If you intend to visit one country in Europe devoid of coastline, your most obvious choice may be Switzerland. The most famous neutral nation on the planet competes with Austria, Belarus, Luxembourg, Moldova, San Marino and Vatican City for landlocked supremacy. Recently however, the Pyrenees Principality of Andorra has been on a tourism tear. Notable for Catalan culture, record life expectancy and tax haven status, the quiet country on the border of Spain and France is in the midst of an unprecedented wave of prosperity and influx of curious visitors.
Why the fuss over a nation with only 70,000 people, spread out over a mere 400 km2? After all, France and Spain are both on Andorra’s doorstep and consistently rank first and second in world tourism, with over 140 million international arrivals in 2007 alone. Well, as any math or physics professor will tell you, numbers always tell the truth. Perhaps Andorra’s growth in appeal in recent years has a lot to do with a fortuitous sandwich-like-location between two tourism powers.
Of course, you do need to have some clout, some appeal, some distinctive charm in order to pull people away from Paris and the C?te d’Azur and from Barcelona and San Sebastian. It’s not like these places bring out a ho hum, bland and pabulum reaction out of people. So let’s break it down for Andorra and look at why the country is so hot.
Catalan culture is the bedrock foundation of Andorra. The original and official language of the country provides Andorra with a rich heritage and folklore. If preservation of endemic culture, one that has won out in the face of jeopardy and appropriation, appeals to you, then the long tradition of Catalan dance, music, literature and cuisine that thrives in Andorra is sure to please.
Ski resorts provide Andorra with a major source of tourism investment. Pas de la Casa is on the border of France and has over 100 km of trails. With peaks as high as 2640 m, the conditions spread out over 6.26 km2 are about as good it gets.
Discover some great rates on hotels in Pas de la Casa.
The high-elevation city parish of Soldeu explodes in winter with ski lovers who clamor to the Grandvalira area – number one in size in the Pyrenees – from all over the continent. With one of the best ski schools in the world and runs that challenge veteran athletes, the resort has won a number of awards in recent years. Vallnord is the third major ski and snowboard resort area in Andorra, especially popular with locals and most notably, winter sport enthusiasts from England and Ireland.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Andorra offer a look at how people have adapted to the rough terrain of the Pyreness over the past millenia. The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley has been on UNESCO’s prestigious list since 2004 and as World Heritage officials proclaim “is a microcosm of the way its inhabitants have harvested the scarce resources of the high Pyrenees”. Traces of a communal land-management system in this spectacular area of Andorra have stood relatively untouched for over 700 years.
The capital city of Andorra La Vella may only have 23,000 people but contains many excellent historic attractions. Old stone streets and houses characterize a pristine ancient town that lures in the bulk of tourists. Saint Stephen Church, built in the 11th century, and Santa Coloma church, which dates back to the 9th century, represent two iconic landmarks in Andorra La Vella. Of course, some people care to take advantage of the duty-free shops in this premier tax haven city.
Peruse a long list of superb hotel deals in beautiful Andorra La Vella.
Andorra is also a great Duty Free shopping destinationfor all types of goods.