ANDORRA
The Capital City: Andorra la Vella
Perched high in the eastern Pyrenees, the capital of Andorra, Andorra la Vella, is this small nation's busiest tourist attraction. At an altitude of 1,029 meters, it's one of the world's highest capital cities (it's also one of the smallest with a population of less than 25,000 people). Presiding over the Gran Valira river under the east side of the 2,317-meter Pic d'Enclar mountain, the city's main street is lined with shops selling everything from souvenirs to local arts and crafts, along with many galleries, cafés, and restaurants. Top attractions include Casa de la Vell, built in 1580 and now the seat of government. It's notable for its ornate coat of arms and other historical emblems of the country's former rulers. Highlights of a guided tour include the reception room with its 16th-century wall paintings and, in the Council Chamber (Sala de Sessions), the historic Cupboard of the Seven Keys, to which each of the country's seven communes has a key (it contains the country's archives, including documents dating from the time of Charlemagne). Other sites worth seeing are Plaça del Poble, a public square on the roof of the city's administrative complex, which offers great views of the surrounding scenery, and the 12th-century Sant Esteve Church with its fine carved woodwork.
Winter Wonderland: Vallnord
One of the most popular winter sports destinations in the Pyrenees, Vallnord draws skiers and snowboarders from across Europe to its many fine slopes. In the northern part of Andorra, Vallnord is really three unique ski resorts in one - Arcalis, Pal, and Arinsal - providing a vast amount of terrain to explore. Skiers and boarders of all levels are well catered to, with more experienced downhillers usually heading for the north-facing alpine slopes of Arcalis with its long lasting snows, while beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike are well catered to at Arinsal and Pal. Most slopes are connected to one another by cable car, while gondolas from the village of La Massana serve Pal. Vallnord is particularly popular for family ski vacations due to its first-rate ski schools and fun activities such as snowshoeing, sledding, and snowmobiling, as well as paintball and laser tag. For the truly adventurous, activities such as speed riding (a mix of skiing and hang-gliding), heli-skiing, and ski-biking are available. Another popular ski area is Grandvalira between Andorra la Vella and Les Escaldes.
Sant Joan de Caselles Church
A little way north of the little village of Canillo is the chapel of Sant Joan de Caselles. Considered one of the country's finest Romanesque chapels, this splendid old stone building dates from the 11th century and contains many interesting features, most notably its fine interior decorated with excellent frescoes, as well as a retablo, St. John and the Apocalypse, dating from 1525. Other highlights of this well-preserved church are the choir grille with its Romanesque stucco figure of Christ on the Cross, and the unique polychrome painting that surrounds it.
Centre Termolúdic Caldea
In the heart of Andorra la Vella, the huge Centre Termolúdic Caldea, Europe's largest spa complex, dominates the capital's skyline with its magnificent glass pyramid tower. Featuring more than 6,000 square meters of watery fun and treatment areas, guests can make full use of the facility's numerous lagoons (both indoor and outdoor), its many saunas and jacuzzis, as well as its specialized spa areas featuring Indo-Roman baths, cascades, warm marble slates, and even a grapefruit pool. Due to its use of the mineral-rich warm waters that emerge from the city's thermal source, a visit to this uniquely designed spa complex is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that is not soon forgotten.
Ordino and Casa Plairal d'Areny de Plandolit
The chief destination in Andorra's picturesque Valira del Nord Valley is the small town of Ordino, idyllically located at the base of the 2,740-meter-tall Casamanya Mountain. In addition to its quiet streets, quaint shops, and old church, the town is home to Casa Plairal d'Areny de Plandolit, built in 1633 and later rebuilt in the mid-19th century by Baron de Senaller, famous for instigating reforms in 1866 that gave heads of households voting rights. Now open to the public, this splendid old house boasts a magnificent wrought-iron balcony from 1843 along with a reproduction of the country's original Cupboard of the Seven Keys. On the ground floor are storerooms and a blacksmith's shop, while on the upper level is the old armory with its large barrel-organ, as well as the dining room in which the Baron's Limoges and Sèvres dinner services (the latter a gift from the Austrian Emperor) are displayed. Other interesting rooms are the library with its coats of arms of related families, the music room with a copy of the original version of the Andorran national anthem, the private chapel, and a bakery.
Perched high in the eastern Pyrenees, the capital of Andorra, Andorra la Vella, is this small nation's busiest tourist attraction. At an altitude of 1,029 meters, it's one of the world's highest capital cities (it's also one of the smallest with a population of less than 25,000 people). Presiding over the Gran Valira river under the east side of the 2,317-meter Pic d'Enclar mountain, the city's main street is lined with shops selling everything from souvenirs to local arts and crafts, along with many galleries, cafés, and restaurants. Top attractions include Casa de la Vell, built in 1580 and now the seat of government. It's notable for its ornate coat of arms and other historical emblems of the country's former rulers. Highlights of a guided tour include the reception room with its 16th-century wall paintings and, in the Council Chamber (Sala de Sessions), the historic Cupboard of the Seven Keys, to which each of the country's seven communes has a key (it contains the country's archives, including documents dating from the time of Charlemagne). Other sites worth seeing are Plaça del Poble, a public square on the roof of the city's administrative complex, which offers great views of the surrounding scenery, and the 12th-century Sant Esteve Church with its fine carved woodwork.
Winter Wonderland: Vallnord
One of the most popular winter sports destinations in the Pyrenees, Vallnord draws skiers and snowboarders from across Europe to its many fine slopes. In the northern part of Andorra, Vallnord is really three unique ski resorts in one - Arcalis, Pal, and Arinsal - providing a vast amount of terrain to explore. Skiers and boarders of all levels are well catered to, with more experienced downhillers usually heading for the north-facing alpine slopes of Arcalis with its long lasting snows, while beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike are well catered to at Arinsal and Pal. Most slopes are connected to one another by cable car, while gondolas from the village of La Massana serve Pal. Vallnord is particularly popular for family ski vacations due to its first-rate ski schools and fun activities such as snowshoeing, sledding, and snowmobiling, as well as paintball and laser tag. For the truly adventurous, activities such as speed riding (a mix of skiing and hang-gliding), heli-skiing, and ski-biking are available. Another popular ski area is Grandvalira between Andorra la Vella and Les Escaldes.
Sant Joan de Caselles Church
A little way north of the little village of Canillo is the chapel of Sant Joan de Caselles. Considered one of the country's finest Romanesque chapels, this splendid old stone building dates from the 11th century and contains many interesting features, most notably its fine interior decorated with excellent frescoes, as well as a retablo, St. John and the Apocalypse, dating from 1525. Other highlights of this well-preserved church are the choir grille with its Romanesque stucco figure of Christ on the Cross, and the unique polychrome painting that surrounds it.
Centre Termolúdic Caldea
In the heart of Andorra la Vella, the huge Centre Termolúdic Caldea, Europe's largest spa complex, dominates the capital's skyline with its magnificent glass pyramid tower. Featuring more than 6,000 square meters of watery fun and treatment areas, guests can make full use of the facility's numerous lagoons (both indoor and outdoor), its many saunas and jacuzzis, as well as its specialized spa areas featuring Indo-Roman baths, cascades, warm marble slates, and even a grapefruit pool. Due to its use of the mineral-rich warm waters that emerge from the city's thermal source, a visit to this uniquely designed spa complex is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that is not soon forgotten.
Ordino and Casa Plairal d'Areny de Plandolit
The chief destination in Andorra's picturesque Valira del Nord Valley is the small town of Ordino, idyllically located at the base of the 2,740-meter-tall Casamanya Mountain. In addition to its quiet streets, quaint shops, and old church, the town is home to Casa Plairal d'Areny de Plandolit, built in 1633 and later rebuilt in the mid-19th century by Baron de Senaller, famous for instigating reforms in 1866 that gave heads of households voting rights. Now open to the public, this splendid old house boasts a magnificent wrought-iron balcony from 1843 along with a reproduction of the country's original Cupboard of the Seven Keys. On the ground floor are storerooms and a blacksmith's shop, while on the upper level is the old armory with its large barrel-organ, as well as the dining room in which the Baron's Limoges and Sèvres dinner services (the latter a gift from the Austrian Emperor) are displayed. Other interesting rooms are the library with its coats of arms of related families, the music room with a copy of the original version of the Andorran national anthem, the private chapel, and a bakery.