Andorra Archives ⋆ The Passenger

August 10, 2024January 19, 2025

Up in the mountains

On my mission to visit the remaining microstates in Europe, Andorra was probably the hardest nut to crack. It is located secluded in the Pyrenees mountain without having an airport or a railway station. Your only chance is to fly to Barcelona or Toulouse and do a long bus ride into mountains. I decided for the latter and made my way up to the small country I only knew as a tax haven and from Max Frisch‘s book title. Was it worth it? Sure, but not for the shopping-oriented city of Andorra la Vella – more for the history, the ancient city center and for the nature of the Pyrenees.

August 10, 2024January 19, 2025

Museu Carmen Thyssen

Andorra is a small country and you won’t expect to find many great museums here. But that doesn’t mean that your visit can’t include some art (and history). Thanks to art collector Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza there is at least a small art museum at Escaldes-Engordany, close to the capital city Andorra la Vella. Small here only refers to the size of the exhibition rooms located on the ground floor of a hotel, the art exhibited here is typically from well-known artists and often includes famous works. But also regional artists are on display at the Museu Carmen Thyssen throughout the year.

August 10, 2024January 19, 2025

Casa de la Vall

It is said that the country of Andorra was created by Charlemagne in 788 CE, but officially it was established in the year 1278 and by then always reigned by two people: a Spanish bishop and a French count. In the year 1419 a first parliament was established, the Consell de la Terra (later named Consell General de les Valls). They met on public squares or even the cemetery to discuss important political matters related to the country.

August 9, 2024January 19, 2025

Pirineus

The Pyrenees (or Pyrénées, Pirineus) mountains are more than 430 kilometers long and form the perfect border between central Europe and Iberian peninsula, between France and Spain. They reach nearly from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and are much less known, much less discovered and much less populated than the Alps. Concerning its shape the Pyrenees are also very different as in contrast to the Alps as the various valleys are located in parallel to the main mountain range.

August 9, 2024August 23, 2024

Hard to reach

Andorra is potentially the country in Europe that is hardest to tick off your travel wish list. It is just a tiny country with under 80,000 inhabitants on 468 km² in the Pyrenees between Spain and France. There is no airport and no railway station, your best chance is to fly to Barcelona or Toulouse and take a bus ride into the mountains which lasts 3-4 hours. It is a bit unusual that the capital city Andorra la Vella is so complicated to reach but the trip through the mountains is very scenic and well worth the effort.