Andorra

Andorra sits high in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. The country is made of steep valleys carved by clear rivers such as the Valira, and its villages like Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, and Ordino climb the slopes. Forests of pine and fir surround stone farmhouses, while ski resorts in Grandvalira and Vallnord draw winter visitors.

Andorra is a co-principality with two heads of state: the Bishop of Urgell in Spain and the President of France. A prime minister and General Council handle daily government, and seven parishes manage schools, cultural centers, and recycling. Catalan is the official language, yet most residents speak several languages to welcome neighbors and tourists.

For centuries Andorra's families raised sheep, traded wool, and built small churches decorated with colorful frescoes. Because the land was difficult to reach, the country kept a peaceful status and never joined large wars. In the 1900s Andorra opened roads and welcomed travelers looking for mountain air and tax-free shops, eventually adopting a modern constitution in 1993 and joining the United Nations.

Today's economy mixes tourism, retail, and banking with outdoor sports. Ski areas host international races, and summer brings hikers, cyclists, and families seeking cooler temperatures. Shops sell local cheeses, honey, and trinxat cabbage dishes alongside electronics. Hydroelectric plants use snowmelt to make electricity, and protected parks such as Sorteny and Madriu-Perafita-Claror safeguard wildlife like chamois and bearded vultures.

Culture highlights folk dances, choir festivals, and annual celebrations like Our Lady of Meritxell Day. Museums explain how people built dry-stone field walls and how merchants crossed high passes with mules. Children learn to ski in school and study environmental science to keep rivers and meadows clean. Evenings often end with escudella soup and bread, and neighbors gather at community bordas—stone barns turned into cozy restaurants.