The Bulnes Funicular () is an underground

funicular A funicular ( ) is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep grade (slope), slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to ...

connecting the villages of

Bulnes Bulnes may refer to: People * Eduardo Pérez Bulnes (1785–1851), Argentine statesman * Francisco Bulnes (politician) (1847–1924), Mexican intellectual * Manuel Bulnes (1799–1866), Chilean military and political figure * Manuel Bulnes Pinto ...

and Poncebos in the

Picos de Europa Picos is a municipality in the state of Piauí in the Northeast region of Brazil. Picos is the state's third-largest city, located in the south-central region of Piauí and is the most economically developed city in the region. The city's fin ...

region of the

Cantabrian Mountains The Cantabrian Mountains or Cantabrian Range () are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain. They stretch for over 300 km (180 miles) across northern Spain, from the western limit of the Pyrenees to the Galician Massif ...

Asturias Asturias (; ; ) officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwest Spain. It is coextensive with the provinces of Spain, province of Asturias and contains some of the territory t ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

Overview

The village of Bulnes is located at an elevation of in a steep mountain valley above the Cares River. Traditionally, the only routes to the village were the strenuous two-hour trail from Poncebos and the mountain path from

Sotres Sotres is a village and parish in the Asturian municipality of Cabrales, in Spain, located 19 km from Carreña, the municipal capital, in the eastern extreme of the province. The highest of all villages in the Picos de Europa National Par ...

. There are no vehicular routes to the village. To provide better access to Bulnes and to open up the region to tourism, the

government developed the Bulnes Funicular which opened in September 2001. In the first 10 years after opening, the funicular recorded 500,000 passengers. The funicular is a single-track railway with an 18% slope that operates through a tunnel below the mountains north of Bulnes. The railway has an elevation gain of from its base in Poncebos to the terminus in Bulnes. There are no other stations along the route. There are two passenger cars for the funicular, with total capacity of 48 passengers, in addition to a freight car that is used to transport goods to Bulnes. The funicular operates 365 days a year and departs at 30 minute intervals. Fares are collected to use the funicular, except for residents of Bulnes who can travel for free.

Gallery

Funicular - panoramio (6).jpg, Entrance to the funicular station Funicular de Bulnes (4019902311).jpg, View of the terminus in Bulnes Subida_a_Bulnes.jpg, Interior of the Bulnes Funicular

References

{{reflist Funicular railways in Spain Railway lines opened in 2001