Andorra la Vella 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

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, 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.