Andorra
Full name: The Principality of Andorra
Population: 64,000 (UN, 2003)
Capital: Andorra la Vella
Major languages: Catalan, Spanish, French
Major religion: Christianity
Monetary unit: 1 euro = 100 cents
Internet domain: .ad
International dialling code: +376
Cool Andorra,
Andorra has always been a favorite tourist destination among travelers who enjoy active winter sports. The country is known to receive thousands of guests each year thanks to the attraction that its mountainous topography offers. Located east of the Pyrenees mountains and bordered hasby Spain and France, it has once been an isolated country for many centuries until travelers have finally seen its worth in the fifties as the perfect mountain holiday destination. However, there is more to Andorra than meets the eye. It offers something more than just scenic attractions. The country is also known for a history that is distinctive and a culture that is just as diverse as that of its neighboring countries.
These days, Andorra is considered a prosperous little country that is considered another European tax haven. Tourism is its main economic driver and for a very good reason. The large number of attractions in the area caters to more than just sports enthusiasts. The country has managed to create a niche for every type of tourist.
The people and culture
One of the most interesting things about the country is that its people have the highest human life expectancies in the planet with an average of 83.5 years at birth. Its name was believed to have been derived from the Arabic word al-darra which means forest. This is just as well since Andorra has a mountainous topography consisting of lush alpine forests.
Curiously, only one-fourth of the country’s population consists of citizens. Majority of the people living in the area are French and Spanish immigrants. They were allowed to settle there on the account of a strict quota system imposed by its government. According to experts, native Andorrans can trace their roots to Catalonia.
The official language in the country is Catalan – classified as a Romance Language. It is used by more than thirty percent of the population as a basic language. Because of historical links as well as its geographic proximity to these countries, Spanish and French are also widely spoken with the former being used by more than half of its population.
Andorra doesn’t have a state religion but more than eighty percent of its people are Roman Catholic. This religious affiliation is one of the major influences in the county in terms of culture.
Tourist attractions
Andorra has many things to offer tourists including breathtaking natural sceneries and a more laid-back environment that is conducive to relaxing holidays. Because of its religion, it is also known to host various religious holidays that are attracting guests from around the world. One national holiday that it annually celebrates is the feast of Our Lady of Meritxell which is held on September 8.
Because the country is relatively smaller, it doesn’t have airports or railway systems of its own and is basically accessible through roads that lead to France and Spain from the north and south, respectively. In spite of its small land area, it has been known to receive more than twelve million tourists each year because of its ski and hiking resorts.
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