Puntos de Interés
Infrastructure
Former Castrofuerte railway station
The former Castrofuerte station is an excellent example of early 20th-century railway architecture. It formed part of the Palanquinos–Medina de Rioseco narrow-gauge railway line, which opened on 30 April 1915 and linked the south of the province of León with Valladolid. This railway, popularly known as the tren burra, or “donkey train,” played a vital role for more than fifty years in transporting passengers, grain, livestock and other agricultural produce from Tierra de Campos, until it was finally closed in 1969.
The railway complex consisted of the main passenger building, several warehouses and other ancillary buildings that supported the operation of the line. After decades of neglect, the complex was the subject of an ambitious regeneration project spearheaded by Villaornate y Castro Council and the Castrofuerte Neighbourhood Committee, with the aim of restoring this valuable industrial heritage and making it available to users of the Greenway.
The building now has a completely new look, although it retains the station’s original appearance. Built entirely of exposed brick, it stands out for its compact two-storey structure and the combination of different adjoining sections that enrich its silhouette. The façade retains its characteristic brick-framed rectangular openings, wooden eaves and gabled tiled roof. At one end, a lower section protrudes, featuring an original exposed brick finish that lends character to the whole structure. The old platform has been transformed into a pleasant, tree-lined footpath that follows the route of the Greenway and offers views of the building from different angles.
Today, the restored station stands as a magnificent example of the revival of León’s railway heritage. Its presence serves as a reminder of the importance the railway once held in the daily lives of the towns and villages in the region, and symbolises the repurposing old transport infrastructure to be used for tourism, hiking and enjoying the countryside.