"Of Shangri-La and Shopping Malls" a Andorra Travel Page by James63

Located in the Pyrenees Mountains about 3 1/2 hours drive time northeast of Barcelona, Spain, the Principality of Andorra is a unique anomaly. A last surviving independent remnant of Charlemenge's Empire nestled between France and Spain, it is both shopper's paradise and a trout fisherman's dream. It is modern ski resorts bumped up against early medieval churches. It is European history kissing Europe's future, and for anyone with both a sense of adventure and a love of creature comforts, it is 181 square miles of contemporary fascinations and historic scenic splendor.

That history has survived because of Andorra's unusual political arrangements. Although its official designation is as a Principality, it is actually a Co-Principality, with the President of France and Spain's Roman Catholic Bishop of Urgel serving as joint ceremonial heads of state. Their role in this Catalan speaking country is roughly analagous to the British Queen's role in Canada, with actual power vested in a Prime Minister and parliament that is elected by the native Andorran population, who are a minority in their own country.

This arrangement has allowed Andorra to prosper amidst Europe's chaos, first as a smuggler's haven, and later as tourist destination and low tax shopper's paradise. Through neutrality in World War I, the Spanish Civil War and World War II, Andorra has steered itself to political security and material prosperity, and has emerged as a veritable shangri-la, albeit one with modern shopping malls, fine dining, and the largest health spa complex in Europe.

For the tourist who is willing to brave the lunatic Andorran drivers and their twisting, turning mountain roads, a visit to Andorra, particularly its capital city of Andorra La Vella or its small villages like Ordino, offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, a taste of Medeival history, and abundant European wealth.

Taken together, the Principality of Andorra is well worth a visit and will keep the average tourist occupied and entretained well after the point at which other countries of similar size would have long become boring. With its high mountain peaks, crystal clear streams and rivers, glacial mountain lakes, ski resorts, modern shopping malls juxtaposed against early medieval romanesqu bridges, churches and architecture, Andorra packs quite a wallop within a very small area.