Western Pyrenees

It’s been a long time since I last took the yellow train. Before venturing to my meet up with friends in Burgundy. I decided to pass through the Western Pyrenees and revisit the Yellow Train, also called Train Jaune. The beautiful landscape of this mountain range between Spain and France. At that time, I stopped at Thues and the Gite (inexpensive lodging in France) was full, I opted to sleep in a bus stop of the village. Then, the following day, I took Gorg de Carranza all the way to Vallter 2000.

After a long train ride from Barcelona to Latour-de-Carol, a village located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, near the Spanish border. Its main significance lies in its railway station, Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg, which is a rare convergence point for three different railway gauges and services: the French SNCF, the Spanish RENFE, and the small gauge line of the Yellow Train (Train Jaune) that runs through the Pyrenees.

The village is also close to the scenic Cerdagne region and serves as a gateway to both the Pyrenees National Park and the neighboring Spanish regions. Latour-de-Carol is often used by hikers, travelers, and those exploring the Pyrenees, due to its strategic location and unique railway connections.

Unfortunately on this very day, the service schedule of Train Jaune was scheduled. I was kind of disappointed to hear this. I supposed it was the gust of wind blowing on this day, but finding out there was a bus coming to cover the yellow train cancellation was a relief and on top of that, a 1 Euro ticket to go all the way to Villafranche de Conflent. That small amount is unheard nowadays paying a bus ticket. The driver came to help me out load my bike in the luggage trunk. This bus stops in every village either at its station or at a designated bus stop and that gave me an opportunity to see the villages, which you don’t get to experience when you ride the Yellow Train.