Andorra, a region of slender valleys and hilly scenery, is among the oldest nations in Europe. Seeming to be mostly veiled in the eastern Pyrenees, the region is surrounded by two famous nations – France at its north and east and Spain at its south and west. Located in the middle while traveling to/from Barcelona to Toulouse, the topography encompasses ravines and narrow valleys enclosed by crags. Most of the landscape been comprised of forests, there are also parts of it covered by lush meadows in the valleys. Offering four rivers and many hilly lakes, the Ski resorts and the spa town of Les Escaldes are the major tourist pullers of Andorra.
The main road passing through the country holds the maximum hamlets. Among them, are the Romanesque churches and homes exhibiting the local style with which many villages or settlements are adorned. In addition, you can also enjoy the eye-catching views of the more unblemished rocky landscape off the main road.
Andorra la Vella is the capital of the nation and the languages spoken here are Catalan – the formal language, French, and Spanish. Most of the population here is Roman Catholic.
History
Founded by Charlemagne, this state was a state of defense against the Iberian Muslims. In 1278 and 1288, the power was split between the Spanish Bishop of Urgell and a nominee appointed by the King of France (the Count de Foix) due to Paretages. Later, it was taken over by the French emperors and presidents. This distinct system of sharing the control came to an end in the late 20th century. At that time, the current constitution came into effect in 1993 officially declared Andorra as a principality.
At present, the administration is the responsibility of a general council formed from 28 members out of which every four of them belongs to a parish. It is the duty of the council to select a president and a vice-president. The Unio Liberal (UL) and the Agrupament Nacional Democratic (AND) are in charge of the local administration.
- February 1997:
UL saw a victory in the poll occupying 18 of the 28 seats on the Conseil General under the leadership of Marc Forne Molne. - 2001:
Again, with majority, the voters retained the Molne government starting its second term. - 2005:
Molne was banned to stand as an elector and Albert Pintat became the prime minister belonging to the Liberal Party, though he did not obtain the absolute majority. - 2003:
Joan Enric Vives i Sicilia (Bishop of la Seu d’Urgell) became the Head of State - 2007:
Nicolas Sarkozy (President of France) became the Head of the State along with Joan Sicilia, thus, called co-heads. - April 2009:
The Social Democratic Party witnessed victory in the parliamentary election. - June 2009:
Jaume Bartumeu Cassany became the Head of Government.
Tourists’ Attractions
- Scenery:
The country offers a breathtaking scene transversing the mountains at the settlement of El Serrat situated at a distance of 18 km (11 miles) from Escaldes-Engordany lying off the main road. - Encamp:
Famous for medieval church and homes made from stone, the town is situated between Andorra la Vella and the French border. - Madriu Valley:
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this is an icy valley formed in a U design. Reaching until the glacial Gargantilla, it offers variety of sceneries, human works, and shepherd’s huts.
- Andorra la Vella:
Known as the capital of Andorra, it is situated at the meeting point of two mountains. Worth visiting attractions here are the superb 12th century church and the Casa de la Vall, the old place of government.
- Trekking:
With a magnificent view of rivers, lakes, and cute landscapes, trekking is a good option in the surrounding mountains. The strolling sites are the Camí Ral d’Ordino in the La Cortinada rural community and Camí de les Pardines in Encamp. - Skiing:
There are many skiing resorts at Andorra. Out of these, the key resort is Soldeu. The other ski centres are located at Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig on the French border, Ordino-Arcalis to the north, and Arinsal-Pal again to the north. A site of cross-country skiing is the La Rabassa resort. - Adventurous Sports:
You can opt for horse riding, cycling, tennis, swimming, rock climbing and clay-pigeon shooting in Andorra. - Spectator Sports:
You can observe football, rugby, or basketball, and motorbike and car rallies. - Escaldes-Engordany:
This is popular spa town situated next to the capital. In addition, you can visit the structures of Romanesque architecture along the hot springs. - Shopping:
Andorra offers you with variety of shopping items that are much cheaper available at the cost of less 30 percent as compared to other places. One of the main reasons for such cheap goods is that they are duty-free. Worth purchasing items include petrol, alcohol, cameras, watches, and electrical goods. Timings for shopping in the country are Monday to Saturday from 0930-1330 and from 1600-2000. On Sundays, the timings are from 0930-1330 and from 1600-1900. Hours set for the department stores are 0930 to 2000 from Monday to Friday, 0930 to 2100 on Saturdays, and 0930 to 1900 on Sundays. - Andorran Festival:
This is a colorful native festival held in starting of the September month as a tribute to the Virgin of Meritxell.
Passports and Visa
Citizens of any nationalism require a valid passport. However, the Europeans who possess a national ID card can visit Spain or France without any further obligations. For three months, no visa is required, which is valid for any citizen of any nation. However, one should follow the regulations set up for France and Spain with respect to the nationalism. For people holding a Schengen visa, kindly note that Andorra does not have its name in the Schengen area. So, on entering Europe with the Schengen visa, they should be sure that their visa is valid to allow them to enter Spain or France for a subsquent stay in Andorra and that they can make frequent visits too.
Reaching Andorra
- By Air:
Holding no international airport, the nearest international airports from Andorra are Barcelona (BCN) in Spain at a distance of 225km (140 miles) and Toulouse (TLS) in France at 180 km (112 miles). Regular bus services and shared taxis can take you to/from the airport to Andorra. - By Rail:
The closest station is L’Hospitalet from where you can catch a bus for Andorra. From here, you can also go to France that takes 2 hours 40 minutes and starts early to offer you a day-return visit. Other rail heads include Perpignan, Villefranche, Toulouse, and Barcelona that take you to La Tour de Carol that is at a distance of 20 km (12 miles) from Andorra. From here also, you need to take a bus to reach Andorra that takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. Other convenient tracts include from Madrid (Spain) to Lleida (Spain) and from Barcelona (Spain) to Puig Cerda. From both these places, you can reach La Seu d’Urgell. - By Road:
Hilly paths through the Envalira pass from Perpignan, Tarbes, and Toulouse (France), Barcelona, and Lerida (Spain) can take you to Andorra. Shared taxis and buses are offered frequently from Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia and Madrid (Spain), and Toulouse (France).
