Page 197 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

CENTR AL AND EASTERN P Y RENEES  195

bishop of La Seu d’Urgell. The
legislative branch of govern­
ment is the General Council,
comprising 28 elected mem­
bers. The official language is
Catalan, though French and
Castilian are also spoken.
Andorrans are a minority in
their own country, accounting
for barely 26 per cent of the
population; the remainder is
made up of Spanish,
Portuguese and French.
For many years Andorra has
The hilltop sanctuary of Queralt, with the town of Berga in the background been a tax­free paradise for
shoppers, reflected in the
l Berga and Serra centuries, the principality crowded shops of the capital,
del Cadí fought for its independence Andorra la Vella. Almost every
from the Spanish dukedoms one of Andorra’s 20,000 native
C1411/E09. Road Map E5–F5 & F6. and France, which it gained residents owns a shop.
* 14,200. n C/Àngels 7; 938 21 in 1278. In 1993, it ratified its Andorra’s charm lies not only
13 84. 8 _ La Patum (Corpus first­ever constitution. in its beautiful landscapes,
Christi). ∑ turismeberga.cat Situated on the border but also its Romanesque
between France and Spain, architecture. One of the
This historic town, at the foot of the principality occupies oldest historic monuments
the majestic Queralt moun tain, is an area of 468 sq km is the Iglesia de Santa
famous for La Patum, one of the (180 sq miles). It is divided Coloma. It was built in
wildest of Catalan fiestas. Just off into seven districts, the 9th century in a pre­
the Calle Mayor, a street leads to character ized by typical Romanesque style, then
the Iglesia de San Joan, built in moun tain scenery and remodelled several times
1220 by the Knights Hospitallers. Mediterranean flora. thereafter. Of particular
Worth seeing are the former The average altitude is note is the 12th­century
houses of the aristocracy, such 1,996 m (6,550 ft) above belfry with narrow
as the modernist Casa Barons sea level, and the double windows. The
at nos 9–11 Calle Mayor, and highest peak is Coma Iglesia de Santa Eulalia
opposite the church of San Joan, Pedrosa (2,946 m/9,665 in Encamp, to the east
the Palacio de los Peguera. The ft). Winter sports play of the capital, is an
palace was designed in 1905–8 an important role, example of Pyrenean
by Ramon Cot. On its first floor is with the main ski A figure of the Virgin Mary, pre­Romanesque
the Cal Negre café. Also on the centres in Arinsal, patron of Andorra reli gious architecture.
main street is an 18th­century Pas de la Casa, Grau The stone Iglesia
windmill – the Molino de la Sal. Roig and Soldeu. de San Juan de Casello has a
A spectacular walk leads up Andorra is theoretically a typical Lombardy­style belfry.
from the town to the sanctuary constitutional monarchy, the At fiesta time, the streets
of Queralt, high up above ceremonial joint heads of state of Andorra’s towns are filled
Berga, with fabulous views. being the French Count of Foix with people dancing the
The Serra del Cadí has some (a title adopted by the French traditional sardana, marratxa
of the best walking country in president) and the Spanish and el contrapes.
the eastern Pyrenees, and con­
tains the lovely, lonely village of
Gosol, where Picasso pain ted
for several months in 1905.

z Andorra
Principality of Andorra. Road Map F5.
* 78,000. n Plaça de la Rotonda
(Andorra la Vella); 00 376 75 01 00 or
900 83 48 04. ∑ visitandorra.com
Legend has it that Charlemagne
established Andorra in 805 to
thank local people for their help
in fighting the Saracens. For The charming 9th-century Iglesia de Santa Coloma in Andorra

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