In 1853, a group of Aragonese, gathered around the Aragonese Economic Society of Friends of the Country, promoted in Zaragoza the idea of a railway crossing with France through the Central Pyrenees. Although the proposal had strength on both sides of the border, it took three decades for the railway works to kick off. The rest is history: a station considered the most beautiful in Spain that was a meeting point for thousands of passengers for decades.
It was on July 18, 1928 when the first passengers boarded the first train departing from the International Station of Canfranc. This magnificent building was inaugurated that day by King Alfonso XIII, General Primo de Rivera and the President of the French Republic, Gaston Doumergue, in the town of Los Arañones. This date is so relevant for Pyrenean society that the border town recreates every year the inauguration of a building that is living history of the railway in Spain.
As the mayor of Canfranc, Fernando Sánchez, explains, «the recreation of the inauguration of the Canfranc International Station has already become a fully consolidated event. In this eleventh edition we return to 1928 to remember one of the most important moments in our history and to highlight, once again, the strategic importance of this infrastructure for Canfranc, Aragon and cross-border connections».
Fernando Sánchez, mayor of Canfranc: «The recreation of the inauguration of the Canfranc International Station has already become a fully consolidated event»
«We want it to be a festive, participatory and also vindictive day. We expect a large influx of public and, as a hot day is expected, we recommend coming in time, bringing water, a hat and sun protection. The main event will begin at 11.15 am and we encourage residents and visitors to enjoy one of the most emblematic celebrations of Canfranc«, continues Sánchez.
The fair of crafts and products of the area set in the style of the early twentieth century and the recreation of the original inauguration ceremony of the train station, with the original speeches of King Alfonso and Gaston Doumergue, will be the most important activities that the town of Huesca will carry out in the surroundings of the historic building on Saturday, July 18.
FULL PROGRAM: SATURDAY, JULY 18
- 10.15 a.m. Meeting of recreated participants in the Sports Center (Start of the historic day).
- 10.15 a.m. Opening of the Craft and Local Products Fair on the Paseo Marítimo (period setting, stalls and market).
- 11.15 a.m. Main act of the Historical Reenactment at the Canfranc International Station. Replica of the original speech by King Alfonso and Gaston Doumergue. Representations of characters from 1928 and complete setting.
- 12.30 p.m. Performance by the Jazz Hunters group and Swing dance (Huesconswing) in the station’s box.
- 6.45 p.m. Institutional meeting at the mouth of the Somport Tunnel with local authorities and guests (toast of sisterhood)
- 7.15 p.m. Swing dancing at the mouth of the Somport Tunnel.
