Andorra

Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, is a landlocked country on the Iberian Peninsula, in the eastern Pyrenees in southwestern Europe, 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 country's 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, with about 8 million visitors coming 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, which means it works closely with other countries on important issues.

Etymology

The name "Andorra" has several possible origins. One idea is that it comes from the Greek writer Polybius, who talked about a group called the Andosins living in the valleys where Andorra is now. Their name might have come from a Basque word meaning "big" or "giant." Another thought is that Andorra's 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 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 from Ariege and Segre.

During the Neolithic, a group of people moved to the Valley of Madriu (the present-day Natural Park located in Escaldes-Engordany declared UNESCO 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 from Ségre and Occitania.

Other archaeological deposits include the Tombs of Segudet (Ordino) and Feixa del Moro (Sant Julià de Lòria), both dated in 4900–4300 BCE as an example of the Urn culture in Andorra. The model of small settlements began to evolve to complex urbanism during the Bronze Age. Metallurgical items of iron, ancient coins, and reliquaries can be found in the ancient sanctuaries scattered around the country.

The sanctuary of Roc de les Bruixes (Stone of the Witches) is perhaps the most important archaeological complex of this age in Andorra, located in the parish of Canillo, about the rituals of funerals, ancient scripture and engraved stone murals.

Iberian and Roman Andorra

The inhabitants of the valleys were traditionally associated with the Iberians and historically located in Andorra as the Iberian tribe Andosins or Andosini (Ἀνδοσίνους) during the 7th and 2nd centuries BC. Influenced by the Celtic, Aquitanian, Basque and Iberian 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 writer Polybius in his Histories during the Punic Wars.

Some of the most significant remains of this era 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.

The presence of Roman influence 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) in Sant 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 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 remained 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 jurisdiction of the Franks.

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 the Moors near Porté-Puymorens (Cerdanya).

Andorra remained part of the Frankish Marca Hispanica, the buffer zone between the Frankish Empire and the Muslim territories, Andorra being part of the territory ruled by the Count of Urgell and eventually the bishop of the Diocese of Urgell. Tradition also holds that it was guaranteed by the son of Charlemagne, Louis the Pious, writing the Carta de Poblament or a local municipal charter c. 805.

The first document that mentions Andorra as a territory 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, dated 839, depicts the six old parishes of the Andorran valleys that made up the country's administrative division.

In 988, Count Borrell II of Urgell gave the Andorran valleys to the Diocese of Urgell in exchange 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, who knew that the count of Urgell wanted to reclaim the Andorran valleys, asked the Lord of Caboet for 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 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 military dispute arose between the bishop of Urgell and the count of Foix as aftermath of the Cathar Crusade. The conflict was resolved in 1278 with the mediation of the king of Aragon, Peter III, between the bishop and the count, by the signing of the first 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, in the Principality of Catalonia. 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 notary Jaume Orig of Puigcerdà, and construction of military structures in the country was prohibited.

In 1364, the political organisation of the country named the figure of the syndic (now spokesman and president of the parliament) as representative of the Andorrans to their co-princes, making possible the creation of local departments (comuns, quarts and veïnats). After being ratified 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 organised the creation of the Justice 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 or Església de Santa Coloma), Andorra developed exquisite Romanesque Art during the 9th through 14th centuries, particularly in the construction of churches, bridges, religious murals and statues of the Virgin and Child (Our Lady of Meritxell being the most important). Nowadays, the Romanesque buildings that form part of Andorra's cultural heritage stand out in a remarkable way, with an emphasis on 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 among many others.

The Catalan Pyrenees were embryonic of the Catalan language at 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 the Middle Ages was based on livestock, agriculture, furs and weavers. Later, at the end of the 11th century, the first iron foundries began to appear in Northern Parishes like Ordino, much appreciated by the master artisans who developed the art of the forges, 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 as a result of Huguenot rebellions in France, Inquisition courts coming from Spain and witchcraft-related beliefs native to the area, in the context of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation.

With the passage of 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 established the head of the French state and the bishop of Urgell as co-lords of Andorra. From the last quarter of the 17th century onwards, as political ties with the Principality of Catalonia and the Monarchy of Spain progressively weakened, the co-lords began to be referred and act as "co-princes" (sovereigns), 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, organisation 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 commercially important annual national festival ever since.

The country had a unique and experienced guild of weavers, Confraria de Paraires i Teixidors, in Escaldes-Engordany. Founded in 1604, it took advantage of the local thermal waters. By this time, the country was characterised by the social system of prohoms (wealthy society) and casalers (rest of the population with smaller economic acquisition), deriving from the tradition of pubilla and hereu.

Three centuries after its foundation, the Consell de la Terra located its headquarters and the Tribunal de Corts in Casa de la Vall in 1702. The manor house built 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 the Andorran constitution and other documents and laws were later kept.

In both the Reapers' War and the War of the Spanish Succession, the Andorran people (while professing to be a neutral country) supported the rest of the Catalans who ultimately saw most of their rights suppressed in 1716 as a consequence of the promulgation of the Nueva Planta decrees. In order to avoid the application of Nueva Planta to Andorra, the Bishop of Urgell, Simeón de Guinda, convinced the new Spanish Bourbon authorities that the Valleys of Andorra had always been neutral and unrelated to the Principality of Catalonia, resulting in the definitive political separation of Andorra from Catalonia. Another direct reaction to the events was the promotion of Catalan writings in Andorra, with cultural 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 reestablished the Co-Principate in 1809 and removed the French medieval title. In 1812–1813, the First French Empire annexed Catalonia during the Peninsular War (Guerra Peninsular) and divided the region into four departements, with Andorra as a part of the district of Puigcerdà. 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, the syndic Guillem d'Areny-Plandolit led 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 the constitution and symbols – such as the tricolour flag – of Andorra. A new service economy arose 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 of Canillo and Encamp reconquered the parishes of Ordino and La Massana by establishing contact with the revolutionary forces in Escaldes-Engordany. After a day of combat the Treaty of the Bridge of Escalls was signed on 10 June. The council was replaced and new elections were held. The economic situation worsened, as the populace was divided over the Qüestió d'Andorra – the "Andorran 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 Catalan Renaixença. Between 1882 and 1887, the first academic schools were formed where trilingualism coexisted with the official language, Catalan. Romantic authors from France and Spain reported the awakening of the national consciousness of the country. Jacint Verdaguer lived in Ordino during the 1880s where he wrote and shared works related to the Renaixença with writer and photographer Joaquim de Riba.

In 1848, Fromental Halévy had premiered the opera Le val d'Andorre to great success in Europe, where the national consciousness of the valleys was exposed in the romantic work during the Peninsular War.

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

In 1933 France occupied Andorra following social unrest which occurred before elections due to the Revolution of 1933 and the FHASA strikes (Vagues de FHASA); the revolt led by Joves Andorrans (a labour union group related to the Spanish CNT and FAI) called for political reforms, the universal suffrage vote of all Andorrans and acted in defence of the rights of local and foreign workers during the construction of FHASA's hydroelectric power station in Encamp. On 5 April 1933 Joves Andorrans seized the Andorran Parliament. These actions were preceded by the arrival of Colonel René-Jules Baulard with 50 gendarmes and the mobilisation of 200 local militias or sometent led by the Síndic Francesc Cairat.

On 6 July 1934, adventurer and nobleman Boris Skossyreff, with his promise of freedoms and modernisation 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 Bishop Justí Guitart i Vilardebó and their authorities on 20 July and ultimately expelled from Spain. From 1936 until 1940, a French military detachment of Garde Mobile led by well-known Colonel René-Jules Baulard was garrisoned in Andorra to secure the principality against disruption from the Spanish Civil War and Francoist Spain and also face the rise of Republicanism in 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 the capitalist era 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 between Vichy France and Francoist Spain. Many Andorrans criticised the passivity of the General Council for impeding both the entry and expulsion of foreigners and refugees, committing economic crimes, reducing the rights of citizens and sympathy with Francoism. 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. Certain groups formed to help victims of oppression in Nazi-occupied countries, while participating in smuggling to help Andorra survive. Among the most prominent was the Hostal Palanques Evasion Network Command, which, in contact with the British MI6, helped almost 400 fugitives, among whom were Allied military personnel. The Command remained active between 1941 and 1944, although there were struggles with pro-Axis informers and Gestapo agents in Andorra.

In the capital city there was a smuggling black market of propaganda, culture and cinematic art not favourable to totalitarian regimes, promulgated in such places as the Hotel Mirador or the Casino Hotel, as a meeting place for Free French forces and a route for escorting downed Allied pilots out of Europe. The network was maintained after the war, when film societies were formed, where movies, music and books censored in Franco's Spain were imported, becoming an anti-censorship attraction for the Catalan or foreign public even within Andorra. The Andorran Group (Agrupament Andorrà), an anti-fascist organisation linked to the Occitanie's French Resistance, accused the French representative (veguer) of collaboration with Nazism.

The Andorran opening to the capitalist economy resulted in two axes: mass tourism and the country's tax exemption. The first steps towards the capitalist boom date from the 1930s, with the construction of FHASA and the creation of professional banking with Banc Agrícol (1930) and Crèdit Andorrà (1949), later with Banca Mora (1952), Banca Cassany (1957) and SOBANCA (1960). Shortly after, activities such as skiing and shopping helped the country become a tourist attraction, with the inauguration of ski resorts and cultural entities in the late 1930s. A revived hotel industry also 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-prince Charles de Gaulle in 1967 and 1969; it was given approval for the economic boom and national demands within the framework of human rights and international openness.

Andorra experienced an era commonly known as the "Andorran dream" (similar to the American Dream): mass culture rooted itself in the country experiencing radical changes in the economy and culture. Proof of this was Ràdio Andorra, the top musical radio station in Europe in this period, with guests and speakers of great importance promoting musical hits from chanson française, swing, rhythm & blues, jazz, rock and roll and American country music. During this period Andorra achieved a GDP per capita and a life expectancy higher than most standard countries of the time.

Given its relative isolation, Andorra has existed outside the mainstream of European history, with few ties to countries other than France, Spain and Portugal. 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 minister Òscar Ribas Reig with the co-princes' approval. In 1989 the Principality signed an agreement with the European Economic Community to regularise trade relations.

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

Andorra formalised diplomatic relations with the United States in 1996, participating in the 51st UN General Assembly. First General Syndic Marc Forné took part in a speech in Catalan in the General Assembly to defend the reform of the organisation, and after three days he took part in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to defend Andorra's linguistic rights and economy. In 2004, the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley was enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it Andorra's first site, for its ancient pastoralism, communal land-use and ironworking traditions. In 2006 a monetary agreement with the European Union was formalised that allows Andorra to use the euro officially, as well as minting its own euro coins.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Andorra and Geology of Andorra

Andorra is a small country in the eastern Pyrenees mountains, surrounded by France to the north and Spain to the south. It is mostly made up of rugged mountains, with the highest peak, Coma Pedrosa, standing at 2,946 metres. The country sits at an average height of 1,996 metres above sea level. Three narrow valleys run through Andorra, joining together to form the Gran Valira river, which flows into Spain.

Andorra has a mix of alpine, continental, and oceanic climates, depending on the height above sea level. The higher you go, the cooler and snowier it gets in winter, and the summers are temperate. Because of the mountains and valleys, the weather can change a lot from one place to another. Andorra is very sensitive to climate change. As temperatures rise and rainfall drops, there is less snow for skiing and the snow line is moving higher up the mountains. Even though Andorra produces very little pollution, the country is working hard to use more renewable energy and improve energy efficiency to help 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 that is ruled by two leaders called co-princes. One co-prince is the bishop of Urgell, and the other is the president of France. This unique setup means the French president is a leader of Andorra even though he is not chosen by Andorran voters. Andorra has a parliament called the General Council, which 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. Traditionally, each family keeps a rifle, but this is not always needed today.

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 about 80% of its total money. Each year, around 8 million people visit Andorra, drawn by its tax-free shopping and its winter and summer resorts.

Ski resorts are a big part of Andorra's income. With over 175 kilometers of ski slopes, they bring in over 7 million visitors a year and about 340 million euros. This supports many jobs, both directly in the resorts and indirectly in related businesses. The banking sector also helps the economy, even though Andorra works closely with the European Union on taxes and trade. 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. Even outside ski season, some lifts stay open to help people reach beautiful 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 a network of roads but no airports for airplanes inside its borders. 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, and a nearby airport in Spain now offers flights to Madrid and Palma de Mallorca.

The closest train station is in a nearby town in Spain, with train services connecting to Toulouse and Paris.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Andorra

The population of Andorra is estimated to be around 79,034 people (2021). Most people in Andorra come from Catalan origins. Over the years, the population has grown from about 5,000 in 1900.

About two-thirds of the people living in Andorra are not Andorran citizens. They cannot vote in some local elections, become prime minister, or own more than a small part of company shares.

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

Main article: List of cities in Andorra

Main article: Languages of Andorra

The main language in Andorra is Catalan. The government supports the use of 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, making up about 89.5% in 2020. 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, while teachers in French and Spanish schools are mainly paid by France and Spain. 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.