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Rhune back on track for 2008 |
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Wednesday, 16 April 2008 |
The Petit train has started another season ferrying passengers up the steep tracks to the top of the Rhune mountain. The station at Col de Saint-Ignace, between the villages of Sare and Ascain, opened its doors to passengers on March 18. Since 1924, when the line saw its inaugural trip, more than 350,000 visitors have taken the ride to the top of the Rhune, one of the most visited sites in the region.
The Rhune sits at an altitude of 905m at the western end of the Pyrénées, and straddles the French and Spanish borders. Covered in dolmens, stone circles and other neolithic monuments, it is considered a sacred place in Basque mythology. The summit was reputed to be a meeting place for witches and, as late as the 18th century, local villages paid for a monk to live there to keep witches away. During the Spanish Civil war and WWII, refugees were smuggled across the border by way of the Rhune.
The railway is popular with train enthusiasts too and the little train is one of only three cog-driven trains in France. The trip provides spectacular panoramic views of the coastline from San Sebastian up as far as the Landes. For those who wish to walk down, there is a well-signed hiking trail, which takes a couple of hours. There are also various special events organised throughout the year. CH
Open daily March 18 – Nov 5. Trains depart from Saint-Ignace regularly from 10am-3pm. Adults E12 single, E14 return. Children (4-10) E7 single, E8 return. Children under 4 go free. www.rhune.com, Maison Goran, 64520 Bardos, 06 28 37 17 76
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