Comet Line Escape Route tour of Pyrenees

No but I'm interested to know how this goes. If you do this particular Freedom Trail it would be great for you to do a Trip Report on it.

I'm doing a tour of SW France in 2025 and the guide has promised we will spend some time with a local expert on the Freedom Trails in the area where we are visiting. I think it will be further east than the Comet Line - I know there were 2 other major ones in France and I suspect a lot of minor ones.

I just found this - I have no personal experience but this website was pretty interesting and had lots of info. And it looks like they offer 1-2 day tours of the Comet Line. You might want to check it out in more detail: https://www.pyreneanexperience.com/comet-line/

Thank you!

@jhausman, the other day I listened to this podcast about the resistance and collaboration in the French Basque country. While it doesn't mention the Comet Line, it might give you some good background on what was happening in the area at the time.

You might find this interesting, a recent article from CNN travel - https://edition.cnn.com/travel/freedom-trail-france-spain-nazi-escape-route/index.html

It tells the story of the descendants of those who escaped the Germans during World War II by crossing the Pyrenees mountains from France into Spain. The dangerous route, known as the Freedom Trail, provided a means of escape for hundreds of thousands. In memory of those who made this journey, the trail has become an annual "walking memorial," with 87 people, including descendants of those who escaped, retracing the steps of their ancestors.

Spain played an important role as a destination for escapees from Nazi-occupied territories during World War II due to its neutral status. Despite the fact that General Franco was sympathetic to Germany, Spain remained somewhat friendly to the Allied powers during WWII. This neutrality meant that Spain became a haven for many who were fleeing persecution.

The Pyrenees became a crucial escape route for many refugees, including resistance fighters, civilians, Jews, allied soldiers, and escaped POWs. Those who managed to traverse the challenging and often dangerous terrain were interred briefly in Spanish towns near the border then released after a relatively short period.

@dlindstrom - thank you for the Podcast link! I've downloaded and will listen to it while walking.

@Carlos - an excellent CNN article. I am so happy they walk this every year.

Interesting but… of course, the real heroes were those who crossed FROM Spain into France before WWII started, many of whom set up escape lines for downed Allied airmen.
As for Franco's Spain being 'neutral' — well, that's not right. Officially, and legally, Spain was 'non-belligerent' — a huge difference — until 1942, when the coward, Franco, was faced with the U.S.A. and U.K.'s threat to occupy the Canary Islands ( Ian FLeming, author of the James Bond novels, worked on the plans for the invasion of the islands). However, even as late as 1944 in WWII Franco was still exporting tungsten to Nazi Germany (but that's a whole other story).

There is a great little museum in St. Girons , "La Maison du Chemin de la Liberté". More info here https://www.chemindelaliberte.fr/the-freedom-trail?start=1. Saint Girons and nearby Saint Lizier are wonderful and lightly touristed

To follow up with what Bill posted, you may also want to research Canfranc Station. From Wikipedia:

“… During the Second World War, the station and the surrounding area acquired a reputation as the "Casablanca in the Pyrenees" due to its serving as a key crossing point for goods, as well as being a center of espionage for Nazi and Spanish authorities. Officially neutral Spain had formed an operational agreement with the Wehrmacht, which saw freight trains carrying mined tungsten northwards while French grain, as well as trans-shipped Swiss gold, was borne southwards. Passenger services also continued during the conflict, which provided an escape route into Spain for both Jews and Allied soldiers alike. Aware of these movements, Nazi agents frequently sought to intervene against passengers of interest.”

In the last couple years the former train station was remodeled and opened as a hotel. We stopped at it last year while it was still undergoing renovations. It is definitely off most tourists’ radar. It is only a few miles from the French border.

Franco played both sides to his advantage during World War II, he was able to obtain help to rebuild Spain after the civil war, while at the same time keeping Spain out of the wider conflict. He was a ruthless political operator who walked a fine line. The Germans also had invasion plans drawn up to occupy parts of Spain during the war.

"He (Franco) was a ruthless political operator who walked a fine line." Yep. Even Himmler, during his visit in 1940, was horrified by Franco's cruelty.
"The Germans also had invasion plans drawn up to occupy parts of Spain during the war." Correct: Operation Felix if If I recall correctly.
It is important to know that Franco only survived the post-WWII years because of:
a) Conrad Hilton (the very first Hilton Hotel in Europe was built in Madrid)
b) American Express — who did a deal with Franco's puppet government to promote Spain as a tourist destination
b) Hollywood (El Cid, Spartacus, 55 Days in Peking, Dr Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia — all filmed in Spain)
c) Eisenhower. "He may be a S-O-B but he's our S-O-B."
d) mass tourism

Franco was a cold-hearted butcher — propped up by U.S. interests.
You may be interested to read this — El País … https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2018/10/22/inenglish/1540219578_899934.html

And Bill please don't forget the British! Who countered the French/Soviet plan to oust Franco after WWII. There are many reasons why the allies ended up keeping Franco around, mostly his anti-communist credentials. I believe even Churchill saw Franco in mostly positive terms. Even gave him millions of Pounds to ensure his neutrality.

https://youtu.be/F6yeqA2zYug

I'm not the OP but I'm asking you all please to not turn this into a political discussion.

Pam not to worry, not politics, just history and context. I believe we are all on the same page.

But I agree with you we probably shouldn't keep going down this rabbit hole, we just had a very contested national election in Spain, so I know the feeling 😬

"—just history and context. I believe we are all on the same page.…" Yes. Agreed.
Let's agree with Rick Steves:
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/10-tips-for-traveling-as-a-political-act
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylRgzneW3Vs

The impending rabbit hole is noted. The #1 guideline is to stay on topic so that we're helping the OP, so thanks to everyone for making sure we're drawing the conversation back to the stated topic. Thanks everyone!