Old Fronteira Train Station

Category: Civil Architecture > Estação Ferroviária

District: Portalegre > Fronteira > Fronteira > Zona da Estação

Location

The Old Fronteira Railway Station is situated in the peaceful Station Zone, slightly set back from the centre of the town of Fronteira, in the heart of Alentejo. This location, once a convergence point for railway lines, now offers a more serene and unobstructed landscape. Its position allows visitors to appreciate the vast Alentejo plain and serves as a passage point for those exploring the region.

The station is integrated into the Portalegre Greenway (Ecopista de Portalegre), a greenway that invites walks or bicycle rides, providing a pleasant way to discover the surroundings and enjoy the calm atmosphere of the countryside, far from the hustle and bustle. Its peri-urban location, with industrial silos on one side and a primary school on the other, reflects a transition between the area's rural past and present.

Railway Memory

Inaugurated on January 20, 1937, Fronteira Railway Station was a vital element of the Portalegre Branch Line, connecting the region and facilitating the transport of people and goods. For decades, this place bustled with the arrival and departure of trains, witnessing the daily life and economic development of the area, with a highlight on livestock movement, for which dedicated infrastructures, such as corrals and holding pens, existed.

Its importance was maintained until January 2, 1990, the date of the railway section's closure. Despite being vacant, the station complex retains a significant part of its original structure, allowing visitors an imaginary journey back to the time when the train whistle announced new arrivals and departures.

Architecture and Azulejo Art

The old station's passenger building stands out for its architecture, which evokes the 17th and 18th-century Portuguese house style. This traditional aesthetic is enriched by details such as the Tuscan columns that support the platform canopy and the stone finishes, which lend a particular nobility to the ensemble. The construction, designed by architect Ernesto Korrodi, aimed to integrate harmoniously into the Alentejo landscape.

One of the most striking elements is the tile panels (azulejos) that adorn the exterior and interior walls. These tiles, predominantly blue and white with polychrome frames, were created by artists such as Leopoldo Battistini and Viriato Silva and produced in renowned ceramic factories. The representations on the tiles are true "postcards" of the era, showing Alentejo agricultural scenes, landscapes, regional monuments, and ethnographic motifs, offering a glimpse into local culture and traditions. In 1959, the station's beauty was recognized with 1st place in the "Flowered Stations Contest," a testament to the care and aesthetic value attributed to it.

The Station's Legacy

In addition to the main building, the Old Fronteira Railway Station complex includes the staff house, with two floors and windows featuring tiled frames and aprons, following the architectural style of the passenger building. There were also old service facilities, such as a water reservoir, a locomotive turntable, warehouses, and goods platforms, which reinforce the understanding of the complexity and life that once existed at this railway point.

Currently, the site, which is state-owned, has been sub-conceded to the Municipality of Fronteira for the development of socio-cultural activities. This initiative promises to give new life to this heritage, transforming it into a dynamic space that continues to serve the community, albeit in a different way from its original function. The visit allows those traveling to Fronteira to appreciate an important piece of Portuguese industrial and artistic heritage, set within an Alentejo landscape.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt