Somport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Somport |
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Pass as seen from Spain
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| Elevation | 1,632 m (5,354 ft) |
| Traversed by | road |
| Location | France–Spain border |
| Range | Pyrenees |
| Coordinates | 42°47′37″N 00°32′45″W / 42.79361°N 0.54583°W |
 Somport
Location in France
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The Somport Pass, also known as Col du Somport or the Aspe Pass, is a mountain pass located high up in the Pyrenees mountains. It sits right on the border between France and Spain. Its name comes from the Latin words Summus portus, meaning "highest port" or "highest pass."
For a long time, Somport was a very popular route. Soldiers, traders, and even pilgrims used it. Pilgrims were people traveling to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela. They followed a route called the Arles Way, going from Oloron-Sainte-Marie in France, through Somport, and into Aragon, Spain.
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Somport's Military Past
This pass has been important in history for a long time. In the 400s, groups like the Vandals and Visigoths used this easy way to enter Spain from France. Later, a Roman road called the Via Tolosana was built here. In the 700s, Muslim armies also used this road when they tried to conquer France.
In the 1500s, the Habsburg family, who ruled parts of Europe, built defenses at the pass. They were worried about France invading. However, a major invasion didn't happen until 1808. That's when Napoleon's general, Louis Gabriel Suchet, arrived during the Peninsular War. Another officer, Colonel Leonard Morin, later wrote about how dangerous the pass was. He also described the difficult lives of the people living in the nearby town of Canfranc. The French army eventually left by the same road in 1814 after being defeated by General Francisco Espoz y Mina.
Fort du Portalet
The Fort du Portalet is a strong fort in the Aspe valley, just north of the border. It was built to guard the Somport Pass. King Louis Philippe I ordered its construction. The fort is built right against a cliff overlooking the Gave d'Aspe river. It was started in 1842 and finished in 1870. During World War II, several important French leaders were held prisoner there. After the war, Philippe Pétain, a famous French general, was also imprisoned at the fort for a few months in 1945.
Pilgrims and the Way of St. James
The Somport Pass was once the most popular way for pilgrims to cross the Pyrenees on the Way of St. James. This was true until the 1100s. After that, another route through Roncesvalles became safer. This was because local groups like the Navarran and Basque bandits became less of a threat.
Today, there isn't much at the pass itself, except for a modern chapel called the Ermita del Pilar, built in 1992. But the natural beauty of the mountains is amazing! From Somport, it's about 840 kilometers (520 miles) to Santiago de Compostela.
Modern Travel and Tunnels
In 1928, a railway line opened, connecting Canfranc, Spain, with Pau, France. This railway used the Somport Railway Tunnel, which was finished in 1915. The line closed in 1970 after a freight train accident.
Later, a new road tunnel was built. The Somport Road Tunnel, which is 8.6 kilometers (5.3 miles) long, opened in 2003. Building this tunnel caused some arguments, especially in France. People who were against it said it would harm the beautiful Aspe Valley. They wanted the old railway line to be fully reopened instead. Some protesters even stayed permanently at an abandoned railway station to show their opposition.
One of the main concerns was about the rare Pyrenean Brown Bear. This bear is very close to disappearing, and people worried the tunnel project would threaten it even more. Protests continued for about 20 years, with the last protesters leaving in 2005.
In 2003, a French politician named Jean Lassalle famously protested in the French National Assembly. He sang a traditional song to show his disagreement. He was upset because police officers guarding the Somport Road Tunnel were being moved. He felt this was insulting to the people living in the small town of Urdos.
Sports at Somport
The Somport Pass is also a great place for sports! There's a cross-country ski trail that stretches 35 kilometers (22 miles) around the pass. This trail is shared by both Spain and France. Part of it is even connected to the Spanish ski resort of Candanchú.
See also
In Spanish: Somport para niños
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes
