Andorra Sights

Andorra - a very old country - the first mention of Andorrans found in the Latin chronicles of the II century. BC. e. The country can not boast a large number of architectural monuments, but in sufficient quantities and preserved Roman bridge, the ruins of Arab castles and medieval churches, but the alpine resorts of the country's level of service and environmental conditions are among the best in mountain areas of Europe. The main thing that attracts tourists to Andorra from around the world, this is precisely its slopes.

The capital of the country - Andorra la Vella, is surrounded by high mountains in the picturesque valley. In this, based at the beginning of the IX., A city of particular interest to tourists call the church of St. Armenola (XI cent.), The seat of the Government House Valleys "(XVI cent.), Many buildings in the medieval style and artisan. The heart of the city - an area Barrie Antic (Old Quarter), which lies on the very spot where previously there was an ancient village, from which grew Andorra la Vella. The pride of the area - picturesque building Casa de la Vall (House of Valley "), postoroennoe as parliamentary palace of the country as early as 1702 (three lower floors were built in 1580 as a private house of a wealthy family, then the building was repeatedly reconstructed and 1761 was to carry out governmental functions).

Around the palace are located Sala de la Dzhustisia - the only court buildings throughout the country, the country's parliament building - Sala del Konsell in the upper floor, which is fine Philatelic Museum, and the castle-like house Seth Panis (Chest of the Seven Castle "), which once contained the most important public documents Andorra. Cultural Center of the city, the site of numerous ceremonies and a popular gathering place for locals in the evening - the area of the Plaza La Pobla, which are also the State Theater and the Academy of Music. Is located nearby and the largest in the capital city (and country) shopping center - Pirenes. Be sure to visit the Church of Santa Coloma (IX-X centuries., One of the oldest churches in the country), the Church Sanctuary de Meritsel and the largest medieval bridge in the country in the town of La Margineda, near the capital.

The main shops are concentrated in the capital of Charlemagne Avenue and Avenue Meritsel where there is a trade point of almost all the leading companies in the world, because of special, very favorable for imports, fiscal conditions of the country.

The main attraction of the capital - Healthcare Complex Kaldea in the eastern suburb of the capital - Les-Escaldes, the largest thermal facility in Western Europe. Under the glass dome on an area of about 600 square kilometers. hours are dozens of swimming pools with thermal water (+30-52 C), with the passage without, Jacuzzi and cascades, grottoes and waterfalls, the ultra-modern balneology resorts, dozens of baths and saunas of all kinds and the most exotic architecture, using local thermal mineral waters are heavily , solariums and geysers. The complex also includes many massage rooms, VIP-club, bars and restaurants, sports grounds, tennis courts and a shopping center.

In Encamp (5 km. From the capital), interest is one of the few museums in Andorra - The National Automobile Museum, exhibited more than a hundred of the rarest cars and lots of old (since 1898), motorcycles, bicycles and other vehicles. Also in town you can visit a large sports complex Multiaporta Center for the Encamp, Esglesiya Church of San Roma de les Bons-(XII century.), It also begins and most of the routes to the neighboring ski centers, including the unique of its kind lift " Funikamp "over 6 km.

In addition to alpine skiing in Andorra you can do, and many other sports, in particular, are very popular hiking, tours to the sled dogs, horse riding and Skeet shooting in which Andorrans are great specialists. A tiny village Llorts (permanent population of only 100 people) is among the tobacco fields and surrounded by ancient mountains. This is one of the most pristine places in the country (and western Europe) and a very popular place for walking. The 3 hour walk through the valley, west of the village, is a popular tourist area - a group of picturesque mountain lakes Estanis del Angonella. From mountain Borda-de-Sorteni (1970 meters) hiking trail continues to the lakes Estani del Estani and 2915-meter mountain, known as the Peak del Estani. Nearby is the tiny Romanesque church and Esglesiya de Saint-Martin, famous for its frescoes XII-th century in remarkably good condition. It is also interesting for its unusual architecture of the church of San Juan de Kazelles, Saint-Martin-de-la-Cortinada, San Clemente de Pal, Sen-Miguel d `Engolasters and Saint-Czerny-de-shaven, as well arched stone bridge, Saint Anthony.

After receiving permission to travel organization, you can try your luck at catching trout. As one of the world's centers of tourism, Andorra also has a developed infrastructure, recreation - theaters, concert halls, restaurants, dance halls, sports facilities for various sports, etc., Andorra is rich in mineral springs and thermal waters, which are used for medicinal purposes as well as the natural heat-generating plants to heat homes.

Spanish town of Seo de Urgell, although it lies far outside Andorra, the locals called "Spanish Gate to Andorra, and often with some degree of humor, is considered one of the Andorran towns. Since IX century, "La Seo", as locals call it, was the residence of the bishops and counts Urzhelskih - Spanish co-rulers, the princes of Andorra. The city is famous for its old buildings - the cathedral of the XII century Catedral de Santa Maria on the southern side of the central Plaza del Ooms - is one of the most outstanding buildings of the Romanesque style in Catalonia. Despite the fact that the council has repeatedly been subjected to various renovations and alterations, it remained at a high enough degree unchanged since then, as it was built. Inside the cathedral is a unique "museum Diochesa" - a unique collection of frescoes, scriptures and church utensils, plus a rare exhibit - the millennium "Beatus" - an illustrated hand-written manuscript describing the Apocalypse.