Here's what the Canfranc Train Station Hotel will be like: Elegance and Luxury in the Aragonese Pyrenees
The historic Canfranc station, located in Huesca, was a crucial point for railway communication between Spain and France, but over time it fell into decay. Now, after years of abandonment, it is finally set to become the emblem it once was, this time transformed into a luxurious 5-star hotel: the Canfranc Train Station Hotel. The Barceló hotel chain is responsible for this project, which is expected to open in December 2022. Thus, its goal is to become the reference hotel, both nationally and internationally, in the unique natural setting of the Aragonese Pyrenees.
The Canfranc Train Station Hotel seeks to be a significant attraction for luxury tourism in the region and position itself as "a destination hotel," meaning that the hotel complex itself is the destination. Additionally, they want to distance themselves from the idea of being "a ski hotel," aiming to be a year-round hotel that can be visited at any time of the year.
Nearly 100 years ago, in 1928, King Alfonso XIII inaugurated the Canfranc station as the second largest in Europe, and today it stands as an incredible example of industrial architecture from that era. Therefore, its invaluable architectural and cultural heritage must be fully respected.
The historic interiors and exteriors of the station have been restored and rehabilitated with the utmost care, an exhaustive work by two major firms that have managed to preserve the station's traditional essence, with contemporary touches, involving the local Aragonese communities. The materials used range from wood and brass to velvet, all sourced from Aragon. They have also maintained the color palette that evokes memories of the 1920s, in beige and green tones. As such, warm and elegant spaces have been designed, fused with elements of art deco, arts and crafts, and modernist styles.
A key point in the interior design is the complete commitment to local talent and Aragonese popular culture, to the point that even the uniforms for the hotel staff have been created by an Aragonese designer. To prepare this icon of Aragonese culture to become a benchmark in design and architecture, the workforce has been doubled, and by the end of November, the construction will be completed, leaving everything ready for the highly anticipated opening in December.