Aragon It will have the mountain slide with the greatest uneven in Europe and one of the longest in the world: a route of almost 3 kilometers on the ski slopes of Panticosa, saving more than 700 meters of unevenness and reaching 40 km/h. An attraction that promises to revolutionize tourism in the Pyrenees and whose construction works have officially begun this Monday with the placement of the first stone.
In the middle of the peaks of the Tena Valley, where silence is only broken by the murmur of the Caldares river, Panticosa prepares for a new adventure that 1,100 people can live a day. A vertiginous descent in sled, by rails, with curves, bridges and tunnels that will test the adrenaline of those who seek unique experiences in nature.
A infarction descent between mountains
Thus will work: Monorraíl, brakes and smart sleds
An investment of 7.7 million to take off tourism all year
Viacrón, the Aragonese company behind the project
How to get to Panticosa
A infarction descent between mountains
The future Panticosa mountain slide will be one of the great active leisure attractions of southern Europe. Its total route will reach 2.9 kilometers, with a slope of more than 700 meters of accumulated slope, which will be completed in 9 minutes. This makes it the mountain slide with the greatest uneven in Europe, and one of the most exciting in the world.
Construction works have begun this Monday with the placement of the first stone. Photo: Aragon Government
Visitors will descend in one of the 50 individual sleds that will be installed in a monorraíl system located directly on the hillside. Experience will not be only for reckless: each user can control the speed. Of course, the most daring can be launched thoroughly until reaching 40 kilometers per hour between curves, tunnels and catwalks.
The layout will have two tunnels and four bridges, which will integrate it into the natural landscape without great alterations. In addition, it will be designed to operate both in winter and summer, which makes it an offense of unstacted leisure for Panticosa.
Thus will work: Monorraíl, brakes and smart sleds
The system key will be a steel monorraíl anchored to the ground that will serve as a guide for sleds. Each vehicle will be designed for one or two people, with safety and support belt adapted.
In addition, the layout will have proximity sensors that activate the brake automatically if they detect collision risk. Security, together with the possibility of stopping or enjoying thoroughly, converts this attraction to suitable for all audiences.
The president of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, has tested the seats of the new Panticosa slide. Photo: Aragon Government
In the coldest months, a heating cable will be activated that runs through the entire route, avoiding the formation of accumulated ice or snow. This will allow to maintain the service virtually all year, even in full winter season.
An investment of 7.7 million to take off tourism all year
The project has a total budget of 7.7 million euros, of which 7.2 million are provided by the Aragon Government and the rest of the Panticosa City Council. An autonomous strategy to improve infrastructure, services and sustainability in the four regions of the Pyrenees is part of the Pyrenees Plan.
The Aragonese president, Jorge Azcón, has participated on Monday in the symbolic act of placement of the first stone. During his speech, he stressed that this infrastructure is “an example of an economic engine and the de -stationalization of tourism. This slide can serve tourists for 10 months a year and will be a central element in the de -stationalization of tourism facing ski stations.”
This action adds to other recent investments in the Valley of Tena, such as the 12 million destined in 2024 to replace or renew 547 snow cannons in the formigal-panticase domain, or the almost 14 million that will be invested in housing for workers: 16 in Panticosa, 15 in Biescas and 60 in Sallent de Gállego. “Without housing for workers, there is no possibility that the Pyrenees continue to grow,” said Azcón.
The project is part of the Pyrenees Plan. Photo: Aragon Government
Currently, more than 500,000 people visit every formigal and panticose winter for skiing, and another 20,000 do so in summer to climb in the telecabine. With this new slide, this influx is intended to remain stable beyond the snow season.
Viacrón, the Aragonese company behind the project
The winning company is Viacrón, a civil engineering firm based in Huesca and extensive experience in public works in high mountain areas. You will have three months to write the technical project and additional twelve months to execute the works, provided that they do not arise unforeseen.
Viacrón has already worked at the Panticosa treatment plant and the antialud structures of the road to the spa. For this new challenge, it will install a latest generation system with ergonomic support, HEATING IN THE RAÍL, SAFETY SENSORS AND AUTOMATIC GARAGE FOR THE SLOGS.
The design allows to expand the layout in the future if the land allows it, and guarantees simple maintenance and low environmental impact. The objective: convert the slide into a new symbol of Aragonese tourism.
How to get to Panticosa
Panticosa is located in the heart of the Valle de Tena, in the Oscense Pyrenees. From Saragossa, it takes an hour and 48 minutes by car, following the A-23 to Sabiñánigo and then taking the N-260 in the direction of Biescas, to link with the A-136 to the town.
From Huesca, the journey is about an hour and 12 minutes, also for the A-23. If it comes from Jaca or Norte de Navarra, you can access by Biescas, with direct connection from France through the port of Portalet.
From Teruel, the journey is somewhat more extensive. It is a route of 3 hours and 16 minutes through the A-23 to Sabiñánigo, and then taking the N-260 in the Biescas direction, to link with the A-136 to the town.
In summer and festive bridges there are usually bus service from Zaragoza and Huesca, with stops in Biescas, Sallent and Panticosa. The closest train station is Sabiñánigo, from where you can continue by bus or taxi.
Once in the town, access to the future slide will be held from the immediate vicinity of the ski resort, in the Telecabine sector, where there will also be parking space and tourist information points.
