Andorra is well-known for its extensive natural parks 🌲, breathtaking ski slopes ⛷️, and high-end, duty-free shopping. Andorra is also known for having the highest capital in Europe, being the world’s only co-principality, and having Catalan as its official language 🌍.
As you can see, Andorra is a little country with much to offer. It takes pride in having one of Europe’s most distinct cultures and history. This post will teach you some unusual Andorra Facts.
We’re convinced that at least a few of its astounding natural parks, peculiar economic activities, mind-blowing statistics, and wacky historical facts will make you grin or stagger in awe 😇.
Andorra Facts To Explore the Treasures of the Pyrenean Paradise
There is no airport in Andorra.
One of the most bizarre facts about Andorra is that it is one of the few countries without an airport 😮💨. And, because it lacks a coastline, Andorra can only be reached by land from France or Spain.
The best way to visit the tiny principality is on a day excursion from Barcelona to Andorra 🚗. Barcelona, Spain, and Toulouse, France, are the closest international airports.
Andorra is quite small.
It is the world’s 16th smallest country by area and the 11th smallest by population 😮. Andorra is just 181 square miles (468 square km) in size. This makes it 3.3 times smaller than London and 1.66 times smaller than New York.
Because mountains cover so much of Andorra’s land, most buildings are located at the bottom of valleys, despite the country’s proportions.
You can go from one end of the country to another in about an hour
Driving throughout Andorra takes only 25 miles (40 km). The trip takes roughly 50-60 minutes ⏱️ since it meanders around the rugged mountaintops. This makes it picturesque.
Andorra is the world’s only co-principality
A princely state is referred to as a principality. Monaco is an example of a principality. Andorra, on the other hand, is a co-principality rather than a principality. Why? Because two princes rule the kingdom 🏰.
The strangest thing about Andorra is that neither was born in the tiny country! One of them is France’s president. The Bishop of Urgell, Spain, is the other. They are currently Emmanuel Macron and Joan Enric Vives Sicilia.
Catalan is the official language of Andorra, the only country in the world
Catalan is spoken in numerous regions of Spain, as well as in a few parts of France and on the Italian island of Sardinia. However, Andorra is the only country with Catalan as its official language 🗣️.
Andorra is a hilly country.
The country is located in the heart of the Pyrenees and comprises a series of mountain valleys whose streams merge to form the Valira River 🌊.
The highest peak is at 9,652 feet (2,942 meters), whereas the average height of Andorra is 6,549 feet (1,996 meters). More than 65 peaks rise above 6,560 feet (2,000 meters).
Andorra la Vella Shopping Street Chain retailers with low pricing attract 10 million tourists annually.
Andorra is a retailing paradise 🛒. The country became an important worldwide retail trade center because of cheap or no taxes and customs charges.
Every year, millions of consumers from Europe and beyond visit. Have you ever longed to go shopping crazy? That is, after all, one of the best things to do in Andorra 🤗.
Andorra is a major tobacco producer.
Andorra’s farming acreage is modest. However, it is mostly occupied by tobacco crops 🚬. Because of its tax haven status, cigarettes are significantly cheaper than in neighboring France and Spain.
One of the strangest facts about Andorra is that it was one of the last countries in the world to outlaw indoor smoking. This occurred in 2014.
Andorra has the highest capital in Europe.
Andorra la Vella is the highest point on the European continent, at an elevation of 3,356 feet (1,023). Madrid, Spain, and Sofia, Bulgaria, are Europe’s second and third-highest capitals, respectively 😮💨.
The flag of Andorra is very similar to the flags of three other nations
Andorra, Moldova, Chad, and Romania all share the same color scheme. Each of their flags 🚩 features three vertical blue, yellow, and red stripes in that order. Andorra and Moldova have national crests on their flags, which is the sole method to distinguish them.
The country has the highest number of tourists per capita in the globe.
This is one of the most unexpected facts about Andorra. Every year, about 10 million tourists visit the tiny 77,000-person nation. The majority of them are French or Spanish nationals.
They come to Andorra to buy duty-free or to explore the country’s gorgeous resorts. Another amazing fact about Andorra is that tourism accounts for 80% of the GDP! 😎
Only one-third of the people in the country are Andorran.
More than two-thirds of Andorra’s population does not have Andorran nationality. The majority are Spanish, French, or Portuguese nationals 🧑🤝🧑🌍. The Spanish are among the largest groupings, accounting for around 43% of the population.
Andorra is home to nine UNESCO World Heritage sites
UNESCO has designated 9% of Andorra as a World Heritage Site. Andorra’s greatest natural park, Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 🏛️. The park covers 9% of the nation and comprises glaciers, rugged mountains, forested valleys, and lush meadows.
During WWII, Andorra remained neutral.
During World War II, Andorra chose not to take sides. Following Germany’s invasion of France, the German army established an outpost on the French side of the border with Andorra. However, it never stationed troops inside the country.
The country has never won a medal at the Olympics.
Despite competing in every Olympic game since 1976, Andorra has never won an Olympic medal 😔. Despite having hundreds of km of ski slopes, Andorran skiers have yet to win a medal.
Compare that to Liechtenstein, a far smaller European country that has won 10 gold in Alpine skiing alone.
Andorra did not have its currency.
Andorra has been using the Euro since June 2011. Previously, it primarily used the Spanish Peseta. It also utilized the French Franc on occasion. However, it never had its own currency 💶🚫.
Andorra is not a member of the EFTA, Eurozone, or European Union.
Andorra is presently utilizing the Euro; however, it is not a member of the Eurozone. It does not belong to the European Union or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). That is a bizarre Andorran fact.
Andorra only recently joined the United Nations.
Even though the United Nations (UN) was established soon after the end of World War II, Andorra only joined the UN in 1993 🌍. The country delayed 48 years because it did not want to break its Cold War neutrality. Andorra joined the Council of Europe in 1993.
The nation did an excellent job of conserving its architectural legacy.
If you enjoy history, this fact alone makes Andorra worthwhile. Authorities have built contemporary dwellings and structures during the last few decades 🏰🧱. At the same time, they protected Andorra’s distinctive historic structures.
Andorra, for example, takes great satisfaction in possessing one of Europe’s oldest parliament buildings. It was constructed in the 15th century. Members of parliament now vote in a different building, but you can see the old one with this wonderful tour.
In the twentieth century, a Russian explorer claimed control of Andorra
Boris Skossyreff declared himself monarch of Andorra in July 1934, with the support of the country’s General Council. During the same month, he declared war on the Bishop of Urgell, one of Andorra’s co-princes 👑.
Skossyreff was imprisoned and expelled from Spain by the bishop, bringing an end to a strange chapter in the country’s history.
Andorra has one of the world’s greatest life expectancies
Andorrans live to be quite elderly. Men have an average life expectancy of about 81 years 👵👴, while women have an average life expectancy of 83. The majority of the top ten countries with the highest life expectancy are small countries like Iceland, San Marino, Monaco, and Singapore.
Andorra is home to some of the world’s happiest people
One of the causes of this is ecology. Andorra has extraordinarily clean air, not simply because of the mountains surrounding the principality. Because there are no factories, there is almost no pollution. Because the country’s population is so small, industrialization is unnecessary.
Andorra is one of the most secure places on the planet
According to locals, if you leave your bag on a bench and return the next day, it will be waiting for you. Crime rates in the country are among the lowest in the world 😇.
Of course, we’re not suggesting that you try to predict whether or not your suitcase will be taken. We’re simply stating that Andorra exists.
Andorra has one of the lowest food and alcohol tariffs in the world
Food is taxed at 1%, whereas alcohol is at 4.5%. Most taxes in neighboring Spain begin at 20%. That is why many Spaniards and French visitors come to Andorra merely to load their refrigerators with fish, meat, groceries, and booze 🍽️.
Andorra has around 3,000 retail establishments
For a population of only 77,000 people, that equates to one store for every 25 people. And the greatest part? Well-known brands may be purchased for 20%, 30%, or even 60% less.
Don’t be shocked if you see swarms of Europeans visiting the principality to satisfy their shopping needs.
Andorra has Europe’s largest spa
The Caldea Spa Complex, with its 18 stories, is not just the highest structure in the country. It is also the Old Continent’s largest thermal spa complex 💆♀️. Caldea attracts over 400,000 visitors yearly who come to unwind in its mineral indoor and swimming pools, outdoor jacuzzis, and hydrotherapy areas.
Andorra de Vella Caldea Spa dominates the city’s skyline, while mountains surround the capital.
The mountains are covered with snow all year, although the sun shines most of the time. Because of Andorra’s unusual position, most of its summits are always blanketed in snow. Nonetheless, the sun never stops shining over the tiny principality. That is one of the strangest Andorran facts 😊.
In this article, we covered 27 Andorra facts. Keep learning, and visit our website for more!
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