Andorra

Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, is a landlocked country on the Iberian Peninsula in the eastern Pyrenees in southwestern Europe. It is bordered by France to the north and Spain to the south.

It is one of the smallest countries in Europe, covering just 468 square kilometres and home to around 89,000 people. The capital, Andorra la Vella, is special because it is the highest capital city in Europe, sitting more than one kilometre above sea level.

Andorra has a unique form of government led by two co-princes: the Bishop of Urgell in Spain and the president of France. The official language is Catalan, though many people also speak Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Tourism is very important to Andorra. Many visitors come each year to enjoy its beautiful mountains and ski resorts. Even though it is not part of the European Union, Andorra is a member of the Council of Europe and the United Nations. This means it works closely with other countries on important issues.

Etymology

The name "Andorra" might come from different places. One idea is that it comes from a Greek writer named Polybius. He wrote about a group of people called the Andosins who lived in the valleys where Andorra is today. Their name might have come from a Basque word meaning "big" or "giant." Another idea is that the name could be from an old Arabic phrase meaning a big, wooded land among mountains. There are also ideas that the name might come from an old Navarro-Aragonese word for a bushy or scrubby land. Some people also think the name might relate to a place mentioned in the Biblical stories.

History

Main article: History of Andorra

Prehistory

La Balma de la Margineda, found by archaeologists at Sant Julià de Lòria, was settled in 9,500 BCE as a place between the two sides of the Pyrenees. The camp was well placed for hunting and fishing by groups of people from Ariege and Segre.

During the Neolithic, people moved to the Valley of Madriu (the present-day Natural Park in Escaldes-Engordany declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site) as a permanent home in 6640 BCE. The people grew crops, raised animals, and traded with people from Ségre and Occitania.

Other important places include the Tombs of Segudet (Ordino) and Feixa del Moro (Sant Julià de Lòria), both from 4900–4300 BCE. They show the Urn culture in Andorra. The model of small homes began to change to more complex towns during the Bronze Age. Items of metallurgy, old coins, and religious objects can be found in ancient sanctuaries around the country.

The sanctuary of Roc de les Bruixes (Stone of the Witches) is an important place from this time in Andorra, located in the parish of Canillo. It was used for rituals, writing, and stone murals.

Iberian and Roman Andorra

The people of the valleys were linked with the Iberians and lived in Andorra as the Iberian tribe Andosins or Andosini during the 7th and 2nd centuries BC. Influenced by the Celtic, Aquitanian, Basque and Iberian languages, the locals created place names still used today. Early writings about this group go back to the second century BC by the Greek writer Polybius in his Histories during the Punic Wars.

Some important remains from this time are the Castle of the Roc d'Enclar (part of the early Marca Hispanica), l'Anxiu in Les Escaldes and Roc de L'Oral in Encamp.

Roman influence was present from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE. The places with the most Roman presence are in Camp Vermell (Red Field) in Sant Julià de Lòria, and in some places in Encamp and Roc d'Enclar. People continued to trade, mainly with wine and crops, with Roman cities of Urgellet (the present-day La Seu d'Urgell) and across Segre through the via romana Strata Ceretana (also known as Strata Confluetana).

Visigoths and Carolingians

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Andorra came under the influence of the Visigoths, the Kingdom of Toledo, and the Diocese of Urgell. The Visigoths stayed in the valleys for 200 years, during which time Christianity spread. When the Muslim Empire of Al-Andalus replaced the ruling Visigoths in most of the Iberian Peninsula, Andorra was under the rule of the Franks.

Tradition says that Charles the Great (Charlemagne) gave a charter to the Andorran people for soldiers to fight against the Moors near Porté-Puymorens (Cerdanya).

Andorra remained part of the Frankish Marca Hispanica, the area between the Frankish Empire and Muslim lands, ruled by the Count of Urgell and later the bishop of the Diocese of Urgell. Tradition also says that it was guaranteed by Charlemagne's son, Louis the Pious, in a local municipal charter around 805.

The first document mentioning Andorra as a place is the Acta 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, from 839, shows the six old parishes of the Andorran valleys.

In 988, Count Borrell II of Urgell gave the Andorran valleys to the Diocese of Urgell in return for land in Cerdanya. Since then, the bishop of Urgell, based in Seu d'Urgell, has been co-prince of Andorra.

Middle Ages: The Paréages and founding of the co-principality

Before 1095, Andorra had no military protection, and the bishop of Urgell asked the Lord of Caboet for help. In 1095, the lord of Caboet and the bishop of Urgell signed a declaration of shared rule over Andorra. Arnalda de Caboet, daughter of Arnau of Caboet, married the viscount of Castellbò. Their daughter, Ermessenda de Castellbò, married the count of Foix, Roger-Bernard II. Roger-Bernard II and Ermessenda shared rule over Andorra with the bishop of Urgell.

In the 13th century, a dispute happened between the bishop of Urgell and the count of Foix after the Cathar Crusade. The conflict was solved in 1278 with the help of the king of Aragon, Peter III, by signing the first paréage, which shared Andorra's rule between the count of Foix (whose title later passed to the French head of state) and the bishop of Urgell, in the Principality of Catalonia. This gave Andorra its land and political form.

A second paréage was signed in 1288 after a dispute when the count of Foix ordered the building of a castle in Roc d'Enclar. The document was signed by the noble notary Jaume Orig of Puigcerdà, and building military places in the country was stopped.

In 1364, the country's political system created the syndic (now spokesman and president of parliament) to represent Andorrans to their co-princes, allowing the creation of local departments (comuns, quarts and veïnats). After approval by Bishop Francesc Tovia and Count John I, the Consell de la Terra or Consell 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 created the Justice Courts (La Cort de Justicia) in 1433 with the co-princes and the collection of taxes like foc i lloc (a national tax since then).

Although there are remains of religious buildings from before the 9th century (Sant Vicenç d'Enclar or Església de Santa Coloma), Andorra developed beautiful Romanesque Art from the 9th to 14th centuries, especially in building churches, bridges, religious paintings and statues of the Virgin and Child (Our Lady of Meritxell being the most important). Today, Romanesque buildings that are part of Andorra's cultural heritage stand out, especially Església de Sant Esteve, Sant Joan de Caselles, Església de Sant Miquel d'Engolasters, Sant Martí de la Cortinada and the medieval bridges of Margineda and Escalls.

The Catalan Pyrenees were home to the early Catalan language at the end of the 11th century. Andorra was influenced by this language, which was adopted locally before it spread to the rest of the Crown of Aragon.

The local economy during the Middle Ages was based on animals, farming, furs and weaving. Later, in the late 11th century, the first iron foundries appeared in Northern Parishes like Ordino, valued by skilled workers who developed forge-making, an important economic activity in the country from the 15th century.

16th to 18th centuries

In 1601 the Tribunal de Corts (High Court of Justice) was created because of Huguenot rebellions in France, Inquisition courts from Spain and witchcraft-related beliefs native to the area, during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation.

Over time, the co-title to Andorra passed to the kings of Navarre. After Henry III of Navarre became king of France, he issued an edict in 1607 that made the head of the French state and the bishop of Urgell co-lords of Andorra. From the late 17th century, as ties with the Principality of Catalonia and the Monarchy of Spain weakened, the co-lords began to be called and act as "co-princes" (rulers), a political arrangement that continues today.

In 1617, local councils formed the sometent (popular militia or army) to deal with rising bandolerisme (brigandage) and the Consell de la Terra was organised in its current form.

Andorra kept the same economic system as the 12th–14th centuries with much metal production (fargues, a system similar to Farga Catalana) and the introduction of tobacco around 1692 and trade imports. In 1371 and 1448, the co-princes approved the fair of Andorra la Vella, the most important annual national fair ever since.

The country had a skilled group of weavers, Confraria de Paraires i Teixidors, in Escaldes-Engordany. Founded in 1604, it used the local hot springs. At this time, the country was divided into prohoms (wealthy people) and casalers (the rest of the population with less money), from the tradition of pubilla and hereu.

Three centuries after its founding, the Consell de la Terra moved its headquarters and the Tribunal de Corts to Casa de la Vall in 1702. The manor house built in 1580 served as a strong home for the Busquets family. Inside the parliament was the Closet of the Six Keys (Armari de les sis claus), representing each Andorran parish, where the Andorran constitution and other documents were kept.

In both the Reapers' War and the War of the Spanish Succession, the Andorran people (while saying they were a neutral country) supported the rest of the Catalans who lost most of their rights in 1716 because of the Nueva Planta decrees. To avoid these decrees affecting Andorra, the Bishop of Urgell, Simeón de Guinda, convinced Spanish authorities that the Valleys of Andorra had always been neutral and separate from the Principality of Catalonia, leading to Andorra's final political separation from Catalonia. This also led to more Catalan writing in Andorra, with works such as the Book of Privileges (Llibre de Privilegis de 1674), Manual Digest (1748) by Antoni Fiter i Rossell or the Polità andorrà (1763) by Antoni Puig.

19th century: New Reform and the Andorran Question

After the French Revolution, Napoleon I restored the Co-Principality in 1809 and removed the French medieval title. In 1812–1813, the First French Empire took over Catalonia during the Peninsular War (Guerra Peninsular) and divided the region into four departements, with Andorra as part of the district of Puigcerdà. In 1814, an imperial decree restored Andorra's independence and economy.

During this time, Andorra's old institutions and rural culture stayed mostly the same. In 1866, the syndic Guillem d'Areny-Plandolit led reformists in a Council General of 24 members elected by heads of families. The Council General replaced the old ruling group.

The New Reform (Nova Reforma) began after approval by both Co-Princes and set the basis of the constitution and symbols – such as the tricolour flag – of Andorra. A new service economy grew as valley people needed it, building hotels, spa resorts, roads and telegraph lines.

The Co-Princes banned casinos and betting houses. This caused an economic problem and the Revolution of 1881, which started when revolutionaries attacked the syndic's house on 8 December 1880, and set up the Provisional Revolutionary Council led by Joan Pla i Calvo and Pere Baró i Mas. The Provisional Revolutionary Council allowed casinos and spas by foreign companies. From 7 to 9 June 1881, loyalists from Canillo and Encamp took over the parishes of Ordino and La Massana by contacting revolutionary forces in Escaldes-Engordany. After one day of fighting the Treaty of the Bridge of Escalls was signed on 10 June. The council was replaced and new elections were held. The economy got worse, as people were divided over the Qüestió d'Andorra – the "Andorran Question". Fights continued between groups supporting the bishop, France, or nationalists based on problems in Canillo in 1882 and 1885.

Andorra joined the Catalan cultural movement of the Renaixença. Between 1882 and 1887, the first schools were formed where trilingualism existed with Catalan as the official language. Romantic writers from France and Spain talked about the country's growing national consciousness. Jacint Verdaguer lived in Ordino during the 1880s where he wrote and shared works about the Renaixença with writer and photographer Joaquim de Riba.

In 1848, Fromental Halévy had premiered the opera Le val d'Andorre in Europe, showing the national feeling of the valleys during the Peninsular War.

20th and 21st century: Modernisation of the country and constitution

In 1933 France took over Andorra after social trouble before elections because of the Revolution of 1933 and the FHASA strikes (Vagues de FHASA); the revolt led by Joves Andorrans (a labour union group linked to the Spanish CNT and FAI) asked for political reforms, the universal suffrage vote of all Andorrans and defended the rights of local and foreign workers during the building of FHASA's hydroelectric power station in Encamp. On 5 April 1933 Joves Andorrans took over the Andorran Parliament. These actions were before the arrival of Colonel René-Jules Baulard with 50 gendarmes and the mobilisation of 200 local militias or sometent led by Síndic Francesc Cairat.

On 6 July 1934, adventurer and nobleman Boris Skossyreff, promising freedoms, modernisation and wealth through taxes and foreign investments, got support from the General Council to call himself the sovereign of Andorra. On 8 July 1934 Boris issued a statement in Urgell, naming himself Boris I, King of Andorra, declaring war on the Bishop of Urgell and approving the King's constitution on 10 July. He was arrested by the Co-Prince and Bishop Justí Guitart i Vilardebó and their forces on 20 July and sent away from Spain. From 1936 to 1940, a French military group of Garde Mobile led by Colonel René-Jules Baulard stayed in Andorra to keep order against trouble from the Spanish Civil War and Francoist Spain and also face the rise of Republicanism after the 1933 Revolution. During the Spanish Civil War, Andorrans welcomed refugees from both sides, and many stayed, helping the country's economic growth and entry into the capitalist era. Francoist troops reached the Andorran border later in the war.

During World War II, Andorra stayed neutral and was an important path for people moving between Vichy France and Francoist Spain. Many Andorrans criticised the General Council for not letting people in or out, doing wrong business, taking away rights and supporting Francoism. Council members said their actions were needed for Andorra's safety and independence. Andorra was mostly safe from the two world wars and the Spanish Civil War. Some groups helped people suffering under Nazi rule, taking part in moving people to help Andorra survive. One of the most known was the Hostal Palanques Evasion Network Command, which, with the British MI6, helped almost 400 people escape, including Allied military staff. The Command worked from 1941 to 1944, but had problems with pro-Axis informers and Gestapo agents in Andorra.

In the capital city there was a black market for things like ideas, culture and films not liked by rule-making groups, found in places like the Hotel Mirador or the Casino Hotel, where Free French forces met and helped Allied pilots leave Europe. The network stayed after the war, when film groups formed, bringing in films, music and books censored in Franco's Spain, becoming a place to avoid rules for Catalan or foreign people even in Andorra. The Andorran Group (Agrupament Andorrà), an anti-fascist organisation linked to the Occitanie's French Resistance, said the French representative (veguer) worked with Nazism.

Andorra opened up to the capitalist economy in two ways: mass tourism and no taxes. The first steps to this began in the 1930s, with FHASA and the start of banking with Banc Agrícol (1930) and Crèdit Andorrà (1949), later with Banca Mora (1952), Banca Cassany (1957) and SOBANCA (1960). Soon after, skiing and shopping made the country a tourist place, with ski resorts and cultural groups starting in the late 1930s. The hotel business also grew. In April 1968 a health insurance system was created (CASS).

The Andorran government planned for the future: with French co-prince Charles de Gaulle visiting in 1967 and 1969; it was approved for economic growth and national needs within human rights and being open to the world.

Andorra lived through a time known as the "Andorran dream" (like the American Dream): mass culture grew in the country with big changes in the economy and culture. This was shown by Ràdio Andorra, the top music radio station in Europe at the time, with important guests and speakers playing hits from chanson française, swing, rhythm & blues, jazz, rock and roll and American country music. During this time Andorra had a GDP per capita and life expectancy higher than most countries.

Though isolated, Andorra was apart from main European history, with few ties except to France, Spain and Portugal. But recently its growing tourist business, plus transport and communication developments, ended its isolation. Since 1976 the country felt the need to change Andorran institutions because of old ideas about power, human rights and balance of powers and the need to update laws. In 1982 the first separation of powers happened when creating the Govern d'Andorra, called the executive board (Consell Executiu), led by the first prime minister Òscar Ribas Reig with the co-princes' approval. In 1989 the country signed an agreement with the European Economic Community to organise trade.

Its political system was updated in 1993 after the Andorran constitutional referendum, when the constitution was written by the co-princes and the General Council and approved on 14 March by 74.2% of voters, with 76% voting. The first elections under the new constitution were held later that year. The same year, Andorra joined the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

Andorra started diplomatic ties with the United States in 1996, joining the 51st UN General Assembly. First General Syndic Marc Forné spoke in Catalan at the General Assembly to support changing the organisation, and three days later he spoke at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to support Andorra's language rights and economy. In 2004, the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Andorra's first, for its old ways of taking care of land and working with iron. In 2006 an agreement with the European Union let Andorra use the euro officially, and make its own euro coins.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Andorra and Geology of Andorra

Andorra is a small country in the eastern Pyrenees mountains. It is surrounded by France to the north and Spain to the south. The land is mostly rugged mountains. The highest peak, Coma Pedrosa, is 2,946 metres tall. Andorra sits about 1,996 metres above sea level on average.

Three narrow valleys run through Andorra and join to form the Gran Valira river. This river flows into Spain.

Andorra has different kinds of weather, from alpine to continental to oceanic, depending on how high you are. The higher you go, the cooler and snowier it gets in winter, and summers are mild. Because of the mountains and valleys, the weather can change a lot from place to place. Andorra is affected by climate change. As temperatures rise and rain falls less often, there is less snow for skiing and the snow line moves higher up the mountains. Even though Andorra does not create much pollution, the country works to use more renewable energy and improve energy use to protect its environment.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Andorra

Main article: Co-princes of Andorra

Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat
Bishop of Urgell
since 2025

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Emmanuel Macron
President of France
since 2017

Andorra is a small country with two leaders called co-princes. One co-prince is the bishop of Urgell, and the other is the president of France. This is unique because the French president is a leader of Andorra even though Andorran voters did not choose him. Andorra has a parliament called the General Council. It has between 28 and 42 members who serve for four years. These members are chosen by voters in each of Andorra's seven parishes and by voters across the whole country.

The prime minister of Andorra is the main leader of the government. Right now, the prime minister is Xavier Espot Zamora. The government and the parliament work together to make laws and decide how the country is run.

Parishes

Main article: Parishes of Andorra

Andorra is divided into seven parishes:

• Andorra la Vella
• Canillo
• Encamp
• Escaldes-Engordany
• La Massana
• Ordino
• Sant Julià de Lòria

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Andorra

Andorra is a member of the United Nations and works with many international groups. It has special ties with the European Union and became a member of the International Monetary Fund in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Andorra’s foreign minister is Imma Tor Faus, and Joan Forner Rovira represents Andorra at the United Nations.

Andorra in the Council of Europe

Andorra joined the Council of Europe in 1994. Through this group, Andorra helps protect human rights, fight against unfair treatment, and support democratic rules. It works on many important issues like stopping harmful actions, protecting people’s rights, and supporting justice.

Andorra’s role in the Council of Europe includes:

• Working with the Committee of Ministers, represented by Imma Tor Faus and Andreu Jordi.
• Sending delegates to the Parliamentary Assembly.
• Participating in the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.
• Having a judge on the European Court of Human Rights.
• Supporting human rights through visits and discussions.

Military

Andorra does not have its own army. France and Spain help protect the country. In special situations, like natural disasters, Andorran men aged 21 to 60 can be called to help.

Police Corps

Main article: Police Corps of Andorra

Andorra has a small police force with about 240 officers. They work on community safety, solving crimes, controlling borders, and managing traffic. There are also special teams for tasks like helping in emergencies and keeping people safe during important events.

GIPA

The Grup d'Intervenció Policia d'Andorra (GIPA) is a special team within the police. They are trained for very difficult situations but mostly help with everyday police work.

Fire brigade

The Andorran Fire Brigade, based in Santa Coloma, has around 120 firefighters. They have many vehicles and work from four stations to keep people safe from fires and other emergencies. The fire service started in 1961 after some serious fires showed that Andorra needed a full-time fire team.

Law

Main article: Law of Andorra

Andorra’s courts include the Magistrates Court, the Criminal Law Court, the High Court, and the Constitutional Court. Judges are chosen by different leaders in the country, and they help make sure laws are fair and followed. The High Court has five judges, and the Constitutional Court has four judges who serve for eight years.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Andorra

Andorra's economy is mostly driven by tourism, which makes up most of its money. Each year, millions of people visit Andorra for tax-free shopping and its resorts in winter and summer.

Ski resorts are important for Andorra's income. With many kilometers of ski slopes, they bring in many visitors and support many jobs. The banking sector also helps the economy. Andorra uses the euro as its money.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Andorra

Popular activities in Andorra include skiing, hiking, running, and cycling. The ski season usually runs from late November to early April. Some lifts stay open outside ski season to help people reach viewpoints.

Telecommunications

Main article: Telecommunications in Andorra

See also: Andorra Telecom

Andorra's telephone and internet services are run by Andorra Telecom. In 2010, Andorra became the first country to give every home and business a direct optical fibre connection.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Andorra

See also: Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport

Andorra has roads but no airports for airplanes. The main roads connect Andorra to Spain and France. Bus services travel around the country and to cities like Barcelona and Toulouse. There are small airports just across the border in Spain and France. The closest train station is in a nearby town in Spain, with trains to Toulouse and Paris.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Andorra

Andorra has about 79,034 people. Most people come from Catalan origins. The population has grown from about 5,000 in 1900.

About two-thirds of people in Andorra are not Andorran citizens. They cannot vote in some local elections or become prime minister.

The largest groups of people in Andorra include Spanish (34.3%), Andorrans (32.1%), Portuguese (10%), and French (5.6%). Other people come from Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and more. Many move to Andorra for jobs in tourism, hotels, and services. New immigrants often come from South America, especially Colombia and Peru.

Main article: List of cities in Andorra

Main article: Languages of Andorra

Catalan is the main language in Andorra. The government supports Catalan and offers free classes to help immigrants learn it. Catalan is used on TV and radio.

Because of many immigrants and nearby countries, Spanish, Portuguese, and French are also commonly spoken. Most people can speak one or more of these languages besides Catalan. English is less common but understood in tourist areas.

Main article: Religion in Andorra

Most people in Andorra are Catholic. There are also smaller groups of other religions, including Protestants, Hindus, Bahá'ís, Muslims, and Jews.

The Qualified Education Law of Andorra was passed in 1993. It ensures free public education for children from age four until they finish compulsory schooling.

Children aged 6 to 16 must go to school full-time. The government provides free education up to secondary level. There are three school systems using Catalan, French, or Spanish. Parents choose which system their children attend. The government builds and maintains all schools. About 39% of Andorran children go to Andorran schools, 33% to French schools, and 28% to Spanish schools.

The Universitat d'Andorra is the only university in the country, founded in 1997. It offers degrees in nursing, computer science, business, and education. Because of Andorra's size and landscape, the university focuses on online learning connected to universities in Spain and France. It offers many different degrees and courses for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Andorra

See also: Music of Andorra

Andorra has many folk dances, like the contrapàs and marratxa, especially in Sant Julià de Lòria. Its music is similar to nearby places but has a Catalan style. Important dances include the sardana, contrapàs in Andorra la Vella, and Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany. The national holiday is Our Lady of Meritxell Day on September 8.

The country has many festivals, such as the Canólich Gathering in May, the Roser d'Ordino in July, Meritxell Day, the Andorra la Vella Fair, Sant Jordi Day, the Santa Llúcia Fair, and the Carnival of Encamp. Andorra took part in the Eurovision Song Contest between 2004 and 2009, always singing in Catalan.

Andorran food is mostly Catalan but also uses French and Italian ideas. Dishes include quince all-i-oli, duck with winter pear, roast lamb with nuts, pork civet, and many vegetable dishes. Popular drinks are mulled wine and beer.

The country has important Romanesque churches and bridges. In 2015, summer solstice fire festivals were named a UNESCO heritage tradition. The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Media

Main article: Telecommunications in Andorra

Andorra has three national newspapers: Diari d'Andorra, El Periòdic d'Andorra, and Bondia. The first regular newspaper, Poble Andorrà, began in 1974. Radio Andorra was the first commercial station, broadcasting from 1939 to 1981. Today, Ràdio i Televisió d'Andorra (RTVA) runs public radio and television, started in 1995. People can also watch TV and listen to radio from Spain and France.

Sports

Andorra is famous for winter sports, with many ski slopes in the Pyrenees. Grandvalira is the largest ski resort. Other popular sports include football, rugby, basketball, and roller hockey.

Andorra’s national football team got its first win in 2019. The country joined UEFA and FIFA in 1996. FC Andorra, a club from Andorra la Vella, plays in the Spanish football league system.

Rugby is traditional in Andorra, influenced by southern France. The national rugby team is called Els Isards. Basketball grew popular since the 1990s with BC Andorra playing in Spain’s top league.

Andorra first joined the Olympic Games in 1976 and has been in every Winter Olympics since. The country also competes in the Games of the Small States of Europe, hosting them three times. Andorra has teams of castellers, who build human towers, based in Santa Coloma d'Andorra.