Andorra la Vella is the capital of the Principality of Andorra. The city is located high in the Pyrenees, in a picturesque place where roads and rivers intersect, the present and the past. The country has no access to the sea, however, the mountainous area attracts a huge number of tourists who prefer European ski resorts. The state does not have an international airport; you can get into the country only from neighboring states. Today we will talk about the city of Andorra la Vella, its history, nature, attractions.
general characteristics
Andorra la Vella is the capital of Andorra and one of the 7 counties of the state. Its area is about 12 km 2 , the population is about 22 thousand people.
The capital is located at the confluence of two rivers - South Valira and Northern Valira. The river divides Andorra la Vella into two blocks: Modern and Old. In Sovremenny, tourists like to relax, entertainment complexes and hotels are located here. In the Old Quarter there are many narrow streets and small old houses.
The capital of Andorra is a paradise for lovers of ski resorts and shopping.
The national language of the city and state is Catalan, French and Spanish are also widespread.
More than half of the inhabitants of the capital are Andorran native, the rest are immigrants from France, Spain and other European countries.
The national currency is the euro.
It is the highest mountain capital in Europe, located at an altitude of 1079 meters above sea level.
History
The first mention of the city is found in chronicles in 805. Its existence began with a small village created by peasants and shepherds from Catalonia. Some time later, this village grew, and on the territory of the modern principality a territorial element with the beginnings of statehood was born. France and Spain for many centuries tried to subjugate this dwarf country. Ultimately, a protectorate of these states was established here.
sights
An ancient attraction of the capital of Andorra is the Casa de la Vall. At first glance, this is an ordinary, inconspicuous building, built of natural stone. But it was erected in 1580 and belonged to a noble family. This is currently the state’s parliament.
Not far from it is the Sala de la Giustisia - the courthouse (this is the only court in the country).
Favorite meeting place for locals is Piazza del Poble. Here you can see all the most famous sights of the city: the State Theater and the Academy of Music. Every year on the third Saturday of August a three-day festival is organized here.
To get acquainted with the old building of the city, you need to go to the Old Quarter - this is a historical place where ancient buildings have been preserved (from the time when the city was still a village). In addition, in this part of the city there are a lot of souvenir shops where you can buy a variety of gifts in memory of a trip to the capital of Andorra. In what country of the world do citizens live as if in a different era? In Andorra. They are brought up according to strict Catholic rules and adhere to religious traditions, their customs and mentality are a mixture of French and Spanish cultures. So, they absolutely do not tolerate defiant behavior, so tourists should behave culturally and restrained in public places, you can only relax in a hotel or in recreation areas. For inappropriate behavior, tourists can be sent from the country.
Striking in its splendor and grandeur, the Church of St. Stephen, located near the Old Town. The building was built in the 12th century in a Romanesque style.
Nature of the city
The capital of Andorra - Andorra la Vella - is the highest mountain capital of the European part of the world. It is surrounded by rocky mountains, picturesque gorges and coniferous forests.
The main waterway is the Valira River. Human economic activity has caused her damage. Its banks are covered with concrete, and the natural replenishment of melted glaciers with water is very difficult. The river water is used for therapeutic purposes, it is saturated with sulfur and is a natural medicine.
Andorra la Vella has a Caldea spa, which uses hot spring water. Procedures help get rid of allergies and skin diseases.
Here is the purest healing climate. A large number of plantings of pine, fir, juniper helps to get rid of various diseases of the upper respiratory tract and lungs. People come here from all over Europe to strengthen their health and enjoy a truly magnificent nature.
Weather
The weather of the Principality of Andorra is greatly influenced by the warm air masses that come from the Mediterranean Sea. They contribute to the formation of a mild and warm climate. In summer, the air temperature rises to +20 ° , and in winter it drops no lower than -2 ° . The number of sunny days is approximately 250 per year.
All these favorable climatic factors create excellent conditions for relaxation at any time of the year.
Kitchen
National cuisine is very similar to Spanish and French. A feature of Catalan dishes is satiety and home simplicity. In the capital of Andorra, you can wonderfully sit in bordas, these are small restaurants with a cozy atmosphere and home cooking. They work until about midnight and offer this type of service as comprehensive (much cheaper than usual).
All Andorran dishes are high-calorie, hearty, most often meat. Here is a short list of delicious national dishes:
- La parillada is a variety of grilled meats: pork, beef, turkey and rabbit meat.
- Butifarra - grilled sausage served with white beans.
- Kunillo is a rabbit stewed in tomato with a few spices and seasonings.
- Mariscada - seafood, or rather, assorted ones.
- Mesegada is a sweet Catalan cake.
Of the drinks, tea with mulberry jam is popular here, tourists love grog with dried apricots. The country produces beautiful red wines, which are cheaper than in Europe.
Where to stay in the capital?
The country of Andorra and Andorra la Vella in particular have a fairly developed network of hotels and hotels of various comforts.
The cheapest hotels are usually populated by young people who hitchhiker and students. Usually these are rooms with 8 beds, heating, shower, wardrobe and shared bathroom. Bed linen and towels are available at an extra cost.
In two-star hotels in a family room, as a rule, there is a TV, bathroom, telephone, adjustable heating.
Three-star hotels offer tastefully furnished rooms, with a safe, and Internet. Tourists are also offered a wide range of entertainment services: from cycling to snowmobiling or skiing.
The most popular among Russian tourists are four-star hotels. The interior, as well as the level of service here is top class. The rooms have everything you need: air conditioning, safe, work desk, wardrobe, bathroom, telephone, minibar, TV.
Five-star hotels are located in the most picturesque areas of the capital of Andorra. It’s easy to guess which interior and set of services they offer - the most refined. Health centers, business centers, entertainment and entertainment venues, restaurants, and beauty salons work with them.
Recreation and entertainment
The capital of Andorra is a resort area, two ski regions are equipped here: Grand Valir and Vallnord.
In the first, good schools for beginners work, experienced snowboarders and skiers will also be able to find suitable tracks for themselves here.
There are steep slopes in Vallnord, which is why more experienced skiers mostly ride here.
For the entry-level snowboarders, special tracks have been prepared at the Pas de la Casa snowpark.
In addition to skiing entertainment, you can enjoy your time and relax in the Caldea Spa. Improving procedures are carried out in a jacuzzi, baths, geyser pools.
The city has massage rooms, tennis courts, cafes and Internet clubs.
All health and entertainment facilities are open until midnight, with a break usually from 13:00 to 17:00.
How to get there
You can get to Andorra la Vella through France or Spain. Regular buses go here from Barcelona or Toulouse. Unfortunately, there is no international airport in the country, but the transport network is very developed.
To move around the city, it is quite possible to use regular buses (run approximately every 15 minutes) or a taxi. There are also free ski buses, but they only follow the route twice a day.
You can rent a car, this will allow you to actively move around the country and not depend on public transport. Moreover, it is necessary to observe the high-speed mode on the roads: on village roads - no more than 40 km / h, on highways - 70 km / h.