Index Index Identity card 04 Historical summary 08 Geography, climate and nature 10 02 Leisure, sports and health 12 03 Culture 20 Tourist bus 24 Festivities 25 Shopping 26 Gastronomy 28 Accommodation 32 Transport 34 Business tourism 38 Special thanks Photos kindly provided by the Tourism parishes 40 Andorra National Library and Practical information 48 the Comuns de Andorra (Paris- hes of Andorra). Brochures 54 Moscow Oslo 3.592 km 2.385 km FRANCE Dublin Copenhagen 1.709 km 2.028 km Canillo London Ordino 1.257 km La Haye El Pas de la Casa Berlin 1.328 km La Massana Encamp 1.866 km Bruxelles 1.180 km Escaldes-Engordany Paris Andorra la Vella 861 km Zurich Sant Julià 1.053 km de Lòria Toulouse ESPAÑA 04 185 km 05 Madrid 613 km Andorra Lisboa Barcelona Roma 1.239 km 208 km 1.362 km We invite you to visit the Prin- Andorra is nature par excellence, Andorra is also a millenary country: live together in perfect harmony cipality of Andorra, the smallest a space of incomparable beauty, Romanesque art, museums and with comfort, modernity and the state in Europe in the heart of ideal for open-air sports activi- monuments, culture trails, festiv- latest technologies. the Pyrenees. ties both in the summer and in ities and celebrations... are just a Over 2,000 stores with the prod- the winter. Trekking and skiing small sample of its rich historical On a stage of 468 km2, you will ucts of the best trademarks, an ex- are two examples of the activi- legacy. be the main characters in nume- quisite gastronomy, an extensive ties you might find in the Prin- rous unforgettable experiences Discover a country in which two quality hotel offer, international cipality. which you can enjoy throughout pillars of our civilisation, respect cultural and sports events… and the whole year. and love of nature and its origins, much more. Identity card Andorran Coat-of-Arms Political system universal suffrage, and serve terms Parliamentary co-principality. The of four years. 06 only country in the world with Economy 07 Casa de la Vall, old parliament building of Andorra, Andorra la Vella two Heads of State, a peculiarity Commerce and tourism (60%) and inherited from the medieval finance (18%) are the three main document known as Pareatges drivers of the economy, as well as and deriving from the country’s Identity card the sectors that generate the most historical evolution. Geographical location: languages such as Spanish, jobs. The co-princes, the Bishop of Urgell Eastern Pyrenees, between French and Portuguese are also Agriculture and stockbreeding, and the president of the French France (Arriege) and Spain very widespread. which formed the two main bases Republic, represent the people (Catalonia). of the traditional economy until Administrative organisation: of Andorra jointly and indivisibly, 2 the arrival of tourism in the 1960s, Surface area: 468 km The territory is structured into personally and exclusively. At the currently employ just 0.50% of the · 8% urbanised and cultivated. seven local administrative divi- present time they are his Excellency wage-earning population. · 92% forests, lakes, rivers, moun- sions known as parishes: Canillo, Mr. Joan Enric Vives i Sicília and his tains. Encamp, Ordino, la Massana, An- Excellency Mr. François Hollande. www.estadistica.ad dorra la Vella, Sant Julià de Lòria Official currency Capital: Andorra la Vella. and Escaldes-Engordany. They On 14th March 1993, the first written constitution of Andorra Population: 76.949 inhabitants* are represented and managed Euro, which was the successor by the town halls (comuns). was signed and the Principality of the Spanish peseta and the Average age: between 40* became a democratic, social state French franc, which coexisted in Religion: in law. the country until the European Official language: Catholicism is the main religion The General Council exercises currency came into force. Catalan is the official language of the state, although the Consti- legislative power and its members, of Andorra. However, due to the tution of Andorra establishes the general councillors, are elected diversity of nationalities among freedom of religion. by free, equal, direct and secret the resident population, other www.visitandorra.com *Census 2014 Historical summary 1419 - Creation of the Consell de the seventh parish of Andorra la Terra (Council of the Land) as thanks to its rapid economic growth the first Parliamentary form with connected to the use of spa waters representatives from all of the and the increase in commercial parishes to deal with the problems tourism. of the community. 1981 - Creation of the Executive 1589 - Henry, King of Navarre, Council, the Government of count of Foix, Viscount of Bearn Andorra: the reforms begin which and Lord of Andorra, becomes will culminate in the will of the king of France, and unites the people of Andorra to draw up a rights of joint Lordship of the written constitution. 08 Privilege of the Earth’s Regional Parliament (1419) counts of Foix with the French 14th March 1993 - First 09 crown. Constitution of Andorra, which 1793-1806 - The French turns the Principality into an Historical summary Revolution breaks the bonds independent democratic and 10.500 - 700 bC - From prehis- 1133 - The Count of Urgell gives between Andorra and France, social state in law, and with the toric times to the pre-Roman the Bishop of Urgell his claim to but Napoleon restores the feudal new definition of competencies period: first inhabitants of the the Andorra valleys. tradition and the rights of joint for the institutions. With the territory of Andorra as in La Bal- Lordship of France over the historical and political evolution, 13th century - Constant strug- Principality of Andorra. Andorra continues to be a co- ma de La Margineda, El Cedre in gles between the counts of Foix principality, with the Bishop of Santa Coloma or l’Antuix in Es- 1866 - Approval of the New and the Church of Urgell to un- Urgell and the president of the caldes-Engordany. Reform, which brings substantial dermine the rights of the bi- changes in the political and French Republic as joint princes 805 - The legend says that Char- shops over Andorra. administrative arenas; a great in person and in absolute equality. lemagne founded Andorra in sign of this was the attribution 1993 - Andorra joins the UN, 1278 and 1288 - The Bishop of recognition for the help given by of the right to vote to all heads which means international Urgell, Pere d’Urg and the Count its inhabitants against Saracens. of households and the increased recognition of the country. of Foix, Roger Bernat III, signed power of the General Council. 1994 - Andorra joins the Council Mid-9th century - Consecration the Pareatges. The Pareatges 1933 - Male universal suffrage is of Europe. of the cathedral of Santa Ma- established the co-sovereignty established. of the Bishop of Urgell and the ria d’Urgell, the first document 1970 - Female universal suffrage is which mentions the parishes of Count of Foix over Andorra, thus established. Andorra as lands of the counts creating the Principality of An- 1978 - Escaldes-Engordany becomes of Urgell. dorra as we know it today. www.visitandorra.com Geography, climate and nature Bordas (old storehouses) of Setúria The fauna and flora of Andorra vary the importance of this area, it is the depending on the zone. Some of the only valley in the country in which most frequent animal species we find vehicles may not enter. are: the marmot, the ‘pallaresa’ lizard, These protected areas and other Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley the squirrel, the boar and the birds of valleys of the country, such as the prey such as the bearded vulture. Just Incles Valley, of glacial origin; the Geography, climate and nature like the fauna, the species which form Enclar Valley, part of the Anella The Andorran relief is mountainous, Pessons, amongst others. part of the country’s flora are highly Verda (Green Ring) route; the Pes- with 72 peaks, some over 2000 varied and we can find from medici- The Andorran climate is of Medi- sons cirque, The Tristaina Valley, m high, which makes Andorra one nal herbs (strawberry and ilex), wild terranean mountainous type, the Angonella Valley or the Camins of the highest countries in Europe. mushrooms and flowers (narcissus) with hot summers and cold dels oficis (Old trades route), offer 10 The highest point in the territory to a large number of trees and bus- 11 winters and considerable a wide range of ecotourism trails is the Comapedrosa peak (2,942 hes (hazelnut and box). snowfalls. The average minimum which you can do in the company m) and the lowest point is where is -2ºC and the maximum 24ºC. The biological wealth of Andorra of professional guides who will help the river Runer crosses the frontier Snowfalls are frequent and the justifies its preservation, and over you to discover our natural heritage. with Spain (838 m). The average rain is concentrated mainly in the the years different areas have been altitude is 1,996 m. months of October and May. protected such as the hunting and The quaternary origin of the fishing grounds and the nature parks. www.visitandorra.com Andorran biodiversity is very rich, Andorran land is revealed by the The Parc Natural Comunal de les Department of Tourism and the with more than 1,500 species of Environment routes of the main river axes in the Valls del Comapedrosa nature www.mediambient.ad country: the Valira del Nord, the flora and fauna spread mainly in park and the Vall de Sorteny na- the four zones: Mediterranean, Sorteny Valley Nature Reserve Valira d’Orient and the Gran Valira. ture park are two protected areas www.sorteny.ad · www.ordino.ad montane, sub Alpine and Alpine.