Nestled In Between France And Spain, Here Comes Andorra
Andorra
Capital: Andorra la Vella
Population: 81,938
Land: 470 km2
In the Pyrenees mountains, halfway between France and Spain, sits the small, autonomous principality of Andorra. It is well-known for its ski areas and for being a tax haven that promotes duty-free shopping. Capital On Meritxell Avenue and in a number of shopping centres, Andorra la Vella is home to stores and jewellers. The circular bell tower of the Romanesque Santa Coloma Church is located in the ancient town, Barri Antic. Among the oldest nations in Europe is Andorra. It was, nevertheless, comparatively isolated from the main stream of European history due to centuries of seclusion, and its only meaningful connections were with France and Spain. Since the 1970s, it has steadily been more accessible to the rest of Europe because to expansions in tourism and telecommunications.
Andorra’s political territory is split up into seven administrative regions known as parishes, despite the country being significantly smaller than other sovereign republics. These include the capital city of Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Ordino, La Massana, Sant Julià de Lòria, Escaldes-Engordany, and La Massana. Every parish has a council and the Comú, which is the administrative centre.
Here are some fascinating details about Andorra’s past and current political landscape that will probably surprise you.
It may surprise you to learn that Andorra is among the select few nations worldwide that have two heads of state. These are the President of the French Republic and the Archbishop of Urgell, together referred to as the Co-Princes.
At 83 years old, Andorra boasts one of the longest life expectancies in the world! This statistic will undoubtedly be greatly influenced by the clean mountain air and first-rate healthcare system.
Words
Although English is frequently understood, especially in the vacation resort areas, French and Spanish are also extensively used in Andorra, although Catalan is the official language. Because there are a lot of Portuguese immigrants in Andorra, Portuguese is also spoken in this genuinely multicultural nation. It’s interesting to note that the only nation where Catalan is the official language is Andorra, a nation proud of its history and customs.
CURRENCY
Andorra does not have its own currency; prior to the introduction of the Euro, the Spanish Peseta and the French Franc were both accepted. Therefore, the currencies of Spain and France have always been used. Andorra utilised the Euro as its currency but was not formally a part of the Eurozone until recently. However, following protracted talks, the country was granted official membership in the monetary union in 2014 and began issuing Andorran Euro coins.
Spain Person
CUSTOMS
Owing to Andorra’s non-EU membership and duty-free status, there are restrictions on the amount of some commodities that can leave the country. At the borders between France and Spain are customs officers, and any car may be pulled over and searched.
PASSPORTS and VISAS
If you are travelling to Andorra from Ireland or the UK, you do not require a visa; nevertheless, you must carry your passport, which should be valid for at least six months after your return home. Because Andorra is not a member of the EU, foreign workers must apply for a work permit, which is typically sponsored by the employer, and will also need a legalised police report from their home country. This makes working in Andorra very different from many other western European countries.