Andorra Travel Guide

Tucked away in the eastern Pyrenees, the tiny Principality of Andorra is a land of narrow valleys and mountainous landscapes. Andorra's pretty villages and hamlets - dotted along the main road that traverses the country - are filled with Romanesque churches and houses built in the local style. The few found away from the main road are even more unspoilt, and provide spectacular views across the rugged countryside.

While Andorra la Vella - the country's capital - might not be to everybody's taste (think chock-a-block traffic barging between more shops than could possibly be required) just a brief distance away lies some truly great outdoors.

Liberal snowfalls and Andorra's undulating chunk of the Pyrenees make for great skiing conditions; those who love wintersports will find some of Europe's best. During milder spells, Andorra also offers top hiking conditions, with sweeping valleys, challenging ascents and charming views.


History of Andorra

Andorra, one of the oldest nations in Europe, was originally established by Charlemagne as a buffer state against the Iberian Muslims. As a result of the Paretages of 1278 and 1288, control of the country was split between the Spanish Bishop of Urgell and a nominee appointed by the King of France (initially the Count de Foix) and subsequently by the French emperors and presidents. This unique power-sharing arrangement lasted until the late 20th century when the present constitution formally enshrined Andorra as a principality.

The present Andorran constitution, introduced in 1993, formally defined Andorra as a principality. Administration is in the hands of a general council with 28 members, four from each of the seven parishes, elected by universal suffrage. The council elects a president and a vice-president. Domestic politics are dominated by two parties - the Uniò Liberal (UL) and the Agrupament Nacional Democràtic (AND).

Following a comprehensive victory in the February 1997 poll, at which the UL took 18 of the 28 seats on the Conseil Général, a UL government took office under the leadership of Marc Forné Molné.

Four years later, in 2001, the electorate returned the Molné government for a second term, again with an absolute majority. However, in 2005, Albert Pintat of the Liberal Party became prime minister, although not with an absolute majority. Molné lost his seat in the 2005 election but, in any case, was barred by the constitution from standing for a new term.

In April 2009, the Social Democratic Party won the parliamentary election and in June 2009 Jaume Bartumeu Cassany assumed office as Head of Government.

Andorra Culture

Religion:
Roman Catholic.

Social conventions:
Normal social courtesies should be extended when visiting someone's home. Handshaking is the accepted form of greeting. Dress is informal and smoking is very common; customs are similar to those of Spain.

Language in Andorra

The official language is Catalan. Spanish and French are also spoken.


Weather & climate

Best time to visit:
Temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters. Rain falls throughout the year.

Required clothing:
Lightweights for the summer and warm mediumweights during winter. Waterproofing is advisable throughout the year.

Geography
Andorra is situated in the eastern Pyrenees, bordered by France to the north and east, and Spain to the south and west. It is roughly halfway between Barcelona and Toulouse. The landscape consists of gorges and narrow valleys surrounded by mountains. Much of the landscape is forested, but there are several areas of rich pastureland in the valleys. There are four rivers and several mountain lakes. Ski resorts and the spa town of Les Escaldes are Andorra's main attractions.


Doing business in Andorra

Suits are recommended at all times. Prior appointments are necessary and meetings tend to be formal. Punctuality is important. Lunch is usually after 1330 and can extend through the afternoon. Although English is quite widely spoken, a knowledge of Spanish/Catalan or French is very useful.

Office hours:
Mon-Fri 0800-1700. Some offices open Mon-Fri 0800-1500 (summer only).

Economy:
Andorra's status as a low tax and duty-free zone has led to the development of a major trade in consumer goods. This trade, along with tourism and, more recently, financial services, are now the major components of the Andorran economy.

There is a small but thriving agricultural sector farming potatoes, tobacco and livestock. There is also a small mining industry exploiting deposits of lead, iron and alum. The country's hydroelectric power plant supplies about a quarter of domestic needs; Andorra is dependent on imports of electricity and other fuels from France and Spain.

Both inflation and growth are around 3%.

GDP:
US$3.66 billion (2007).

Main exports:
Tobacco, furniture and leather goods.

Main imports:
Electricity, fuels, food and consumer goods.

Main trading partners:
France and Spain.

Keeping in Touch in Andorra

Mobile phone:
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile companies. Coverage is good.

Internet:
Internet cafes are available throughout Andorra.

Post:
Internal mail services are free; international mail takes about one week within Europe.

Post office hours:
0900-1300 and 1500-1700 in Andorra la Vella, otherwise variable.

Media:
The Andorran media scene has been shaped by the country's proximity to France and Spain. Andorrans have access to broadcasts from both countries, and for many years Andorra was home to Sud Radio: a powerful radio station broadcasting to southwest France. The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press. Andorra has two daily newspapers: the Diari d'Andorra and El Periodic. Nacional d'Andorra operates Radio Andorra and music station Andorra Musica; Radio Valira, Andorra 7 and Andorra 1 are commercial stations; TVA is a public service operated by Radio i Televisio d'Andorra.