ASTÚN. How to get to Astún

Transcription

1 ASTÚN The Astún ski resort has been open to the public since the 1976 season. It was one of the pioneering resorts in Spain, and even today, when it is not on the crest of the wave of innovation, it continues being one of the most renowned resorts in Spain. Astún, almost on the French border, forms a part of the Jacetania region, which has a capital of Jaca. Although it is difficult to understand, Astún belongs to the town of Jaca, despite there being towns such as Canfranc, Villanua and Castellar de Jaca in between, which make up a stretch of almost eight kilometres. At the same time, the Astún ski resort has an interesting location, situated only 20 kilometres to the east of the Formigal ski resort, and to the left of Anayet. Jaca is a town with close to inhabitants, and since the Middle Ages it has been an important passing point, being one of the first tourist places in Spain. Its early experience with tourism began due to the Camino de Santiago, which opened the access to the town, and being located a few kilometres from the French border was also a large influence. They constructed an important Romanesque style cathedral in the 11th Century, which was the first in the Kingdom of Aragón. Consequently, Jaca was transformed into the capital of the Kingdom. Being a strategic defensive point, it was necessary to construct a stronghold and this was done in an interesting pentagonal form which dates from the 16th Century, and which creates a very welcoming atmosphere in what is today the town of Jaca. It is almost inevitable talking about the union projects of the ski resorts in Aragón, with the Formigal, Astún and Candanchú resorts being at the head of them. This would transform the skiable area into the eight most important in the world. For now though, you will have to resign yourself to the existing collaboration between the Astún and Candanchú ski resorts, where the ski area adds up to 80 kilometres, and which are united by a free bus for skiers that travels the three and a half kilometres that separate both resorts. The beautiful landscape that the Astún Valley offers has been famous for a very long time. The green areas, trails and white peaks remind that at sometimes, time doesn\'t go by. Driving along the roads that link to the valley will give you a sense of calm that will encourage you throughout the remainder of the journey. It is obvious that Astún is not the resort with the best mechanical resources, but there is no other resort that casts a shadow over it in relation to service and quality on off-piste routes. For skiers who love freestyle, powder snow, and pistes that are not marked off, Astún is the ideal place for your winter holidays in the Pyrenees. Lovers of nature and the mountain will find the widest range of activities in the natural environment at Astún. These mountains are full of action 365 days a year. How to get to Astún Like other Pyrenean ski resorts, access is not easy, although one advantage at Astún is its proximity to airports, train stations and, above all, the timetable straightforwardness and the continuity of the routes from all places to Jaca. Once there, it will not cost much to take a taxi to your establishment in the event that you are not staying in the town, which is small, and you can easily walk.

2 Everything is much easier if you have your own vehicle. This allows you to move with total freedom between the resort and the surrounding towns, and therefore you are able to make the most of everything on offer in Astún and Jaca. If you select the joint ski pass for Astún and Candanchú, there is transport from one resort to the other on the white bus, which is free for skiers. The bus runs frequently in both directions, covering a distance of barely four kilometres. From Madrid to Astún, it is a total of 487 kilometres and the journey takes about five and a half hours. Take the A-2 which passes Zaragoza and then heads in the direction of Huesca. Here, you will need to exit in the direction of Sabiñánigo. Before arriving at Sabiñánigo, there are signs to the left that say Jaca. You won\'t get lost. The route is enjoyable and calm, with some incredible views once you pass Huesca. If your point of origin is Barcelona, in order to get to Astún, head in the direction of Igualada, pass Cervera and continue until you get to Lleida. Once there, head in the direction of Huesca, Sabiñánigo, and finally Jaca. It is a distance of 372 kilometres, with a journey time of almost five hours. The road from Lleido to Huesca is a national road. Some stretches are not very well maintained. The nearest train stations to Astún are Huesca (105 kilometres away), and Lleida (162 kilometres away). Both are linked to various points in Spain with the AVE, the high-speed train. Flying to Astún is impossible. The nearest airports to the Astún ski resort are the Pyrenees Airport, or Huesca (115 kilometres away). Zaragoza Airport is 185 kilometres away from Astún, and Pamplona Airport is 183 kilometres away. They are the most recommended airports for their proximity, given that Barcelona Airport is 368 kilometres away. From the Pyrenees airport in Huesca, you can take the bus to the Huesca bus station, and from there, you can take another bus to Jaca. The total journey, including bus stops, can be over three hours in duration. However, being able to enjoy the scenery on the way to Jaca without having to drive is an advantage. Car parks at Astún At the Astún ski resort, you can easily park on any weekday. Perhaps on certain dates, or at weekends, the car park can overflow a bit, and you may have to make use of the pavements of the roads. In the event of the car park reaching capacity, the police are quite tolerant and usually understand the need to park there. The main building of Astún is perpendicular to the main lift, and just in front of this building, (beneath the lift) about 50 metres away, there is a tarmac esplanade which is the car park. It has a capacity of more than 1800 vehicles and was extended not long ago, and it is now assumed to have sufficient space for skiers. In the same place, to the right at the nearest side to the main building at Astún, there is a limited area of parking for buses. At this same point, the Jaca bus stops regularly, eight kilometres from the capital of the province. Even with Jaca being a town with a small population, it has numerous tourist establishments, almost all of which have car parks. In any case, behind the citadel of Jaca, there is a free, uncovered car park, and right behind the Jaca cathedral, there is another car park, which is covered and for which you need to pay.

3 As a general rule, parking outside does not have any risk. The whole area, of both Astún and Jaca and its surroundings, are quite peaceful and there is not usually any kind of problems. Nurseries at Astún The Astún ski resort has its own nursery so that parents can travel with children who do not yet know how to ski, and they can have a place where they can safely leave them. In this nursery, children will have fun while they play and enjoy themselves in the snow, which ensures that they will always remember their winter holidays. The nursery is located at the foot of the piste and accepts children between 1 and 6 years old. Furthermore, many of the hotels in the region have a nursery and baby-sitter service, if you prefer to leave them closer to where you are staying. What to do after skiing / Après ski at Astún Astún has a total of four buildings. Within them, there is a first-aid station, a couple of cafés, a new terrace called La maleta ( the suitcase ), a supermarket, some apartments, and the Hotel Europa. At the resort, there is not a lot to do after you have been skiing, but the area offers many alternatives. Astún is the ideal resort to relax, read, and rest after days skiing. Simple, welcoming, and with a very Alpine environment, forgetting the rest of the world is possible at this resort. If what you want is to visit a spa, in the vicinity of the Astún resort, just three kilometres away, there are the hotels in Cafranc, Candanchú, and of course Jaca. The latter is the town that offers the widest range of activities, from historic routes by the citadel and the cathedral, to relaxing sessions in different spas that the nearby hotels offer. Jaca has a local swimming pool with free swimming timetables, and a fitness centre that you can attend for independent sessions. Perhaps the preferred activity of all is heading to the ice rink located close to the town centre. There, you can practise hockey, skating, and many other activities that children will enjoy. The Museo de Miniaturas Militares (Museum of Military Miniatures) in Jaca is another form of entertainment that can leave children speechless, and let\'s not forget about the themed, Pyrenean wildlife park, La Cuniacha, or the Pirenarium theme park. If you are visiting in summer, there will be many activities that you can do, including rafting, hillwalking, horse-riding, canyoning, archery, mountain-biking, and even more. Some activities are on offer in different valley shops that have walking specialists and all kinds of natural environment activities. There are many unavoidable restaurants for your meeting with the Astún Valley. In Jaca, in the historic centre, you will find great places where you can taste the best of Aragón: restaurants that serve as a reference point in Aragonese gastronomy. An example of these is the Conde de Aznar restaurantm which offers food in the best environment. Other than having a refined touch, they offer a special menu for coeliacs, or which even have a menu available in Braille.

4 Another must-see restaurant and the most popular in the area is the Lilium restaurant, which offers a menu full of traditional dishes of High-Aragonese cuisine, such as grilled lamb, migas, and, if you are in the valley or Jaca in autumn, don\'t forget to try the delicious local mushrooms. Equipment hire at Astún SKI 1 DAY 2 DAYS 3 DAYS 4 DAYS 5 DAYS Full equipment - adult Full equipment - child Full equipment (top of the range) SNOWBOARD 1 DAY 2 DAYS 3 DAYS 4 DAYS 5 DAYS Full equipment - adult Full equipment - child EQUIPMENT REPAIR Ski Snowboard Full repair Edges Wax coating Edges and wax coating Safety bindings assembly Special repair Classes and rental stores at Astún At the Astún winter resort there are two ski and snowboard schools. Both have fantastic specialists who will teach you, or start you off in the practise of the sports, or who will perfect your knowledge on a snowboard or skis. The Astún ski schools are located on both sides of the building in the built-up area, and next to these, you can find the equipment hire stall. Below, you will find the prices of equipment hire and lessons at Astún. Where to stay at Astún The Astún winter resort only has one hotel at the foot of the piste, the Hotel Europa: it is inviting, intimate, and has free Internet access. This hotel of multiple rooms usually accommodates groups or families. In its café, they serve breakfast, coffee, and all kinds of food and drink to skiers and residents of the hotel. The nearest urban area to Astún that has a hotel industry is Candanchú, where there is a wider variety of establishments, all of which are three stars. If you are looking for more well-cared for

5 hotels, on the journey to Jaca (the town with the biggest accommodation selection), you will find charming hotels, some of which are rural, some historical, and although they are only three stars, they take care of every last detail. The Astún Valley and the Jaca region in general has always been a tourist area. The citizens are very accustomed to temporary residents, tourists, and perhaps what best describes the people is their hospitality. Although the towns of Formigal and Sallent de Gallego are the nearest to the Astún resort, it is a false reality given that it is not possible to get there by piste or by road. There are several designs to unite the Aramon ski resorts with Candanchú and Astún, but it has not yet been possible and they are still trying to arrange it. Don\'t forget to enjoy the Astún Valley which has its own personality, and which conserves the richness and character of North Aragón. The establishments that you will find in both Jaca (30 kilometres away) and the stretch from Astún to Jaca, are quite varied. The nearest four star hotel is the Hotel Reina Felicia. The Barcelo Jaca is also nearby, but is one that is in the direction of Sabiñánigo. The prices of the hotels in Astún Candanchú, and the surrounding area of Jaca are obscenely good when compared with the other side of Anayet, where there are more four star hotels at much higher prices. In both summer and winter, the option of visiting the Astún Valley and the High Aragon Pyrenees is an affordable option full of activities and entertainment for adults and children alike. Enjoy your holidays as much as you like: in Jaca, it\'s in your power. Technical information at Astún Despite all the efforts the Astún winter resort is making to improve and furnish its facilities with more modern mechanisms, it is still a bit obsolete. In spite of this, the resort is to the delight of skiers with a certain level of training: they will love the resort\'s stretches. With a maximum height of 2300 metres, and a minimum of 1658 metres, it has piste slopes of 642 metres. Astún has a total ski area of 42 kilometres. The network of pistes is shared out across five chair-lifts (with capacity of people per hour), seven ski-lifts (with a capacity of 9000 people per hour, and three transportation belts (with a capacity of people per hour). The Candanchú Snow park is a recent development. It has a couple of jumps, and interesting boxes for lovers of freestyle. With a total of 120 snow cannons, Astún can produce artificial snow for 15.6 kilometres.

6 PISTE MAP