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Is this another project that ron is involved in????

yogi bear up the cagire

Life President⭐
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
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Location
St Gaudens France
Away last weekend, just south of Pau. Went over the border through the Somport Tunnel to see this incredible structure of an International station at Canfranc Estacion. It was lauded as a great trans-Pyrénéean project to link Pau in France and Saragossa in Spain and took 24 years to build. There was a need to make an impressive border terminal and this was achieved with some splendour. In 1928 it was the largest train station in Europe (240 metres long). Sadly, it was never very financially viable and following a spectacular accident with a freight train, in 1970, that brought down a bridge, the French 'temporarily' replaced the train link with a coach........it's still running today!
From the seventies until 2006, the place was open to everyone and was plundered and pillaged until it was an edifice, behind which was ruin and decay.canfranc weekend 006.jpgcanfranc weekend 050.jpgcanfranc weekend 058.jpgcanfranc weekend 015.jpgcanfranc weekend 047.jpg

Then, in 2006 (and this is perhaps Ron comes in), renovation started to transform it into a de luxe hotel, casino etc etc etc....this was due to be completed in 2008. As my photos show there is a little bit of work still to be done! I reckon we may even see FF completed before this project sees the light of day.
Nevertheless a staggeringly sad yet wonderful place to visit, if any of you have the chance. Finally a question...........Can anyone name the famous 1960's film that used Canfranc Estacion?
 
Yogi,
What's the name of the Spa town just over the border with France, on the way to Toulouse?That doeshave a Casino and looks quite a pleasant place.

Don't know whether there are hundreds but there are certainly a great number of Spas all along the feet of the Pyrénées! I presume that they developed at the time when going to a spa was exclusive and not done, like today, on social security!.........God! you get those bloody 'prols' everywhere now. I imagine that the Casinos developed in the days when skiing was a preserve of the rich, you must remember, back then, when you and your 'jet-set' friends used to gamble the night away in such establishments? :winking:
Off-hand I can think of Ax-les-Thermes, Salies-du-Salat, Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Bagnères de Luchon and Capvern-les-Bains........all places that you can take the waters during the day and lose your money at night.
 
Don't know whether there are hundreds but there are certainly a great number of Spas all along the feet of the Pyrénées! I presume that they developed at the time when going to a spa was exclusive and not done, like today, on social security!.........God! you get those bloody 'prols' everywhere now. I imagine that the Casinos developed in the days when skiing was a preserve of the rich, you must remember, back then, when you and your 'jet-set' friends used to gamble the night away in such establishments? :winking:
Off-hand I can think of Ax-les-Thermes, Salies-du-Salat, Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Bagnères de Luchon and Capvern-les-Bains........all places that you can take the waters during the day and lose your money at night.

Thanks.Twas ALT I was thinking of according to the strife.:smiles:
 
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