounding the hotel. Designed by Spanish architect Fernando Ramirez de Dampierre, keen to capture a forgotten slice of European rail history.
There are 104 rooms in the hotel, including four suites. There’s a wellness area, including a pool and three restaurants. What was once the station concourse is now the hotel reception. At the Canfranc Estacion Train station, the rooms are designed with warm and elegant spaces that merge with subtle art deco elements to create contemporary interiors. To stay true to the 1920s materials such as wood and brass, rich fabrics such as velvet and a chromatic range have been used.
One of the characteristics of this charming hotel is its excellent gastronomy, a project led by two figureheads in Aragonese haute cuisine: Eduardo Salanova and Ana Acín. Canfranc Estación, a Royal Hideaway Hotel offers a restaurant where you can enjoy the Royal Breakfast concept as well as 2 other restaurants, gastronomic and a la carte, for which two carriages have been restored following the classic style of the twentieth century.
The first floor of the hotel is home to the Wellness Spa with a heated pool and fitness area, as well as the library where you can enjoy a cocktail bar unique to the area. The hotel reception is located in the station’s historic lobby.
Photo Courtesy: Barceló Hotels & Resorts
In the heart of the Aragonese Pyrenees, in Huesca, and with the characteristic excellence of Royal Hideaway Hotels & Resorts, Canfranc Estación, a Royal Hideaway Hotel is a reference of design, gastronomy and unique experiences linked to the destination.
