Astún () is a
ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area–a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In North Am ...
situated near the town of
Canfranc in the
High Aragon of the western
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. They extend nearly from their union with the Cantabrian Mountains to Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean coast, reaching a maximum elevation of at the peak of Aneto. ...
(province of
Huesca
Huesca (; ) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Aragon. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon between 1096 and 1118. It is also the capital of the Spanish Huesca (province), ...
,
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 ...
). The source of the
Aragon River is in the resort.
Ibón de Truchas attracts anglers. It is connected to the city by 33 km of the N -330. At its feet is the urbanization of the tracks, which had 6 inhabitants in 2012.
The resort
The resort has 39 km of marked
pistes, and is one of the most modern resorts of the Pyrenees. The highest point is ''La Raca'' peak, 2300m
AMSL
Height above mean sea level is a measure of a location's vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) in reference to a vertical datum based on a historic mean sea level. In geodesy, it is formalized as orthometric height. The zero level v ...
, with a vertical drop of 600m.
The base of the resort is a purpose-built town which includes several hotels and apartments and is situated at 1700m
AMSL
Height above mean sea level is a measure of a location's vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) in reference to a vertical datum based on a historic mean sea level. In geodesy, it is formalized as orthometric height. The zero level v ...
. From there the main
chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel wire rope loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers. They are the primary on-hill tran ...
s provide access for the resort. The resort itself occupies two different high mountain valleys, defining two sectors: ''La Raca - Sarrios'', and ''Truchas''. Each sector is accessed from the base of the resort using a chairlift.
Astún offers a joint ski pass with the neighbouring resort of
Candanchú.
Lifts
The resort has:
* 6 chair lifts.
* 7
ski tows.
Pistes
The resort offers 48 pistes of different difficulties:
* 3 beginner.
* 14 easy.
* 22 intermediate.
* 9 expert.
Services
* 8
restaurants.
* 3 skiing schools.
* 1 snow garden for children.
* 1
kindergarten
Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cen ...
.
* 4 ski hiring stores.
Accidents
On January 18, 2025, an accident occurred when the
cantilever
A cantilever is a rigid structural element that extends horizontally and is unsupported at one end. Typically it extends from a flat vertical surface such as a wall, to which it must be firmly attached. Like other structural elements, a cantilev ...
ed
bullwheel
A bullwheel or bull wheel is a large wheel on which a rope turns, such as in a chairlift or other ropeway. In this application, the bullwheel that is attached to the prime mover is called the drive bullwheel, and the other is the return bullw ...
at the top of the Canal Roya chairlift detached and the haul rope caught on the tower of the bullwheel while the lift was in operation. The sudden loss of tension caused severe oscillations in the haul rope, which lifted it out of the
sheave assemblies at several towers. Several passengers were ejected from their seats. At least thirteen people were injured to varying degrees, one person was reported in critical condition.
References
External links
* http://www.astun.com - Official resort site.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Astun
Ski areas and resorts in Aragon
Pyrenees