Andorra

Andorra,officially thePrincipality of Andorra,is asovereignlandlocked countryon theIberian Peninsula, in the easternPyreneesin Western Europe,borderedbyFranceto the north andSpaintothe south. Believed to have been created byCharlemagne, Andorra was ruled by thecount of Urgelluntil 988, when it was transferred to theRoman Catholic Diocese of Urgell. The present principality was formed bya charter in 1278. It is currently headed by two co-princes: theBishop of UrgellinCatalonia, Spain, and thepresident of France. Its capital and largest city isAndorra la Vella.
Andorra is thesixth-smallest state in Europe, with an area of 468 square kilometres (181 sq mi) and a population of approximately 79,034.TheAndorran peopleare aRomanceethnic group closely related toCatalans.Andorra is the world's16th-smallest country by landand11th-smallest by population.Its capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe, at an elevation of 1,023 metres (3,356 feet)above sea level.The official language isCatalan, butSpanish,Portuguese, andFrenchare also commonly spoken.
Tourism in Andorrabrings approximately 8 million visitors to the country annually.Andorra is not a member state of theEuropean Union. It has been a member of theUnited Nationssince 1993.
The origin of the word Andorra is unknown, although several hypotheses have been proposed. The oldest is one put forward by theGreekhistorianPolybius(HistoriesIII, 35, 1), who describes the Andosins, anIberianPre-Roman tribe, as historically located in the valleys of Andorra and facing theCarthaginianarmy in its passage through the Pyrenees during thePunic Wars. The word Andosini or Andosins (Ἀνδοσίνοι) may derive from theBasquehandia, meaning "big" or "giant".The Andorrantoponymyshows evidence of Basque language in the area. Another theory suggests that the word Andorra may derive from the old word Anorra that contains the Basque wordur("water").
Another theory suggests that Andorra may derive fromArabicad-dārra(الدَّارَة), indicating a vast land which is located among mountains or a thickly wooded place(withad-being thedefinite article). When theMoorsconquered the Iberian Peninsula, the valleys of the High Pyrenees were covered by large tracts of forest. These regions were not administered byMuslims, because of the geographic difficulty of direct rule.
Other theories suggest that the term derives from theNavarro-Aragonese"andurrial", which means "land covered with bushes" or "scrubland".
Thefolk etymologyholds that Charlemagne had named the region as a reference to theBiblicalCanaanitevalley ofEndoror Andor (where theMidianiteshad been defeated), a name bestowed by his heir and sonLouis the Piousafter defeating the Moors in the "wild valleys of Hell".
La Balma de laMargineda, found by archaeologists atSant Julià de Lòria, was settled in 9,500 BCE as a passing place between the two sides of the Pyrenees. The seasonal camp was perfectly located for hunting and fishing by the groups of hunter-gatherers fromAriegeandSegre.
During theNeolithic, a group of people moved to theValley of Madriu(the present-day Natural Park located inEscaldes-EngordanydeclaredUNESCO World Heritage Site) as a permanent camp in 6640 BCE. The population of the valley grew cereals, raised domestic livestock, and developed commercial trade with people fromSégreandOccitania.
Other archaeological deposits include the Tombs ofSegudet(Ordino) and Feixa del Moro (Sant Julià de Lòria), both dated in 4900–4300 BCE as an example of theUrn culturein Andorra.The model of small settlements began to evolve to complex urbanism during theBronze Age.Metallurgicalitems of iron, ancient coins, and reliquaries can be found in theancient sanctuariesscattered around the country.
The sanctuary of Roc de les Bruixes (Stone of the Witches) is perhaps the most important archeological complex of this age in Andorra, located in the parish ofCanillo, about the rituals of funerals, ancient scripture and engraved stonemurals.
The inhabitants of the valleys were traditionally associated with theIberiansand historically located in Andorra as the Iberian tribe Andosins or Andosini (Ἀνδοσίνους) during the 7th and 2nd centuries BC. Influenced by theAquitanian,BasqueandIberian languages, the locals developed some current toponyms. Early writings and documents relating to this group of people goes back to the second century BC by the Greek writerPolybiusin hisHistoriesduring thePunic Wars.
Some of the most significant remains of this era are the Castle of the Roc d'Enclar (part of the earlyMarca Hispanica),l'Anxiu inLes Escaldesand Roc de L'Oral inEncamp.
The presence ofRomaninfluence is recorded from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE. The places with the most Roman presence are in Camp Vermell (Red Field) inSant Julià de Lòria, and in some places in Encamp and in the Roc d'Enclar. People continued trading, mainly with wine and cereals, with the Roman cities ofUrgellet(the present-dayLa Seu d'Urgell) and across Segre through thevia romanaStrata Ceretana (also known as Strata Confluetana).
After thefall of the Roman Empire, Andorra came under the influence of theVisigoths, theKingdom of Toledo, and theDiocese of Urgell. The Visigoths remained in the valleys for 200 years, during which timeChristianityspread. When theMuslim Empire of Al-Andalusreplaced the ruling Visigoths in most of the Iberian Peninsula, Andorra was sheltered from theseArabinvaders by theFranks.
Tradition holds that Charles the Great (Charlemagne) granted a charter to the Andorran people for a contingent of 5,000 soldiers under the command of Marc Almugaver, in return for fighting against theMoorsnearPorté-Puymorens(Cerdanya).
Andorra remained part of theFrankishMarca Hispanica, the buffer zone between theFrankish Empireand the Muslim territories, Andorra being part of the territory ruled by theCount of Urgelland eventually the bishop of the Diocese of Urgell. Tradition also holds that it was guaranteed by the son of Charlemagne,Louis the Pious, writing theCarta de Poblamentor a localmunicipal charterc.805.
In 988, CountBorrell IIof Urgell gave the Andorran valleys to the Diocese of Urgell in exchange for land inCerdanya.Since then, the bishop of Urgell, based in Seu d'Urgell, has beenco-princeof Andorra.
The first document that mentions Andorra as a territory is theActa de Consagració i Dotació de la Catedral de la Seu d'Urgell(Deed of Consecration and Endowment of the Cathedral of La Seu d'Urgell). The document, dated 839, depicts the six oldparishesof the Andorran valleys that made up the country's administrative division.
Before 1095, Andorra had no military protection, and the bishop of Urgell, who knew that the count of Urgell wanted to reclaim the Andorran valleys,asked theLord of Caboetfor help and protection. In 1095, the lord of Caboet and the bishop of Urgell signed under oath a declaration of their co-sovereignty over Andorra.Arnalda de Caboet, daughter of Arnau of Caboet, married the viscount of Castellbò. Their daughter,Ermessenda de Castellbò,married thecount of Foix,Roger-Bernard II. Roger-Bernard II and Ermessenda shared rule over Andorra with the bishop of Urgell.
In the 13th century, a military dispute arose between the bishop of Urgell and the count of Foix as aftermath of theCathar Crusade. The conflict was resolved in 1278 with the mediation of theking of Aragon,Peter III, between the bishop and the count, by the signing of thefirst paréage, which provided that Andorra's sovereignty be shared between the count of Foix(whose title would ultimately transfer to the French head of state) and the bishop of Urgell, inCatalonia. This gave the principality its territory and political form.
A second paréage was signed in 1288 after a dispute when the count of Foix ordered the construction of a castle in Roc d'Enclar.The document was ratified by the noble notaryJaume Orig of Puigcerdà, and construction of military structures in the country was prohibited.
In 1364, the political organization of the country named the figure of thesyndic(now spokesman and president of the parliament) as representative of the Andorrans to their co-princes, making possible the creation oflocal departments(comuns, quarts and veïnats). After being ratified by Bishop Francesc Tovia and CountJohn I, the Consell de la Terra orConsell General de les Valls(General Council of the Valleys) was founded in 1419, the second oldest parliament in Europe. The syndic Andreu d'Alàs and the General Council organized the creation of theJustice Courts(La Cort de Justicia) in 1433 with the co-princes and the collection of taxes like foc i lloc (literally "fire and site", a national tax active since then).
Although there are remains of ecclesiastical works dating before the 9th century (Sant Vicenç d'Enclar orEsglésia de Santa Coloma), Andorra developed exquisiteRomanesque Artduring the 9th through 14th centuries, particularly in the construction of churches, bridges, religious murals and statues of theVirgin and Child(Our Lady of Meritxellbeing the most important).Nowadays, theRomanesquebuildings that form part ofAndorra's cultural heritagestand out in a remarkable way, with an emphasis onEsglésia de Sant Esteve,Sant Joan de Caselles,Església de Sant Miquel d'Engolasters,Sant Martí de la Cortinadaand the medieval bridges ofMarginedaandEscallsamong many others.
The Catalan Pyrenees were embryonic of theCatalan languageat the end of the 11th century. Andorra was influenced by this language, which was adopted locally decades before it expanded to the rest of the Crown of Aragon.
The local economy during theMiddle Ageswas based on livestock, agriculture, furs and weavers. Later, at the end of the 11th century, the firstiron foundriesbegan to appear in Northern Parishes likeOrdino, much appreciated by the master artisans who developed the art of the forges, an important economic activity in the country from the 15th century.
In 1601 theTribunal de Corts(High Court of Justice) was created as a result ofHuguenot rebellionsinFrance,Inquisitioncourts coming fromSpainandwitchcraft-related beliefs native to the area, in the context of theReformationandCounter-Reformation.
With the passage of time, the co-title to Andorra passed to the kings ofNavarre. AfterHenry III of Navarrebecameking of France, he issued an edict in 1607 that established the head of the French state and the bishop of Urgell asCo-Princes of Andorra, a political arrangement that still holds.
During 1617, communal councils form the sometent (popular militia or army) to deal with the rise of bandolerisme (brigandage) and the Consell de la Terra was defined and structured in terms of its composition, organization and competences current today.
Andorra continued with the same economic system that it had during the 12th–14th centuries with a large production of metallurgy (fargues, a system similar to Farga Catalana) and with the introduction of tobacco circa 1692 and import trade. In 1371 and 1448, the co-princes ratified the fair of Andorra la Vella, the most important annual national festival commercially ever since.
The country had a unique and experienced guild of weavers, Confraria de Paraires i Teixidors, inEscaldes-Engordany. Founded in 1604, it took advantage of the local thermal waters. By this time, the country was characterized by the social system of prohoms (wealthy society) and casalers (rest of the population with smaller economic acquisition), deriving from the tradition ofpubillaandhereu.
Three centuries after its foundation, the Consell de la Terra located its headquarters and the Tribunal de Corts inCasa de la Vallin 1702. Themanor housebuilt in 1580 served as a noble fortress of the Busquets family. Inside the parliament was placed the Closet of the six keys (Armari de les sis claus), representative of each Andorran parish, where theAndorran constitutionand other documents and laws were later kept.
In both theReapers' Warand theWar of the Spanish Succession, the Andorran people (while professing to be a neutral country) supported theCatalanswho saw theirrightsreduced in1716. The reaction was the promotion of Catalan writings in Andorra, with cultural works such as theBook of Privileges(Llibre de Privilegis de 1674),Manual Digest(1748) by Antoni Fiter i Rossell or thePolità andorrà(1763) by Antoni Puig.
After theFrench Revolution,Napoleon Ireestablished the Co-Principate in 1809 and removed the French medieval title. In 1812–1813, theFirst French Empireannexed Catalonia during thePeninsular War(Guerra Peninsular) and divided the region into fourdépartements, with Andorra as a part of the district ofPuigcerdà. In 1814, an imperial decree reestablished the independence and economy of Andorra.
During this period, Andorra's late medieval institutions and rural culture remained largely unchanged. In 1866, thesyndicGuillem d'Areny-Plandolitled the reformist group in a Council General of 24 members elected by suffrage limited to heads of families. The Council General replaced the aristocratic oligarchy that previously ruled the state.
The New Reform (Nova Reforma) began after ratification by both Co-Princes and established the basis of theconstitutionand symbols – such as thetricolour flag– of Andorra. A newservice economyarose as a demand of the valley inhabitants and began to build infrastructure such as hotels, spa resorts, roads and telegraph lines.
The authorities of the Co-Princes banned casinos and betting houses throughout the country. The ban resulted in an economic conflict and the Revolution of 1881, which began when revolutionaries assaulted the house of the syndic on 8 December 1880, and established the Provisional Revolutionary Council led by Joan Pla i Calvo and Pere Baró i Mas. The Provisional Revolutionary Council allowed for the construction of casinos and spas by foreign companies.From 7 to 9 June 1881, the loyalists ofCanilloandEncampreconquered the parishes ofOrdinoandLa Massanaby establishing contact with the revolutionary forces inEscaldes-Engordany.After a day of combat theTreaty of the Bridge of Escallswas signed on 10 June.The council was replaced and new elections were held. The economic situation worsened, as the populace was divided over theQüestió d'Andorra– the "Andorran Question" in relation to theEastern Question.The struggles continued between pro-bishops, pro-French, and nationalists based on the troubles of Canillo in 1882 and 1885.
Andorra participated in the cultural movement of the CatalanRenaixença. Between 1882 and 1887, the first academic schools were formed where trilingualism coexisted with the official language, Catalan.Romanticauthors fromFranceandSpainreported the awakening of thenational consciousnessof the country.Jacint Verdaguerlived in Ordino during the 1880s where he wrote and shared works related to the Renaixença with writer and photographerJoaquim de Riba.
In 1848,Fromental Halévyhad premiered the operaLe val d'Andorreto great success in Europe, where the national consciousness of the valleys was exposed in the romantic work during the Peninsular War.
In 1933 France occupied Andorra following social unrest which occurred before elections due to theRevolution of 1933and the FHASA strikes (Vagues de FHASA); the revolt led byJoves Andorrans(alabour union grouprelated to the SpanishCNTandFAI) called for political reforms,theuniversal suffrage voteof all Andorrans and acted in defense of the rights of local and foreign workers during the construction of FHASA's hydroelectric power station inEncamp.On 5 April 1933 Joves Andorrans seized the Andorran Parliament.These actions were preceded by the arrival of Colonel René-Jules Baulard with 50gendarmesand the mobilization of 200 local militias or sometent led by the Síndic Francesc Cairat.
On 6 July 1934, adventurer and noblemanBoris Skossyreff, with his promise of freedoms and modernization of the country and wealth through the establishment of a tax haven and foreign investments, received the support of the members of the General Council to proclaim himself the sovereign of Andorra. On 8 July 1934 Boris issued a proclamation in Urgell, declaring himself Boris I, King of Andorra,simultaneously declaring war on the Bishop of Urgell and approving the King's constitution on 10 July.He was arrested by the Co-Prince and BishopJustí Guitart i Vilardebóand their authorities on 20 July and ultimately expelled fromSpain.From 1936 until 1940, a French military detachment ofGarde Mobileled by well-known Colonel René-Jules Baulard was garrisoned in Andorra to secure the principality against disruption from theSpanish Civil WarandFrancoist Spainand also face the rise ofRepublicanismin the aftermath of the 1933 Revolution.During the Spanish Civil War, the inhabitants of Andorra welcomed refugees from both sides, and many of them settled permanently in the country thus contributing to the subsequent economic boom and the entry into thecapitalistera of Andorra.Francoist troops reached the Andorran border in the later stages of the war.
During World War II, Andorra remained neutral and was an important smuggling route betweenVichy Franceand Francoist Spain.Many Andorrans criticized the passivity of the General Council for impeding both the entry and expulsion of foreigners and refugees, committing economic crimes,reducing the rights of citizensand sympathy withFrancoism.General Council members justified the council's political and diplomatic actions as necessary for Andorra's survival and the protection of its sovereignty. Andorra was relatively unscathed by the two world wars and the Spanish Civil War.Certaingroupsformed to help victims of oppression inNazi-occupied countries, while participating in smuggling to help Andorra survive. Among the most prominent was theHostal PalanquesEvasion Network Command, which, in contact with the BritishMI6, helped almost 400 fugitives,among whom wereAlliedmilitary personnel.The Command remained active between 1941 and 1944, although there were struggles withpro-Axisinformers andGestapoagents in Andorra.
In the capital city there was a smuggling black market of propaganda, culture and cinematic art not favorable to totalitarian regimes, promulgated in such places as the Hotel Mirador or the Casino Hotel,as a meeting place forFree Frenchforces and a route for escorting crashed Allied pilots out of Europe.The network was maintained after the war, when film societies were formed, where movies, music and bookscensored in Franco's Spainwere imported, becoming an anti-censorship attraction for the Catalan or foreign public even within Andorra.Andorran Group (Agrupament Andorrà), ananti-fascist organizationlinked to the Occitanie'sFrench Resistance, accused the French representative (veguer) of collaboration withNazism.
The Andorran opening to thecapitalist economyresulted in two axes: mass tourism and the country's tax exemption. The first steps toward the capitalist boom date from the 1930s, with the construction of FHASAand the creation of professional bankingwithBanc Agrícol(1930) andCrèdit Andorrà(1949), later withBanca Mora(1952),Banca Cassany(1958) and SOBANCA (1960). Shortly after, activities such as skiing and shopping become a tourist attraction, with the inauguration of ski resorts and cultural entities in the late 1930s.All in all, a renovated hotel industry has developed. In April 1968 a social health insurance system was created (CASS).
The Andorran government necessarily involved planning, projection and forecasts for the future: with the official visit of the French co-princeCharles de Gaullein 1967 and 1969, it was given approval for the economic boom and national demands within the framework ofhuman rightsand international openness.
Andorra experienced an era commonly known as the "Andorran dream"(similar to theAmerican Dream) along with theTrente Glorieuses: the mass culture rooted the country experiencing radical changes in the economy and culture. Proof of this wasRàdio Andorra, the top musical radio station in Europe in this period,with guests and speakers of great importance promoting musical hits ofchanson française,swing,rhythm & blues,jazz,rock and rollandAmerican country music.During this period Andorra achieved a GDP per capita and a life expectancy higher than the most standard countries of the current economy.
Given its relative isolation, Andorra has existed outside the mainstream of European history, with few ties to countries other than France, Spain andPortugal. But in recent times its thriving tourist industry, along with developments in transport and communications, have removed the country from its isolation. Since 1976 the country has seen the need to reform Andorran institutions due to anachronisms in sovereignty, human rights and the balance of powers as well as the need to adapt legislation to modern demands. In 1982 a first separation of powers took place when instituting the Govern d'Andorra, under the name of the executive board (Consell Executiu), chaired by the first prime ministerÒscar Ribas Reigwith the co-princes' approval.In 1989 the Principality signed an agreement with theEuropean Economic Communityto regularize trade relations.
Its political system was modernized in 1993 after theAndorran constitutional referendum, when theconstitutionwas drafted by the co-princes and the General Council and approved on 14 Marchby 74.2% of voters, with a 76% turnout.Thefirst electionsunder the new constitution were held later in the year.The same year, Andorra became a member of the United Nations and theCouncil of Europe.
Andorra formalized diplomatic relations with the United States in 1996, participating in the 51stUN General Assembly. First General SyndicMarc Fornétook part in a speech in Catalan in the General Assembly to defend the reform of the organization, and after three days he took part in theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europeto defend Andorra's linguistic rights and economy.In 2006 a monetary agreement with the European Union was formalized that allows Andorra to use theeuroofficially, as well as minting its own euro coins.
Andorra is a parliamentaryco-principalitywith thebishop of Urgelland the president of France asco-princes.This peculiarity makes the president of France, in his capacity asprince of Andorra, an elected monarch, although he is not elected by a popular vote of the Andorran people. The politics of Andorra take place in a framework of aparliamentaryrepresentative democracywith aunicamerallegislature, and of apluriformmulti-party system. Theprime ministeris thechief executive.
The current prime minister isXavier Espot Zamoraof theDemocrats for Andorra(DA).Executive poweris exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both government and parliament.
The Parliament of Andorra is known as theGeneral Council. The General Council consists of between 28 and 42 councillors.The councillors serve for four-year terms, and elections are held between the 30th and 40th days following the dissolution of the previous Council.
Half are elected in equal numbers by each of the seven administrative parishes, and the other half of the councillors are elected in a single national constituency.  Voters vote for parties, not candidates; a voter votes for a party for the parish councillors and a party for the at-large councilors, and the winners come from party lists. Fifteen days after the election, the councillors hold their inauguration. During this session, theGeneral Syndic, who is the head of the General Council, and the Subsyndic General, his assistant, are elected. Eight days later, the Council convenes once more. During this session, the prime minister is chosen from among the councillors.
Candidates can be proposed by a minimum of one-fifth of the councillors. The Council then elects the candidate with the absolute majority of votes to be prime minister. The Syndic General then notifies the co-princes, who in turn appoint the elected candidate as the prime minister of Andorra. The General Council is also responsible for proposing and passing laws. Bills may be presented to the council as Private Members' Bills by three of the local Parish Councils jointly or by at least one tenth of the citizens of Andorra.
The council also approves the annual budget of the principality. The government must submit the proposed budget for parliamentary approval at least two months before the previous budget expires. If the budget is not approved by the first day of the next year, the previous budget is extended until a new one is approved. Once any bill is approved, the Syndic General is responsible for presenting it to the co-princes so that they may sign and enact it.
If the prime minister is not satisfied with the council, he may request that the co-princes dissolve the council and order new elections. In turn, the councillors have the power to remove the prime minister from office. After a motion of censure is approved by at least one-fifth of the councillors, the council will vote and if it receives the absolute majority of votes, the prime minister is removed.
The judiciary is composed of the Magistrates Court, the Criminal Law Court, the High Court of Andorra, and the Constitutional Court. The High Court of Justice is composed of five judges: one appointed by the prime minister, one each by the co-princes, one by the Syndic General, and one by the judges and magistrates. It is presided over by the member appointed by the Syndic General and the judges hold office for six-year terms.
The magistrates and judges are appointed by the High Court, as is the president of the Criminal Law Court. The High Court also appoints members of the Office of the Attorney General. The Constitutional Court is responsible for interpreting the Constitution and reviewing all appeals of unconstitutionality against laws and treaties. It is composed of four judges, one appointed by each of the co-princes and two by the General Council. They serve eight-year terms. The Court is presided over by one of the judges on a two-year rotation so that each judge at one point will preside over the Court.
Andorra does not have its own armed forces,although there is a small ceremonial army. Responsibility for defending the nation rests primarily with France and Spain.However, in case of emergencies or natural disasters, theSometent(an alarm) is called and all able-bodied men between 21 and 60 of Andorran nationality must serve.This is why all Andorrans, and especially the head of each house (usually the eldest able-bodied man of a house) should, by law, keep a rifle, even though the law also states that the police will offer a firearm in case of need.Andorra is a full member of the United Nations (UN), theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe(OSCE), and has a special agreement with the European Union (EU). After the constitution was ratified, Andorra would later establish diplomatic relations with their major allies aside from neighbours France and Spain such as the United Kingdom in 1994 and the United States in 1995. It also has observer status at theWorld Trade Organization(WTO).On 16 October 2020, Andorra became the 190th member of theInternational Monetary Fund(IMF), during theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Andorra has a small army, which has historically been raised or reconstituted at various dates, but has never in modern times amounted to a standing army. The basic principle of Andorran defence is that all able-bodied men are available to fight if called upon by the summoning of theSometent(a civil defense organization of Andorra, made up of the heads of households). The Sometent was used sparingly against French "Lutheran" raids during the late 16th century. Being alandlocked country, Andorra has no navy.
BeforeWorld War I, Andorra maintained an armedmilitiaforce of about 600 part-time militiamen under the supervision of a Captain (Capità or Cap de Sometent) and a Lieutenant (Desener or Lloctinent del Capità). This body was not liable for service outside the principality and was commanded by two officials (veguers) appointed by France and the Bishop of Urgell.
In the modern era, the army has consisted of a very small body of volunteers willing to undertakeceremonial duties. Uniforms and weaponry were handed down from generation to generation within families and communities.
The army's role in internal security was largely taken over by the formation of thePolice Corps of Andorrain 1931. Brief civil disorder associated with the elections of 1933 led to assistance being sought from the FrenchNational Gendarmerie,with a detachment resident in Andorra for two months under the command of René-Jules Baulard.The Andorran Police was reformed in the following year, with eleven soldiers appointed to supervisory roles.The force consisted of sixcorporals, one for each parish (although there are currently seven parishes, there were only six until 1978), plus four junior staff officers to co-ordinate action, and a commander with the rank of major. It was the responsibility of the six corporals, each in his own parish, to be able to raise a fighting force from among the able-bodied men of the parish.
The only permanent section of the present-day Sometent is a twelve-man ceremonial unit. However, all able-bodied men are technicallyavailable for military service,with a requirement for each family to have access to a firearm. Anarea weapon, such as a shotgun per household, is unregulated; however,ranged weapons, such as pistols and rifles, require a license.The army has not fought for more than 700 years, and its main responsibility is to present theflag of Andorraat official ceremonial functions.According toMarc Forné Molné, Andorra's military budget is strictly from voluntary donations, and the availability of full-time volunteers.
The only more recent general emergency call to the Sometent was given during the floods of 1982 in the Catalan Pyrenees (when 12 Andorran citizens perished),to help the population and establish a public order along with the local police units.
Andorra maintains a small but modern and well-equipped internal police force, with around 240 police officers supported by civilian assistants. The principal services supplied by the corps are uniformed community policing, criminal detection, border control, and traffic policing. There are also small specialist units including police dogs, mountain rescue, and a bomb disposal team.
TheGrup d'Intervenció Policia d'Andorra' (GIPA) is a smallspecial forces squadtrained incounter-terrorism, andhostage recoverytasks. Although it is theclosest in style to an active military force, it is part of thePolice Corps, and not the army. As terrorist and hostage situations are a rare threat to the country, the GIPA is commonly assigned to prisoner escort duties, and at other times to routine policing.
The Andorran Fire Brigade, with headquarters atSanta Coloma, operates from four modern fire stations, and has a staff of around 120 firefighters. The service is equipped with 16 heavy appliances (fire tenders, turntable ladders, and specialist four-wheel drive vehicles), four light support vehicles (cars and vans) and four ambulances.
Historically, the families of the six ancient parishes of Andorra maintained local arrangements to assist each other in fighting fires. The first fire pump purchased by the government was acquired in 1943. Serious fires which lasted for two days in December 1959 led to calls for a permanent fire service, and the Andorran Fire Brigade was formed on 21 April 1961.
The fire service maintains full-time cover with five fire crews on duty at any time: two at the brigade's headquarters in Santa Coloma, and one crew at each of the other three fire stations.
Andorra consists of seven parishes:
Due to its location in the easternPyreneesmountain range, Andorra consists predominantly of rugged mountains, the highest being theComa Pedrosaat 2,946 metres (9,665 ft), and the average elevation of Andorra is 1,996 metres (6,549 ft).These are dissected by three narrow valleys in a Y shape that combine into one as the main stream, theGran Valirariver, leaves the country for Spain (at Andorra's lowest point of 840 m or 2,756 ft). Andorra's land area is 468 km(181 sq mi).
Phytogeographically, Andorra belongs to the Atlantic European province of theCircumboreal Regionwithin theBoreal Kingdom. According to theWWF, the territory of Andorra belongs to theecoregionofPyrenees conifer and mixed forests.Andorra had a 2018Forest Landscape Integrity Indexmean score of 4.45/10, ranking it 127th globally out of 172 countries.In Andorraforest coveris around 34% of the total land area, equivalent to 16,000 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, which was unchanged from 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 16,000 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 0 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to beprimary forest(consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 0% of the forest area was found within protected areas.
The whole country has been recognised as a singleImportant Bird Area(IBA) byBirdLife International, because it is important for forest and mountain birds and supports populations ofred-billed choughs,citril finchesandrock buntings.
Andorra hasalpine,continentalandoceanic climates, depending on altitude. Its higher elevation means there is, on average, more snow in winter and it is slightly cooler in summer. The diversity of landmarks, the different orientation of the valleys and the irregularity relief typical of theMediterranean climatesmake the country have a great diversity ofmicroclimatesthat hinder the general dominance of thehigh mountain climate. The great differences of altitude in the minimum and maximum points, together with the influence of a Mediterranean climate, develop the climate of the Andorran Pyrenees.
When in precipitation, a global model characterized by convective and abundant rains can be defined during spring and summer, which can last until autumn (May, June and August are usually the rainiest months). In winter, however, it is less rainy, except in the highlands, subject to the influence of fronts from theAtlantic, which explains the great amount of snowfall in the Andorran mountains. The temperature regime is characterized, broadly, by a temperate summer and a long and cold winter, in accordance with the mountainous condition of the Principality.
As a small mountainous country, Andorra is highly vulnerable toclimate change. Temperatures in its high-altitude regions have risen by about 0.17°C per decade, while annual rainfall has decreased by 49 mm. These shifts are impacting water resources and snow cover, which are key elements for Andorra's tourism-driven economy.The number of days with enough snow forskiingis declining, and thesnow lineis retreating to higher altitudes.
Although its nationalgreenhouse gas emissionsare one of the lowest in the world (534 thousand tonnes emitted in 2023),Andorra has a strong climate change mitigation strategy, with a focus onrenewable energyand energy efficiency. In itsNationally Determined Contribution, Andorra has committed to reducing its emissions by 55% by 2030, and tocarbon neutralityby 2050.However, the adaptation part of the strategy is still in early stages and may be difficult and costly to implement. Given the country's reliance on tourism, speeding up adaptation is essential for building a more resilient economy.
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 8 million tourists visit annually,attracted by Andorra'sduty-freestatus and by its summer and winter resorts.
One of the main sources of income in Andorra is from ski resorts, which total over 175 km (109 mi) of ski grounds. The sport brings in over 7 million visitors annually and an estimated 340 million euros per year, sustaining 2,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs at present since 2007.
The banking sector, with itstax havenstatus, also contributes substantially to the economy with revenues raised exclusively through import tariffs (the financial and insurance sector accounts for approximately 19% of GDP). However, during theEuropean sovereign-debt crisisof the 21st century, the tourist industry suffered a decline, partly caused by a drop in the prices of goods in Spain, undercuttingduty-free shoppingand increasing unemployment. On 1 January 2012, a business tax of 10% was introduced,followed by a sales tax of 2% a year later, which raised just over 14 million euros in its first quarter.
Agricultural production is limited; only 1.7%of the land is arable, and most food has to be imported. Some tobacco is grown locally. The principal livestock activity is domestic sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra's natural resources include hydroelectric power, mineral water, timber, iron ore, and lead.
Andorra is not a member of the European Union, but enjoys aspecial relationshipwith it, such as being treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. Andorra lacked a currency of its own and used both theFrench francand theSpanish pesetain banking transactions until 31 December 1999, when both currencies were replaced by the EU's single currency, the euro. Coins and notes of both the franc and the peseta remained legal tender in Andorra until 31 December 2002. Andorra negotiated to issue its own euro coins, beginning in 2014.
Andorra has historically had one of the world's lowest unemployment rates. In 2023 it stood at 1.5%.
On 31 May 2013, it was announced that Andorra intended to legislate for the introduction of an income tax by the end of June, against a background of increasing dissatisfaction with the existence of tax havens among EU members.The announcement was made following a meeting in Paris between the Prime MinisterAntoni Martíand the French President and Prince of AndorraFrançois Hollande. Hollande welcomed the move as part of a process of Andorra "bringing its taxation in line with international standards".
By the mid-2010s, the financial system comprised five banking groups,one specialised credit entity, eight investment undertaking management entities, three asset management companies, and 29 insurance companies, 14 of which are branches of foreign insurance companies authorised to operate in the principality.The last mergers between banks took place in 2022, bringing the Andorran financial sector to currently have 3 active banking groups.
The population of Andorra is estimated at 79,034 (2021).TheAndorransare aRomanceethnic groupof originallyCatalandescent.The population has grown from 5,000 in 1900.
Two-thirds of residents lack Andorran nationality and do not have the right to vote in communal elections. Moreover, they are not allowed to be elected as prime ministeror to own more than 33% of the capital stock of a privately held company.
The largest national groups in Andorra are Spanish (34.3%), Andorrans (32.1%), Portuguese (10%), and French (5.6%). The remaining 18% of the population includes British, Dutch, Germans, Italians and other Europeans, as well as Argentinians, Chileans, Indians, Moroccans and Uruguayans.
The historic andofficial languageisCatalan, aRomance language. The Andorran government encourages the use of Catalan. It funds a Commission for CatalanToponymyin Andorra (Catalan:Comissió de Toponímia d'Andorra), and provides free Catalan classes to assist immigrants. Andorran television and radio stations use Catalan.
Because of immigration, historical links, and close geographic proximity, Spanish, Portuguese and French are commonly spoken. Most Andorran residents can speak one or more of these, in addition to Catalan. English is less commonly spoken among the general population, though it is understood to varying degrees in the major tourist resorts.Andorra is one of only four European countries (together with France,Monaco, andTurkey)that have never signed theCouncil of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities.
Few official statistics are available on religion; estimates of the Catholic population in 2020 range from 89.5%to 99.21%.The patron saint isOur Lady of Meritxell. There are also members of various Protestant denominations and small numbers ofHindus, andBahá'ís,In 2022 there were approximately 2000Muslimsand roughly 100Jews.
The Qualified Education Law (Ilei qualificada d'educacio) of Andorra was passed in 1993. It guarantees free, public education from age four until the end of compulsory schooling.
Children between the ages of 6 and 16 are required by law to have full-time education.Education up to secondary level is provided free of charge by the government.
There are three systems of school, Andorran, French and Spanish, which use Catalan, French and Spanish languages respectively, as the main language of instruction. Parents may choose which system their children attend. All schools are built and maintained by Andorran authorities, but teachers in the French and Spanish schools are paid for the most part by France and Spain. 39% of Andorran children attend Andorran schools, 33% attend French schools, and 28% Spanish schools.
TheUniversitat d'Andorra(UdA) is the state public university and is the only university in Andorra. It was established in 1997. The university provides first-level degrees in nursing, computer science, business administration, and educational sciences, in addition to higher professional education courses. The only two graduate schools in Andorra are the Nursing School and the School of Computer Science, the latter having a PhD programme.
The geographical complexity of the country as well as the small number of students prevents the University of Andorra from developing a full academic programme, and it serves principally as a centre for virtual studies, connected to Spanish and French universities. The Virtual Studies Centre (Centre d'Estudis Virtuals) at the university runs approximately 20 different academic degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in fields including tourism, law, Catalanphilology, humanities, psychology, political sciences, audiovisual communication, telecommunications engineering, and East Asia studies. The centre also runs various postgraduate programmes and continuing-education courses for professionals.
Until the 20th century, Andorra had very limited transport links to the outside world, and development of the country was affected by its physical isolation. Even now, the nearest major airports at Toulouse and Barcelona are both three hours' drive from Andorra.
Andorra has a road network of 279 km (173 mi), of which 76 km (47 mi) is unpaved. The two main roads out ofAndorra la Vellaare the CG-1 to theSpanish bordernearSant Julià de Lòria, and the CG-2 to theFrench bordervia the Envalira Tunnel nearEl Pas de la Casa.Bus services cover all metropolitan areas and many rural communities, with services on most major routes running half-hourly or more frequently during peak travel times. There are frequent long-distance bus services from Andorra toBarcelonaandToulouse, plus a daily tour from the former city. Bus services mostly are run by private companies, but some local ones are operated by the government.
There are no airports for fixed-wing aircraft within Andorra's borders but there are, however, heliports inLa Massana(Camí Heliport),ArinsalandEscaldes–Engordanywith commercial helicopter servicesand an airport located in the neighbouring Spanish comarca ofAlt Urgell, 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) south of the Andorran–Spanish border.Since July 2015,Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airporthas operated commercial flights toMadridandPalma de Mallorca, and is themain hubforAndorra Airlines.
Nearby airports located in Spain and France provide access to international flights for the principality. The nearest airports are atPerpignan, France (156 kilometres or 97 miles from Andorra) andLleida, Spain (160 kilometres or 99 miles from Andorra). The largest nearby airports are at Toulouse, France (165 kilometres or 103 miles from Andorra) and Barcelona, Spain (215 kilometres or 134 miles from Andorra). There are hourly bus services from both Barcelona and Toulouse airports to Andorra.
The nearest railway station isAndorre-L'Hospitalet station10 km (6 mi) east of Andorra which is on the1,435 mm(4 ft8+1⁄2in)-gaugeline fromLatour-de-Carol(25 km or 16 mi) southeast of Andorra, toToulouseand on to Paris by the Frenchhigh-speed trains. This line is operated by theSNCF. Latour-de-Carol has a scenic1,000 mm(3 ft3+3⁄8in)metre gaugetrainlinetoVillefranche-de-Conflent, as well as the SNCF's1,435 mm-gauge line connecting toPerpignan, and theRenfe's1,668 mm(5 ft5+21⁄32in)-gaugeline to Barcelona.There are also directIntercités de nuittrains between L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre and Paris on certain dates.
In Andorra, mobile and fixed telephone and internet services are operated exclusively by the Andorran national telecommunications company, SOM, also known asAndorra Telecom(STA). The same company also manages the technical infrastructure for national broadcasting of digital television and radio.In 2010 Andorra became the first country to provide a directoptical fiberlink to all homes (FTTH) and businesses.
The first commercial radio station to broadcast wasRadio Andorra, which was active from 1939 to 1981.On 12 October 1989, the General Council established radio and television as essential public services creating and managing the entity ORTA, becoming on 13 April 2000, in the public companyRàdio i Televisió d'Andorra(RTVA).In 1990, the public radio was founded on the Radio Nacional d'Andorra. As an autochthonous television channel, there is only the national public television network Andorra Televisió, created in 1995.Additional TV and radio stations from Spain and France are available via digital terrestrial television and IPTV.
There are three national newspapers,Diari d'Andorra,El Periòdic d'Andorra, andBondiaas well as several local newspapers.The history of the Andorran press begins in the period between 1917 and 1937 with the appearance of several periodicals papers such asLes Valls d'Andorra(1917),Nova Andorra(1932) andAndorra Agrícola(1933).In 1974, thePoble Andorràbecame the first regular newspaper in Andorra.There is also anamateur radiosocietyand news agency ANA with independent management.
Andorra is home to folk dances like thecontrapàsandmarratxa, which survive inSant Julià de Lòriaespecially. Andorran folk music has similarities to the music of its neighbours, but is especiallyCatalanin character, especially in the presence of dances such as thesardana. Other Andorran folk dances include contrapàs inAndorra la Vellaand Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany. Andorra's national holiday isOur Lady of MeritxellDay, 8 September.
Among the more important festivals and traditions are the Canólich Gathering in May, the Roser d'Ordino in July, the Meritxell Day (National Day of Andorra), the Andorra la Vella Fair, theSant Jordi Day, the Santa Llúcia Fair, the Festivity from La Candelera to Canillo, theCarnivalof Encamp, the sung of caramelles, the Festivity ofSant Esteveand the Festa del Poble.
Andorra participated regularly in theEurovision Song Contestbetween 2004 and 2009, being the onlyparticipating countrypresenting songs inCatalan.
In popular folklore, the best-known Andorran legends are the legend of Charlemagne, according to which this Frankish King would have founded the country, the White Lady ofAuvinyà, theBuner d'Ordino, the legend ofEngolasters Lakeand the legend ofOur Lady of Meritxell.
Andorran gastronomy is mainlyCatalan, although it has also adopted other elements ofFrenchandItaliancuisines. The cuisine of the country has similar characteristics with the neighbours ofCerdanyaandAlt Urgell, with whom it has strong cultural ties. Andorra's cuisine is marked by its nature as mountain valleys. Typical dishes of the country arequinceall-i-oli, duck with winter pear, roast lamb with nuts, pork civet, massegada cake, escarole with pears, duck confit and mushrooms,escudella, spinach with raisins and pine nuts, jelly marmalade, stuffed murgues (mushrooms) with pork,dandelionsalad, and Andorran rivertrout. To drink,mulled wineand beer are also popular.Some of the dishes are very common in themountainous regions of Catalonia, such astrinxat,embotits, cooked snails, rice with mushrooms, mountain rice andmató.
Pre-RomanesqueandRomanesque artare one of the most important artistic manifestations and characteristics of the Principality. The Romanesque one allows to know the formation of theparochial communities, the relations of (social and political) power and the national culture. There are a total of forty Romanesque churches that stand out as being small austere ornamentation constructions, as well asbridges, fortresses andmanor housesof the same period.
Summer solstice fire festivalsin the Pyrenees was included asUNESCO Intangible cultural heritagein 2015.Also theMadriu-Perafita-Claror Valleybecame Andorra's first, and to date its only,UNESCOWorld Heritage Sitein 2004, with a small extension in 2006.
Andorra is famous for itswinter sports. Andorra has the largest territory of ski slopes in thePyrenees(3100 hectares and about 350 km of slopes) and two ski resorts. Grandvalira is the largest and most popular resort. Other popular sports played in Andorra includefootball,rugby union, basketball, androller hockey.
Forroller hockey,Andorrausually plays in theCERH Euro CupandFIRS Roller Hockey World Cup. In 2011, Andorra was the host country to the2011 European League Final Eight.
The country is represented in association football by theAndorra national football team. The team gained its first competitive win in a European Championship qualifier on 11 October 2019, against Moldova.Football is governed in Andorra by theAndorran Football Federation– founded in 1994, it organizes the national competitions of association football (Primera Divisió,Copa ConstitucióandSupercopa) andfutsal. Andorra was admitted toUEFAandFIFAin the same year, 1996.FC Andorra, a club based inAndorra la Vellafounded in 1942, compete in theSpanish football league system.
Rugbyis a traditional sport in Andorra, mainly influenced by its popularity in southern France. TheAndorra national rugby union team, nicknamed Els Isards, plays on the international stage inrugby unionandrugby sevens.VPC Andorra XVis a rugby team based in Andorra la Vella, which actually plays in the French championship.
Basketball's popularity has increased in the country since the 1990s, when the Andorran teamBC Andorraplayed in the top league of Spain (Liga ACB).After 18 years the club returned to the top league in 2014.
Other sports practised in Andorra include cycling, volleyball, judo, Australian Rules football, handball, swimming, gymnastics, tennis, and motorsports. In 2012, Andorra raised its first national cricket team and played a home match against the Dutch Fellowship of Fairly Odd Places Cricket Club, the first match played in the history of Andorra at an altitude of 1,300 metres (4,300 ft).
Andorra first participated at theOlympic Gamesin 1976. The country has appeared in everyWinter OlympicGames since1976. Andorra competes in theGames of the Small States of Europe, being twice the host country, in1991and2005.
As one of theCatalan Countries, Andorra is home to a team ofcastellers, or Catalan human tower builders. TheCastellers d'Andorra[ca], based in the town ofSanta Coloma d'Andorra, are recognized by theCoordinadora de Colles Castelleres de Catalunya[ca], the governing body of castells.
Skiing, hiking, cross-country running, and cycling are all popular sports tourism activities in Andorra.Andorra's economy is heavily built on tourism.
Andorra generally enjoys a ski season from late November to early April, depending on weather conditions.Outside of the ski season, some of the ski lift facilities continue to operate at lower capacity, facilitating access to popular view points such as the Tristaina solar viewpoint, a viewpoint–sundial located on the peak of Peyreguils at an altitude of 2,701 metres and a few metres from the geographical border between Andorra and France. This peak is part of the Tristaina cirque, along with the Costa Rodona, Tristaina, Creussans, and Cabanyó peaks.
42°33′N1°35′E﻿ / ﻿42.550°N 1.583°E﻿ /42.550; 1.583