Luchon or Bagnères-de-Luchon ? It's the same!photographic guide
- Excuse me, can you tell me the way to Bagnères de Luchon please?
- You're already here!
- No! I saw the signpost for Luchon, I thought Bagnères de Luchon was somewhere else.
- Trust me , it's the same, just shortened to Luchon because the local council couldn't afford all the big signposts!
Every year, and most days in August, this conversation can be heard in the town. The locals always call it Luchon because the full name is too long.
But there is confusion when it comes to official documents. A map, for instance, has Bagnères de Luchon in full, but the railway station cuts it to Luchon.
Even the French tourists are puzzled especially when they arrive high on the mountains at Superbagnères. They think they have arrived at Bagnères de Luchon and someone has stolen the town!
Perhaps we should just call it all Superluchon! Everyone gets confused, after all would you shorten Saint Jean Pied de Port to Port? Or Bagnères de Bigorre to Bigorre?
And that's exactly why the internet site for SNCF is awarded the wooden spoon. It recognises only Luchon, and if you put in Bagnères de Luchon you'll be sent the timetable for trains to Bagnères de Bigorre - which could be called superconfusion!
