Surrounded by the Pyrenees: Top 15 attractions in Andorra

The capital of Andorra la Vella

This city is rightly considered the highland capital of Europe. It is located at an altitude of 1029 meters above sea level. Europeans often come here to relax and bargain shopping.

Andorra la Vella can be safely compared to a passageway. At every step you will be pursued by stores. Nearby there are cafes and restaurants where you can have a tasty snack. There are not many sights here, but they are there nonetheless.

Visit the church of St. Armengol, which was built around XI-XII century. Go to the medieval fortress Casa de la Val, the construction of which has a watchtower. Visit the philatelist museum and the chapel of the House of the Valleys. Also, don't bypass the seat of government.

Lake Engalosters

Lake Engalosters is located near the town of Encamp, at an altitude of about 1.6 thousand meters above sea level. There is a special tourist route to it, but some people prefer to climb the steep slopes, observing the picturesque surroundings.

Nearby is an equally picturesque church, so a walk along the shore will be a great pleasure. Alternatively, you can take a ride on the local cable car to see the entire lake valley from above.

The Ruta de Ferro Way

A hundred years ago, Andorra was a hyped tourist destination, with the inhabitants of this small country practicing iron ore mining and agriculture. The especially cunning and adventurous were smugglers. It's all a thing of the past now. At least the mines have long since closed. But now there is Ruta de Ferro. And it's a very easy and pleasant road, suitable for the whole family. The length of the Cami de Ferro road is 4.2 kilometers one way. Accordingly, the same length of the return journey will take the same amount of time.

Interestingly, along the route you will come across many sculptures. All of them are made of iron. The Romanesque bridge, the beauty of nature, springs, sculptures - all this diversifies the road and makes it very interesting and attractive for travelers.

Jouberry Park

Jouberry is a sculpture park. It is located on one of the slopes of the scenic peaks. It is always picturesque here, whether it is winter or summer.

The park is located at an altitude of 1250 meters above sea level. And this is one of the most interesting places in Andorra. By the way, the entrance here is free. Waterfalls and hedges, bushes and paths of perfect shape - these are some of the elements that you can admire here. But it should be taken into account that the collection is constantly replenished. So when you come back here in a year, you will see a completely different park.

Car Museum

This museum keeps a collection of different means of transportation - from bicycles to cars. There are more than 90 cars and more than 100 bicycles on display, with numerous miniature images of transportation that will fascinate amateurs and persistent "whys".

City of Escaldes-Engordany

If you're looking to get healthy, this is the place to go. This Andorran province is famous for its thermal springs. That's why most people come to this region to cure chronic diseases and boost general immunity. But apart from healing springs there is also a lot to do here.

We recommend visiting the cultural center of modern art. Here is a collection of handicrafts. Also visit the Museum of Perfumery. Within its walls opens a new and unexplored world of flavors.

Museum of Electricity

The location of this museum is very interesting in itself - it is the basement of the National Hydroelectric Factory. In the halls of the museum there are many exhibits that reflect the history of electricity in one way or another.

Visit the museum on a Saturday - on this day there is an interesting guided tour that allows you to understand the process of electricity production, including seeing the Engalosters Dam with your own eyes.

Funicamp Cable Car

The village of Encamp is located about 7-10 minutes by car from the center of Andorra, and tourists coming to the ski resorts especially loved this place after the Funicamp elevator opened here.

The Funicamp elevator is a unique ropeway with a length of almost 6 kilometers. This cable car consists of 32 cabins that take skiers from the village of Encamp, which is located at an altitude of 1238 meters, to the top of the town of Collada D'Enradort, located at 2506 meters near the slopes of Grau Rouge, in less than 15 minutes. During the ascent, you can admire the magnificent scenic view from the elevator window.

Tobacco Museum

As the name suggests, the museum's exposition is dedicated to the century-long history of tobacco production, namely cigars, which are one of the best in Europe.

The museum was opened in 1999 in the building of the tobacco factory, by its 90th anniversary. Walking through the corridors of the museum you can clearly see the process of development of the industry, the introduction of new technologies in production. In several halls of the museum the finished products are presented, and during the excursion you will be given a small informative lecture.

Salvador Dali's sculpture

The sculpture "The Nobility of Time" belongs to Salvador Dali's famous series of works with melting clocks. The sculpture was installed in 2010 in the center of the capital on Meritsel Street. The donor of such a valuable work of Dalí was his assistant Enric Sabater.

The five-meter monument represents a melted clock hanging on a tree - one of the favorite symbols in the artist's work, symbolizing the flow of time and existence.

Caldea Complex

The main attraction of new construction in Andorra is the Caldea Health Complex, located in the suburb of Les Escaldes. By the way, this complex is the largest terminal building in Western Europe.

The total area of the glass dome is more than 600 square meters. Under it there are several dozen pools with hot water, Jacuzzis, cascades, many waterfalls and even solariums and geysers of different shapes.

Inkles Valley

This is the most picturesque place in the whole Principality of Andorra, green, surrounded by mountains and at the same time carefully arranged by human hands.

Along the Inclés Valley stretches a road, along which tourists will find many cozy hotels and stores. There are also ski resorts here. A mountain river rages along the valley, on the banks of which picnic grounds are equipped for the convenience of travelers. A trip along the central road of Inkles will bring a lot of pleasure, and even more so a walk.

Cassa de la Val Museum

This is actually the building of the old parliament of the town of the same name, where many antiquities that tell the history of Andorra have been preserved.

In the Casa de la Val Museum, tourists can see the hall where the council met, visit a really medieval kitchen and guest room. In general, the decoration of this fortress can not be called lush or too bright, but it is interesting precisely because of its history. In addition, there is a postal museum, and the first floor is occupied by the church of San Ermengol.

Church of Santa Coloma

Once in the capital of Andorra, it is impossible not to notice this outstanding construction, much more like a mighty tower or fortress than a temple. Meanwhile, Santa Coloma is indeed a church, albeit one devoid of luxury or deliberate pretentiousness.

Built in the 10th century, the shrine has retained its original appearance to this day and remains a striking example of pre-Romanesque architecture. The church is still active today, attracting tourists with its peculiar beauty and ancient history.

The village of Les Bons

The real name of this town sounds like Sant Roma de les Bons. Unlike other parts of Andorra, this place is practically dotted with ancient buildings.

One of the main elements of the village is the church of St. Roman of Caesarea, built in the 12th century. In addition to the temple, there is an ancient watchtower built in the XIII century, an irrigation canal, a water tower and the ruins of a castle built at the end of the XII century. All this architectural treasure was the property of the Count of Foix in the XII-XIII centuries, and now it has become a powerful tourist magnet.