Portbou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Portbou
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Municipality
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View of Port-Bou from Col del Frare (SSE)
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 Portbou
Location in Province of Girona
Portbou
Location in Catalonia
Portbou
Location in Spain
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Community |  Catalonia |
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| Province | Girona | ||
| Comarca | Alt Empordà | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 9.2 km2 (3.6 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 28 m (92 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 1,077 | ||
| • Density | 117.1/km2 (303.2/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Portbouenc, portbouenca | ||
Portbou is a small town in Catalonia, Spain. It's located in the Province of Girona, right near the border with France. About 1,077 people live here.
Portbou is part of the beautiful Costa Brava region. It's a key spot for trains traveling between France and Spain.
This town played an important role during the Spanish Civil War. It was one of the main places where supplies could reach the side fighting for the Republic. Also, a famous German thinker named Walter Benjamin was buried here in 1940. There's a special monument in his honor, created by Dani Karavan.
Contents
Getting Around Portbou
Portbou is a hub for travel, especially by train.
The Railway Station
The Portbou railway station is quite unique. It's a "break-of-gauge" station. This means it handles trains that use different track widths. Spain uses a wider track (called Iberian gauge), while most of Europe, including France, uses a narrower track (called standard gauge).
- Freight and Passengers: The station has big facilities for moving goods between trains. It also has a large passenger station.
- Border Crossing: In the past, there were customs and immigration checks here. But now, both France and Spain are part of the Schengen Area. This means people can travel freely between these countries without passport checks.
Railway Tunnels
Two railway tunnels connect Portbou with Cerbère, a town in France.
- One tunnel has a standard gauge track.
- The other has an Iberian gauge track.
Spanish trains often end their journey in Portbou or continue to Cerbère. French trains do the same, either stopping in Cerbère or coming into Portbou.
Automatic Track Change
Portbou has a special system called a TALGO Automatic Track Gauge Changeover System. This amazing technology allows some trains to change their wheel width automatically. This way, they can travel between Spain and France without passengers having to switch trains!
Road Connections
You can also travel by road to Cerbère in France. The road goes over a pass called Coll dels Balitres. This road trip is about 7 kilometers long. It's a bit longer than the train route, which is only about 1.8 kilometers.
Walking Trails
For those who love to hike, the GR 92 long-distance footpath starts in Portbou. This trail follows the Mediterranean coast of Spain. The first part of the trail goes south from Portbou to Llançà, which is about 9.8 kilometers away.
Population of Portbou
The number of people living in Portbou has changed over the years.
- In 1900, there were 2,581 residents.
- By 1930, the population grew to 3,976.
- In 1950, it was 2,033.
- In 1970, it increased to 2,360.
- By 1986, it was 2,021.
- In 2018, the population was 1,077.
Famous People from Portbou
- Clemente Cerdeira Fernández (1887–1947): He was a Spanish expert in Arabic studies and a diplomat.
- Àngels Santos Torroella: A talented Catalan painter.
See also
In Spanish: Portbou para niños
