Located in the eastern Pyrenees of Western Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula, Andorra is a landlocked nation that is formally known as the Principality of Andorra. It has borders with Spain to the south and France to the north.
Andorra was administered by the Count of Urgell until 988 when it was given up to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Urgell. It is said that Charlemagne formed the region. The current principality was established in 1278 by charter. The president of France and the bishop of Urgell in Catalonia, Spain, serve as its co-princes at the moment. Andorra la Vella serves as both its capital and biggest city.
With a population of around 79,034 and an area of 468 square kilometers (181 sq mi), Andorra is the sixth-smallest state in Europe. A Romance ethnic group closely connected to the Catalans is the Andorran people.
In terms of area, Andorra ranks 16th in the globe, but in terms of people, it is the 11th lowest. With a height of 1,023 meters (3,356 feet) above sea level, its capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in all of Europe. Although Catalan is the official language, Spanish, Portuguese, and French are all widely spoken.
An estimated 10.2 million people visit Andorra each year due to tourism. Furthermore, Andorra is not a part of the European Union. Since 1993, it has been a part of the United Nations.
Meaning and Origin
The term “Andorra” has no recognized origin, despite a number of theories being put up. The earliest is that proposed by the Greek historian Polybius (The Histories III, 35, 1), who tells of the Andosins, an Iberian Pre-Roman tribe that was formerly situated in the Andorran lowlands and encountered the Carthaginian army during the Punic Wars while it was passing over the Pyrenees.
The term “big” or “giant” in Basque, Handia, may be the source of the name Andosini or Andosins (Ἀνδoσίνοι). The Basque language was spoken in the region, as evidenced by the Andorran toponymy. According to a different idea, the term Andorra could have originated from the ancient word Anorra, which contained the Basque word ur, which means “water”.
According to a different idea, the name Andorra may have originated from the Arabic ad-dārra (الدَّارَة), which denotes a large area surrounded by mountains or densely forested (ad- being the definite article). Large areas of woodland filled the High Pyrenees valleys when the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula. Due to the challenges of direct authority due to geography, Muslims did not govern these areas.
Some hypotheses propose that the word comes from the Navarro-Aragonese word “andurrial,” which translates to “scrubland” or “land covered with bushes.”
According to folk etymology, Charlemagne called the area in allusion to the biblical Canaanite valley of Endor or Andor, where the Midianites were vanquished. Louis the Pious, Charlemagne’s successor, gave the region its name when his son conquered the Moors in the “wild valleys of Hell”.
Past Events
Earlier times
Archaeologists in Sant Julià de Lòria have discovered La Balma de la Margineda, which was inhabited in 9,500 BCE as a stopover between the two Pyrenees sides. The tribes of hunter-gatherers from Ariege and Segre found the seasonal camp to be in an ideal location for hunting and fishing.
In 6640 BCE, a group of Neolithic people established a permanent camp in the Valley of Madriu, which is now a Natural Park in Escaldes-Engordany and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The valley’s inhabitants farmed grains, kept domestic animals, and established commerce with people in Ségre and Occitania.
The Tombs of Segudet (Ordino) and Feixa del Moro (Sant Julià de Lòria), which date to 4900–4300 BCE and serve as examples of the Urn culture in Andorra, are among the other archaeological deposits. Around the Bronze Age, the concept of small villages started to give way to sophisticated urbanization. The ancient shrines located around the nation include reliquaries, iron metallurgical artifacts, and old coinage.
Located in the parish of Canillo, the sanctuary of Roc de les Bruixes (Stone of the Witches) is arguably the most significant archeological complex of this era in Andorra. It features carved stone murals, old text, and death ceremonies.
Spanish and Roman The Andorra
Historically, the people living in the valleys were identified as the Andosini (Ἀνδoσίνους), a tribe of Iberians that lived in Andorra in the 7th and 2nd centuries BC. Aquitanian, Basque, and Iberian languages were influential on the development of several modern toponyms among the inhabitants. Early accounts of these people may be found in the Greek author Polybius’ Histories from the Punic Wars, which dates back to the second century BC.
The Castle of the Roc d’Enclar (part of the early Marca Hispanica), l’Anxiu in Les Escaldes, and Roc de L’Oral in Encamp are a few of the most important remnants from this era.
Between the second century BCE to the fifth century CE, there is evidence of Roman influence. The most significant Roman remains may be found at Camp Vermell (Red Field), Sant Julià de Lòria, as well as in a few locations in Encamp and the Roc d’Enclar.
People continued to trade with the Roman settlements of Urgellet (the modern-day La Seu d’Urgell) and across Segre via the way Romana Strata Ceretana (also known as Strata Confluetana), primarily with wine and grains.
Carolingians and Visigoths: The Story of Charlemagne
Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths, the Kingdom of Toledo, and the Diocese of Urgell all had an impact on Andorra. During the 200 years that the Visigoths lived in the valleys, Christianity grew.
The Franks protected Andorra from these Arab invaders when the Muslim Empire of Al-Andalus supplanted the Visigoths as the dominant kingdom over the majority of the Iberian Peninsula.
According to legend, in exchange for battling the Moors close to Porté-Puymorens (Cerdanya), Charles the Great (Charlemagne) issued a charter to the Andorran people for a detachment of 5,000 warriors led by Marc Almugaver.
Andorra continued to be a part of the Frankish Marca Hispanica, which served as a buffer between the Frankish Empire and the Muslim lands. The Count of Urgell and, later, the bishop of the Diocese of Urgell reigned over Andorra. It is also said by tradition that Louis the Pious, the son of Charlemagne, who penned the Carta de Poblament, a local municipal charter about 805, guaranteed it.
The Diocese of Urgell received the Andorran lowlands in 988 from Count Borrell II of Urgell in return for property in Cerdanya. Even then, the co-prince of Andorra was the bishop of Urgell, whose seat was at Seu d’Urgell.
The Acta de Consagració i Dotació de la Catedral de la Seu d’Urgell (Deed of Consecration and Endowment of the Cathedral of La Seu d’Urgell) is the first document to name Andorra as a territory. The six ancient parishes of the Andorran valleys that comprised the administrative division of the nation are shown in the 839 document.
Middle Ages: The Co-Principality’s Establishment and the Paréages
Andorra had no military defense prior to 1095, therefore the bishop of Urgell petitioned the Lord of Caboet for assistance and protection after learning that the count of Urgell intended to retake the Andorran lowlands. A proclamation of their joint dominion over Andorra was sealed under oath in 1095 by the bishop of Urgell and the lord of Caboet.
The viscount of Castellbò married Arnalda de Caboet, daughter of Arnau of Caboet. Ermessenda de Castellbò, their daughter, wed Roger-Bernard II, the Count of Foix. Ermessenda and Roger-Bernard II ruled over Andorra jointly with the bishop of Urgell.
Following the Cathar Crusade, a military conflict broke out in the 13th century between the Count of Foix and the bishop of Urgell. The first paréage, which stipulated that the count of Foix (whose title would eventually transfer to the French head of state) and the bishop of Urgell, in Catalonia, would share sovereignty of Andorra, was signed in 1278 as a result of the bishop and the count’s disagreement, mediated by Peter III, the king of Aragon. The principality’s territory and governmental structure came from this.
After a disagreement arose when the count of Foix ordered the building of a fortress in Roc d’Enclar, a second paréage was signed in 1288. The illustrious notary Jaume Orig of Puigcerdà approved the deed, which forbade the building of military facilities within the nation.
The country’s political structure designated the syndic, who is currently the president of the parliament and spokesperson, as the Andorran people’s envoy to their fellow princes in 1364, opening the door for the establishment of local departments (comuns, quarts, and veïnats).
The second-oldest parliament in Europe, the Consell de la Terra or Consell General de les Valls (General Council of the Valleys), was established in 1419 following approval by Count John I and Bishop Francesc Tovia.
Together with the co-princes and the collecting of taxes such as foc i lloc, or “fire and site,” a national tax that has been in effect since then, the syndic Andreu d’Alàs and the General Council coordinated the establishment of the Justice Courts (La Cort de Justicia) in 1433.
Andorra developed exquisite Romanesque Art during the 9th through 14th centuries, particularly in the construction of churches, bridges, religious murals, and statues of the Virgin and Child (Our Lady of Meritxell being the most important).
Although there are remnants of pre-9th century ecclesiastical works (Sant Vicenç d’Enclar or Església de Santa Coloma), Andorra is known for its magnificent Romanesque art. With a focus on Església de Sant Esteve, Sant Joan de Caselles, Església de Sant Miquel d’Engolasters, Sant Martí de la Cortinada, and the medieval bridges of Margineda and Escalls among many others, the Romanesque buildings that comprise Andorra’s cultural heritage today stand out in a remarkable way.
At the close of the eleventh century, the Catalan language originated in the Catalan Pyrenees. This language, which was adopted locally decades before it spread across the rest of the Crown of Aragon, had an impact on Andorra.
During the Middle Ages, weavers, cattle, and farmland were the main drivers of the local economy. Subsequently, at the end of the eleventh century, the first iron foundries started to emerge in Northern Parishes such as Ordino. These foundries were highly valued by the skilled craftsmen who perfected the technique of forging, which became a significant economic activity in the nation starting in the fifteenth century.
Sixteenth to Eighteenth Centuries
In the setting of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, Huguenot uprisings in France, Spanish Inquisition tribunals, and local beliefs about witchcraft led to the establishment of the Tribunal de Corts (High Court of Justice) in 1601.
Over time, the Navarrean kings came to hold the co-title to Andorra. The governmental structure that still exists today was founded in 1607 by an edict issued by Henry III of Navarre, the newly anointed king of France, designating the head of state and the bishop of Urgell as Co-Princes of Andorra.
In order to combat the emergence of bandolerisme (brigandage), community councils formed the sometent (public militia or army) in 1617. The Consell de la Terra was established, with its current makeup, organization, and competencies.
With the advent of tobacco in about 1692 and import commerce, Andorra maintained the same economic structure as it had throughout the 12th and 14th centuries, characterized by a high output of metallurgy (fargues, a system akin to Farga Catalana). The co-princes approved the Andorra la Vella fair between 1371 and 1448, and it has since grown to be the most significant yearly national celebration in terms of commerce.
The Confraria de Paraires i Teixidors, located in Escaldes-Engordany, was the nation’s distinctive and knowledgeable guild of weavers. It made use of the hot springs in the area when it was founded in 1604.
At this point, the social structure of the nation, which originated from the pubilla and hereu traditions, was defined by the prohoms (the affluent class) and casalers (the remaining people with lower economic status).
In 1702, three centuries after its founding, Casa de la Vall became the home of the Tribunal de Corts and the Consell de la Terra. The Busquets family used the manor home they erected in 1580 as an aristocratic stronghold.
The Andorran constitution, along with other papers and legislation, were stored in the Closet of the Six Keys (Armari de les sis claus), which was situated inside the parliament and represented each Andorran parish.
While claiming to be a neutral nation, the Andorran people backed the Catalans who had their liberties curtailed in 1716 in both the Reapers’ War and the War of the Spanish Succession. In response, Catalan literature was encouraged in Andorra with literary masterpieces including Antoni Fiter i Rossell’s Manual Digest (1748), Antoni Puig’s Polità andorrà (1763), and the Book of Privileges (Llibre de Privilegis de 1674).
The Andorran Question and the New Reform in the 19th Century
Napoleon I abolished the French medieval title and reinstated the Co-Principate in 1809 during the French Revolution. During the Peninsular War (1812–1813), the First French Empire seized Catalonia and split it into four départements, with Andorra falling under the Puigcerdà division. An imperial edict restored Andorra’s independence and economy in 1814.
Andorra’s rural lifestyle and late medieval institutions were virtually unaltered at this time. The reformist faction was led by the syndic Guillem d’Areny-Plandolit in 1866, when the Council General was composed of 24 members chosen by family heads alone by voting. The state was once administered by an aristocratic oligarchy, which was succeeded by the Council General.
Following their adoption by both Co-Princes, the New Reform (Nova Reforma) became the foundation for Andorra’s tricolor flag and other emblems as well as its constitution. The residents of the valley demanded a new service economy, which emerged and started constructing roads, hotels, spa resorts, and telegraph lines.
The Co-Princes’ government outlawed gambling establishments and casinos nationwide. The prohibition led to an economic crisis and the 1881 Revolution, which started on December 8, 1880, when rebels attacked the syndic’s home and formed the Provisional Revolutionary Council, which was presided over by Joan Pla i Calvo and Pere Baró i Mas.
Foreign corporations were permitted to develop casinos and spas by the Provisional Revolutionary Council. By contacting the revolutionary troops in Escaldes-Engordany, the loyalists of Canillo and Encamp were able to retake the parishes of Ordino and La Massana on June 7 and 9, 1881. On June 10, following a day of fighting, the Treaty of the Bridge of Escalls was signed.
There were new elections and a replacement council. Due to public division over the Qüestió d’Andorra, or the “Andorran Question” in reference to the Eastern Question, the economic situation deteriorated. Pro-French, pro-bishop, and nationalist conflicts persisted in the wake of Canillo’s problems between 1882 and 1885.
Andorra took part in the Catalan Renaixença cultural movement. The first academic schools, where trilingualism coexisted with Catalan as the official language, were established between 1882 and 1887. Romantic writers from France and Spain wrote about the country’s growing sense of identity. During the 1880s, Jacint Verdaguer resided in Ordino, where he collaborated with writer and photographer Joaquim de Riba on writings pertaining to the Renaixença.
The opera Le val d’Andorre, which Fromental Halévy had launched to great acclaim in Europe in 1848, showed the national consciousness of the valleys during the Peninsular War via its romantic work.
Modernization of the nation and constitutional Andorra in the 20th and 21st centuries
Following social unrest brought on by the Revolution of 1933 and the FHASA strikes (Vagues de FHASA), France occupied Andorra in 1933. The uprising was spearheaded by the Joves Andorrans, a labor union group affiliated with the Spanish CNT and FAI, and it demanded political reforms, the right of all Andorrans to vote, and protection of the rights of both local and foreign workers while FHASA’s hydroelectric power station in Encamp was being built. The Andorran Parliament was taken over by Joves Andorrans on April 5, 1933. Colonel René-Jules Baulard arrived with fifty gendarmes before to these events, and the Síndic Francesc Cairat organized 200 local militias or sometent.
On July 6, 1934, adventurer and nobleman Boris Skossyreff declared himself the sovereign of Andorra with the backing of the General Council members, promising freedoms, modernization of the nation, and wealth through the creation of a tax haven and foreign investments.
In Urgell, on July 8, 1934, Boris declared himself to be Boris I, King of Andorra. On July 10, he approved the King’s constitution and declared war on the Bishop of Urgell. On July 20, he was taken into custody by Bishop Justí Guitart i Vilardebó and the Co-Prince, and he was eventually banished from Spain.
A French military detachment of Garde Mobile, commanded by the well-known Colonel René-Jules Baulard, was stationed in Andorra from 1936 until 1940 in order to protect the principality from the effects of the Spanish Civil War, Francoist Spain, and the rise of Republicanism following the 1933 Revolution.
The people of Andorra welcomed refugees during the Spanish Civil War, and many of them made the nation their permanent home. This helped to spark an economic boom and usher in Andorra’s entry into the capitalist period. Later in the conflict, Francoist forces crossed the border into Andorra.
Andorra maintained its neutrality throughout the Second World War and served as a vital smuggling route between Francoist Spain and Vichy France. Numerous Andorrans expressed their disapproval of the General Council’s inaction in preventing outsiders and refugees from entering or leaving the country, committing economic crimes, curtailing residents’ rights, and showing support for Francoism.
Members of the General Council defended the council’s political and diplomatic moves by stating that they were essential to Andorra’s survival and the defense of its sovereignty. The Spanish Civil War and the two World Wars had little effect on Andorra. Some organizations were founded to aid oppressed people in Nazi-occupied nations, and they also took part in smuggling to keep Andorra alive.
Propaganda, culture, and anti-totalitarian films were smuggled into the capital city and distributed in establishments like the Casino Hotel and the Hotel Mirador, which served as a gathering place for Free French forces and a means of escorting downed Allied pilots out of Europe.
When film societies were established during the war, the network was preserved. Here, books, music, and films that had been banned in Franco’s Spain were imported, serving as a counter-censorship draw for both Catalan and international audiences, even within Andorra. The anti-fascist Andorran Group (Agrupament Andorrà), connected to the French Resistance in Occitanie, charged the French envoy (veguer) of working with the Nazis.
Two dimensions emerged from Andorra’s exposure to the capitalist economy: the nation’s tax exemption and huge tourism. The establishment of FHASA and the development of professional banking, led by Banc Agrícol (1930) and Crèdit Andorrà (1949), followed by Banca Mora (1952), Banca Cassany (1958), and SOBANCA (1960), marked the beginning of the capitalist boom.
Soon after, with the construction of ski resorts and cultural institutions in the late 1930s, pastimes like shopping and skiing are transformed into tourist attractions. Overall, the hotel business has undergone a transformation. A communal health insurance program (CASS) was established in April 1968.
The Andorran government was obliged to plan ahead and make projections and forecasts because, during the official visits of Charles de Gaulle, the co-prince of France, in 1967 and 1969, it received approval for the country’s demands and the economic boom within the parameters of international openness and human rights.
Along with the Trente Glorieuses, Andorra went through a period known as the “Andorran dream,” which is comparable to the American Dream. The country’s mass culture was deeply ingrained in these profoundly shifting cultural and economic shifts.
Ràdio Andorra, the most popular music radio station in Europe at the time, served as evidence of this, hosting influential speakers and visitors who promoted songs from genres such as American country music, swing, jazz, rock and roll, and chanson française. During this time, Andorra outperformed the majority of standard-setting nations in terms of GDP per capita and life expectancy.
Andorra has existed outside of the mainstream of European history because to its relative isolation, having few connections to nations other than France, Spain, and Portugal. However, the nation has emerged from seclusion in recent years because to the growth of its tourism economy and advancements in communications and transportation.
Since 1976, Andorran institutions have been in need of change due to the country’s historical disregard for human rights, sovereignty, and the balance of powers, as well as the necessity to update laws to meet contemporary needs.
The establishment of the Govern d’Andorra in 1982, also known as the Executive Board (Consell Executiu), led by the first prime minister, Òscar Ribas Reig, with the consent of the co-princes, marked the beginning of a first division of powers.
To normalize commercial relations, the Principality and the European Economic Community concluded an agreement in 1989.
Following the Andorran constitutional referendum in 1993, which saw the draft constitution passed on March 14 by 74.2% of voters with a 76% turnout and written by the co-princes and the General Council, the country’s political structure was reformed. Later in the year, the new constitution’s first elections were held. Andorra joined the Council of Europe and the United Nations in the same year.
In 1996, Andorra established official diplomatic ties with the US by taking part in the 51st UN General Assembly. First General Syndic Marc Forné spoke in Catalan at the General Assembly to support the organization’s restructuring, and three days later he participated in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly to protect the language and economy of Andorra. Andorra is able to manufacture its own euro coins and use the euro in official transactions thanks to a structured monetary agreement with the European Union that was established in 2006.
Geographical
Geographical location
Andorra is mostly made up of rocky mountains because it is located in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range. The highest peak is Coma Pedrosa, which is 2,942 meters (9,652 feet) above sea level. The average height of Andorra is 1,996 meters (6,549 feet). At the lowest point in Andorra, which is 2,756 feet or 840 meters above sea level, the Gran Valira River, the country’s principal stream, splits them into three Y-shaped, narrow valleys that merge into one. There are 468 km2 (181 sq mi) of land in Andorra.
Ambience
From a phytogeographic perspective, Andorra is a part of the Circumboreal Region of the Boreal Kingdom, which is an Atlantic European province. The WWF states that the Pyrenees conifer and mixed woodland ecoregion includes the region of Andorra. With a mean score of 4.45/10 on the 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index, Andorra was ranked 127th out of 172 nations worldwide.
Important Bird Area
BirdLife International has designated the entire nation as a single Important Bird Area (IBA) due to its significance for forest and mountain birds, as well as its ability to sustain populations of red-billed choughs, citril finches, and rock buntings.
Temperature
Depending on height, Andorra has continental, oceanic, and alpine climates. Because of its greater altitude, the winters are often snowier and the summers are somewhat colder. The nation has a wide variety of microclimates that prevent the high mountain climate from predominating overall due to the diversity of landmarks, the valleys’ varied orientations, and the uneven topography typical of Mediterranean climates. The Andorran Pyrenees’ climate is shaped by the stark changes in altitude between the lowest and greatest elevations as well as the effect of the Mediterranean climate.
May, June, and August are often the wettest months. When it comes to precipitation, a worldwide model that is defined by convective and copious rainfall may be described during spring and summer and extend until autumn. However, save for the highlands, it is less wet in the winter due to the effect of Atlantic fronts, which accounts for the significant amount of snowfall in the Andorran mountains. Given the hilly terrain of the Principality, the temperature regime is often defined by a lengthy, cold winter and a moderate summer.
Finance
Roughly 80% of Andorra’s GDP comes from tourism, the country’s principal industry. An estimated 10.2 million tourists come each year, drawn by Andorra’s summer and winter resorts as well as its duty-free status.
The nearly 175 km (109 mi) of ski areas in Andorra’s ski resorts are one of the country’s primary sources of income from tourists. Over 7 million spectators and an estimated 340 million euros are generated by the sport yearly, supporting 2,000 direct and 10,000 indirect employment as of 2007.
Since the banking industry is a tax haven and receives all of its revenue from import tariffs, it also makes a significant economic contribution (19% of GDP is generated by the financial and insurance sector). Nevertheless, the tourism sector had a downturn during the European sovereign debt crisis of the twenty-first century, which was partially brought on by a reduction in Spanish product prices that reduced the appeal of duty-free shopping and raised unemployment. A 10% corporate tax was implemented on January 1, 2012, and a 2% sales tax was added a year later. The sales tax generated a little over 14 million euros in revenue during its first quarter.
Merely 1.7% of the land is suitable for agriculture, meaning that the majority of food must be imported. A small amount of tobacco is farmed nearby. Sheep farming for domestic use is the main livestock activity. Cigars, furniture, and cigarettes make up the majority of the manufactured goods produced. Natural resources found in Andorra include lead, iron ore, wood, mineral water, and hydroelectric electricity.
Although Andorra is not a member of the EU, it has unique trading arrangements with it, such as being regarded as a non-EU member for agricultural products and as an EU member for manufactured goods (no tariffs). Without a currency of its own, Andorra conducted banking transactions in both the Spanish peseta and the French franc until December 31, 1999, when the euro, the single currency of the EU, took their place. Up to December 31, 2002, Andorra accepted coins and notes denominated in both the franc and the peseta as forms of legal money. In 2014, negotiations were held for Andorra to start producing its own euro coins.
Historically, Andorra has had some of the lowest rates of unemployment in the whole globe. It was 2% in the year 2019.
In light of growing discontent among EU members about the presence of tax havens, Andorra declared on May 31, 2013, that it would introduce legislation for an income tax by the end of June. Following a meeting in Paris between French President François Hollande and Prince of Andorra Antoni Martí, the announcement was made. The action was hailed by Hollande, who described it as Andorra’s “bringing its taxation in line with international standards” approach.
Five banking groups, one specialized credit entity, eight investment undertaking management entities, three asset management companies, and 29 insurance companies—14 of which are branches of foreign insurance companies with principality operations authorized—made up the financial system by the middle of the 2010s. There are now three active banking groups in the Andorran financial industry, following the last bank mergers in 2022.
Characteristics
Population
Andorra’s population is projected to be 79,034 in 2021. The Andorrans are an ethnic Romance people that originated in Catalonia. Since 1900, the population has increased from 5,000.
Due to their lack of Andorran nationality, two-thirds of the population are unable to vote in local elections. They are also prohibited from holding more than 33 percent of the capital stock of a privately owned corporation and from running for prime minister.
Andorrans make up 36,526 (45.5%) of the country’s ethnic population, followed by Spanish (21.6%), Portuguese (10,352 (12.9%), and French 4,200 (5.2%). British, Dutch, German, Italian, and other Europeans, as well as Argentinians, Chileans, Indians, Moroccans, and Uruguayans, are among the minorities in Andorra.
Languages
The Andorran Government published the following mother tongue percentage data in 2018:
Catalan, a Romance language, is the official and historic language. Catalan is encouraged by the Andorran authorities. It gives free Catalan lessons to help immigrants and finances the Commission for Catalan Toponymy in Andorra (Catalan: Comissió de Toponímia d’Andorra). Catalan is used by Andorran radio and television broadcasters.
Due to immigration, historical ties, and near proximity, the languages spoken there include French, Spanish, and Portuguese. In addition to Catalan, the majority of Andorrans can speak one or more of these languages.
Although it is known to varied degrees in the major tourist destinations, English is not as widely spoken as it is among the general population. Along with France, Monaco, and Turkey, Andorra is one of just four nations in Europe that have never ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities.
Religion
Regarding religion, official records are few; projections for the Catholic population in 2020 vary from 89.5% to 99.21%. The patron saint is Mary Magdalene. In 2022, there were about 2000 Muslims and about 100 Jews. There are also tiny numbers of Hindus and Bahá’ís, as well as adherents of several Protestant groups.
Transport
Andorra had relatively few transportation connections to the outside world until the 20th century, and its geographical isolation had an impact on the country’s growth. As of right now, Andorra can still reach the closest large airports, Toulouse and Barcelona, by car in three hours.
Of the 279 km (173 km) of roads in Andorra, 76 km (47 mi) are unpaved. The CG-1 leads to the Spanish border near Sant Julià de Lòria, while the CG-2 leads to the French border via the Envalira Tunnel near El Pas de la Casa. These are the two primary routes that go out of Andorra la Vella.
All major cities and many rural settlements are served by bus services, which operate on most main routes half-hourly or more often during peak travel periods. Along with a daily tour from the old city, Andorra has regular long-distance bus connections to Toulouse and Barcelona. Though certain municipal bus services are managed by the government, most bus services are owned and operated by private businesses.
Although there are no fixed-wing airports in Andorra, there are heliports offering commercial helicopter services in La Massana (Camí Heliport), Arinsal, and Escaldes-Engordany, as well as an airport in the nearby Spanish comarca of Alt Urgell, which is 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of the border between Andorra and Spain. Andorra-La Seu d’Urgell Airport serves as Andorra Airlines’ primary hub and has been the destination of commercial flights to Madrid and Palma de Mallorca since July 2015.
The principality has access to international flights via neighboring airports in France and Spain. The closest airports are located in Lleida, Spain (160 kilometers or 99 miles from Andorra) and Perpignan, France (156 kilometers or 97 miles). The two closest airports to Andorra are in Toulouse, France, which is located 165 kilometers or 103 miles away, and Barcelona, Spain, which is located 215 kilometers or 134 miles away. Buses to Andorra depart hourly from Toulouse and Barcelona airports.
Located on the 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)-gauge line from Latour-de-Carol (25 km or 16 mi southeast of Andorra) to Toulouse and then on to Paris by the French high-speed trains, the closest railway station is Andorre-L’Hospitalet station, which is 10 km (6 mi) east of Andorra. The SNCF is in charge of this line.
There is a picturesque 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) meter gauge train line from Latour-de-Conflent to Villefranche-de-Conflent, a 1,435 mm gauge way from the SNCF to Perpignan, and a 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) gauge line from the Renfe to Barcelona. On some dates, L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre and Paris are connected by direct Intercités de Nuit trains.
Communications and the Media
The sole operator of internet and mobile phone services in Andorra is the national telecoms company of Andorra, SOM, often referred to as Andorra Telecom (STA). The same business also oversees the technical setup for digital radio and television broadcasts across the country. Andorra was the first nation to offer FTTH (direct optical fiber linkage) to every house and business in 2010.
Radio Andorra was the first commercial radio station to go on the air. It ran from 1939 to 1981. The General Council designated radio and television as important public services on October 12, 1989. It also founded and oversaw ORTA, which on April 13, 2000, became a public business called Ràdio i Televisió d’Andorra (RTVA).
The Radio Nacional d’Andorra served as the foundation for public radio in 1990. The sole autochthonous television network is Andorra Televisió, the national public television network founded in 1995. IPTV and digital terrestrial television provide more TV and radio channels from France and Spain.
Along with several local newspapers, there are three national newspapers: Bondia, El Periòdic d’Andorra, and Diari d’Andorra. Between 1917 and 1937, a number of publications such as Les Valls d’Andorra (1917), Nova Andorra (1932), and Andorra Agrícola (1933) were published, marking the beginning of the Andorran press’s history. The Poble Andorrà started publication as Andorra’s first daily newspaper in 1974. Additionally, there is an independent news agency, ANA, and an amateur radio society.
Traditions
Folk dances from Andorra, such as the marratxa and contrapàs, are particularly preserved in Sant Julià de Lòria. While Andorran folk music has certain parallels to those of its neighbors, it possesses a distinctively Catalan quality, particularly when it comes to the inclusion of dances like the Sardana. Saint Anne’s dance in Escaldes-Engordany and contrapàs in Andorra la Vella are two more Andorran traditional dances. September 8th is Our Lady of Meritxell Day, Andorra’s national holiday.
The Canólich Gathering in May, the Roser d’Ordino in July, the Festa del Poble, the Festivity of Sant Esteve, the Festivity from La Candelera to Canillo, the Meritxell Day (National Day of Andorra), the Andorra la Vella Fair, the Sant Jordi Day, the Santa Llúcia Fair, and the Festivity of Sant Esteve are some of the more significant celebrations and customs.
Between 2004 and 2009, Andorra was the only nation to compete on a regular basis and submit songs in Catalan for the Eurovision Song Contest.
The most well-known Andorran tales in popular culture include those of White Lady of Auvinyà, Buner d’Ordino, Our Lady of Meritxell, Engolasters Lake, and Charlemagne, the Frankish king who is said to have created the nation.
The cuisine of Andorra is mostly Catalan, however, it has incorporated certain French and Italian flavors. The country’s food is comparable to that of its neighbors, Cerdanya and Alt Urgell, with whom it shares close cultural links. Because Andorra is made up of mountain valleys, its food is distinctive.
Andorran river trout, stuffed murgues (mushrooms) with pork, dandelion salad, duck with winter pear, roast lamb with nuts, pork civet, massegada cake, escarole with pears, duck confit and mushrooms, escudella, and spinach with raisins and pine nuts are some of the typical dishes found in the nation. Beer and mulled wine are other popular drinks.
Some of the meals, such as trinxat, embotits, cooked snails, rice with mushrooms, mountain rice, and mató, are highly popular in Catalonia’s hilly regions.
One of the Principality’s most significant creative expressions and features is its pre-Romanesque and Romanesque art. Romanesque architecture enables the understanding of national culture, the dynamics of power relations (both social and political), and the development of local communities. Along with bridges, forts, and manor homes from the same era, forty Romanesque churches stand out as tiny, austere structures with decoration.
In 2015, the Pyrenees’ summer solstice fire festivities were included onto the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Additionally, in 2004 the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley was inducted as Andorra’s first and so far only UNESCO World Heritage Site; in 2006, it underwent a little expansion.
Sports
Winter sports are a major attraction in Andorra. With two ski resorts and 3100 hectares (about 350 km) of slopes, Andorra has the biggest area of ski slopes in the Pyrenees. The biggest and busiest resort is Grandvalira. In Andorra, football, rugby union, basketball, and roller hockey are among the other popular sports.
Andorra often participates in the FIRS Roller Hockey World Cup and the CERH Euro Cup for roller hockey. The 2011 European League Final Eight was held in Andorra as the host nation.
The Andorra national football team plays association football on behalf of the nation. On October 11, 2019, the squad defeated Moldova in a European Championship qualifying match to earn its first competitive victory.
The Andorran Football Federation, which was established in 1994, oversees association football (Primera Divisió, Copa Constitució, and Supercopa) and futsal national events. In 1996, Andorra was accepted into both FIFA and UEFA. The Andorra la Vella-based FC Andorra is a member of the Spanish football league system. It was established in 1942.
Because of its prevalence in southern France, rugby is a traditional sport in Andorra. The Els Isards, the national rugby union team of Andorra, competes in both rugby union and rugby sevens on the international scene. Based in Andorra la Vella, VPC Andorra XV is a rugby team that competes in the French competition.
Since the Andorran side BC Andorra competed in Spain’s top league (Liga ACB) in the 1990s, basketball has become more and more popular in the nation. In 2014, the club made a comeback to the top level after eighteen years.
Cycling, volleyball, judo, handball, Australian Rules football, swimming, gymnastics, tennis, and motorsports are among the other sports played in Andorra. The first-ever home match between Andorra and the Dutch Fellowship of Fairly Odd Places Cricket Club took place in 2012, marking the first-ever encounter between the two countries at an altitude of 1,300 meters (4,300 feet).
In 1976, Andorra took part in its first Olympic Games. Since 1976, the nation has participated in every Winter Olympic Games. Both in 1991 and 2005, Andorra served as the host nation for the Games of the Small States of Europe, where it competes.
Andorra, one of the Catalan Countries, is home to a group of human tower builders known as Castellers. The Coordinadora de Colles Castelleres de Catalunya [ca], the Castells’ regulatory body, recognizes the Castellers d’Andorra [ca], which is headquartered in the municipality of Santa Coloma d’Andorra.
Tourism
In Andorra, cross-country running, biking, skiing, and hiking are all well-liked sports tourist pursuits. Andorra’s economy is mainly reliant on tourism.
Depending on the weather, Andorra often experiences a ski season that lasts from late November to early April. Some of the ski lifts stay in operation during the off-season at reduced capacity, making it easier to reach well-liked observation spots like the Tristaina solar viewpoint, a viewpoint-sundial perched atop Peyreguils at 2,701 meters above sea level and just a short distance from the French border. Together with the summits of Costa Rodona, Tristaina, Creussans, and Cabanyó, this peak is a member of the Tristaina cirque.
