Andorra: my travel in the heart of Pyrenees

The tiny principality of Andorra is located in the heart of the Pyrenees between France and Spain. Its territory consists of beautiful mountains and green valleys that are full of tourists in all seasons. Paradise for trekking during the summer and miles and miles of trails and facilities for tourists and winter by the thousands crowd this tiny principality.

We visit this small state on the occasion of a journey across the Pyrenees mountain range that embraces precisely three nations: France, Spain and Andorra.

The territory of Andorra from the landscape point of view, it would be a small pearl. Unfortunately, the traffic is very chaotic and often clogged, construction, although respecting the architectural and landscape aspects, he is still giving the impression that dominates in the name of Tourism has been built so, perhaps too much tourism, together to shopping (duty free) and banking are the main resources of the country. If you already chaotic traffic in the summer we do not dare imagine what could be when a myriad of winter tourists flock to the snowy streets of this small town storming not only the slopes but these tiny little towns.

It is said that Charlemagne was to have the autonomy granted to the Andorran people in return for an alliance against the Moors. Because of its secluded location nestled between the mountains, its history has always been linked to that of neighboring countries and the achievements of these. In 1814, Napoleon was made by the independent Republic of Andorra governed by an elected council. Given its location and its 'smallness' Androrra did not take part in the ones that were the world wars that raged in Europe but remained marginally related to the two neighboring countries, however, becoming a strategic point in regard to smuggling.
Of its approximately 84,500 inhabitants, only 39% have citizenship in the principality. The Spanish and Portuguese are the largest groups of foreigners living in the principality. The official language is Catalan, although Spanish and French are commonly spoken .. thank goodness .. Catalan is not quite so easy!
The principality is, so to speak, governed by two coprincipi: the Spanish bishop of the diocese of Urgell and the president of the French Republic. This makes Andorra, along with the Republic of San Marino, the only country to have two heads of state! In the case of Andorra, however, they do not have decision making powers, delegate such powers to the Prime Minister that in fact, together with the government is the one who rules the tiny principality.
Although not an EU member the currency used is the Euro and is a good place to shop. Also, remember to fill up your car before you leave the country. If you collect coins do not waste time searching the euros minted in Andorra, because it does not exist, use those coined the two neighboring countries: France and Spain. Before the Euro the currency used in the facts of these two countries.

 

On the road that leads from France to Andorra there are major road works that slow down our pace a lot of travel.
Crossed the border with France at Pas de la Casa (2075 m), more a formality than anything else, let us continue in the direction of the hill or port of Envalira (2408 m). As an alternative to switchbacks leading to the pass you can choose to avoid such a tunnel that runs along the slope of the hill. Surely you see the beautiful views from the pass itself is not going up and you can taste through the tunnel. Just to know the port of Envalira is the highest pass of the Pyrenees.

We choose a quiet campsite in Canillo, and after mounting the tent we are going to spend the rest of the day in the little capital of the principality in Andorra la Vella. The traffic on the streets of the capital of Andorra and is quite chaotic. La Vella means the old and in addition to being the capital is also the only city in the principality, there are approximately 23,000 people.
The city's economy is based exclusively on trade related to the duty free and witness the endless rows of shops of electronics, clothes, perfumes, which overlook the city's main streets.
Some corners of the city, with stone houses, are characteristic. Apart from this, the city is not particularly interesting.

From Canillo we move in the direction of Ransol and then up along the valley of Coma de Ransol. We leave the car near the car park at the bottom of the road. A beautiful stone bridge crosses the river, where there is a great area for picnics and barbeques. The path will take us to the top of the Pic de Serrería starts right here.
It's a beautiful trail, you pass through beautiful alpine meadows and lakes. The views are beautiful and we get to enjoy this little corner of paradise completely alone. Not meet, if not to the hill people. Just before the hill of stone huts with rounded time, very well preserved.
As we climb the hill Collada dels Meners (m 2713) are accompanied by the flight of some griffins.
From the hill, continue to the summit of the Pic de la Serrería (m 2913), marked with a wooden rod.
The return is made on the same path of ascent.
The day was very nice, the path we chose was nice to go places we saw and have repaid the effort to get to the toe of the mountain.

Returning to the car we stopped to photograph some of the houses of Ransol. All these houses are beautiful stone, create harmony in the landscape in which they are located.

The peak of Coma Pedrosa (2,942 m) is the highest mountain in the whole principality. Our destination today, however, is the refuge of Coma Pedrosa in front of the peak of Coma Pedrosa. This is also the only refuge guarded and managed the entire principality.
We leave the car near Arinsal (after the tunnel) and from there continue on foot first on a forest track and then on a particularly sunny path.
As soon as we parked the car to understand the loneliness that accompanied us yesterday will be with us today. The cars in the parking lot, people who are preparing for and those who already have gone many are really ... well .. never mind .. we will be in good company.

The day is hot and the trail, very sunny, and suffering makes us feel very hot.

From the refuge we go even further for a while 'looking for a quiet place to eat and where to enjoy the landscape around us and the view of the Coma Pedrosa.

The return is made on the same path of ascent.

Going into the car along the road connecting Ordino in Canillo, through beautiful mountain scenery, and where traffic is scarce. The highest point of the road is the Col d'Ordino (m 1980) from where there are also many hiking trails.

I order you to visit the museum of the Areny Plandolit, a splendid palace richly furnished, belongs to one of the most illustrious families of the principality, in fact the Areny Plandolits (that name!).

Along the way we stop often to enjoy the view from above, and also admire the town of Canillo. A via ferrata move up from Canillo to this viewpoint. Canillo is a major ski resort and in front of us we actually see the plants still waiting for winter.

With today's end our stay in the tiny principality. Tomorrow we dismantle the tent, settle our things, a few last purchase, we will fill up the machine (in Spain and France, gasoline costs more) and will cross check all principality in Spain.

So goodbye to the tiny principality of Andorra, which has given us two beautiful days of hiking and beautiful scenery, our journey must continue, and our itinerary is hectic so we can not stop even though these mountains and these places are just like them. Adios Andorra ...

Bibliography
Andorra - Activités de Montagne - www.Andorra.ad
Northern Spain - Edt - 6 th Edition 2007

Notes
This short travel diary is part of a longer trip itinerary that has touched, first the principality of Andorra, the Pyrenees, then Spanish and finally French ones.