Discover places full of charm


You can find them nestled in the mountains! 

Summer is definitely the best time of year to explore narrow streets, unique squares and most unusual nooks and crannies. Traditional architecture and customs and traditions from the past permeate every square inch of their streets. Come and explore them – you’ll discover the years of history hidden within their stone walls.

 


Llorts: ironworking tradition

The village of Llorts will draw you in as soon as you arrive, with its stone houses, wrought-iron balconies, trough fountain and Sant Serni de Llorts Church. Declared a site of cultural interest and featuring rural architecture, it is located in the old quarter surrounded by cobbled streets. Its location near the old iron mines provides the perfect excuse to visit the Llorts Mine, the only mine still intact in Andorra. Following a 30-metre-long route into the mine tunnels, you’ll learn about the process of transforming iron, from its extraction to its production at the Rossell Forge, which was one of the most important forges in the 19th century.  Llorts also sits along the Iron Route, which follows the Camí Ral trail from La Cortinada for a one-and-a-half-hour hike.

If you fancy a longer hike, the Camí Ral actually starts in the village of Serrat, where you’ll find the Ordino Bridge, a medieval bridge that was moved in 1980. The route continues along the riverbanks towards the south, passing through several parishes, such as Ordino, La Massana and Escaldes-Engordany, finishing in Andorra la Vella.

 


Engolasters: much more than just a lake

Despite the fact that Engolasters is not a village as such, there’s no doubt it’s one of the rural areas you simply can’t miss on your visit to Andorra. On the Engolasters Plain you’ll find traditional bordes, buildings intended to house livestock and farm tools. Towering above the valley is Sant Miquel Church, which – together with Santa Coloma Church and Sant Joan de Caselles Church – is among the most important Romanesque monuments in Andorra. Its 17-metre bell tower – visually off-balance with its small square nave – features sculpted heads above the mullioned windows on the top floor of the bell tower, one of the few remnants of Romanesque sculpture in the country. Further along the road is one of the most well-known and easily accessible lakes in the Principality: Lake Engolasters.

Its surface covering 7 hectares is one of the country’s natural resources for generating electricity. You can also follow the Hydroelectric Trail, a route that shows the history of electricity in Andorra since 1930 through the facilities around the lake. This area is one of the main access points to the Madriu Valley, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004, among others.

 


Strolling through Fontaneda

Located in the southern part of the country, Fontaneda is a small village in the parish of Sant Julià de Lòria. With fewer than 150 inhabitants, it’s one of the most frequently visited places by cyclists as it’s en route to Coll de la Gallina, one of the most technically challenging and demanding mountain passes, and it has been a finish town for the Vuelta a España. The village consists of a group of stone houses with slate roofs, which are curiously built one beside another, on one side of the road overlooking the valley. The church is not right in the centre, but a few metres away in the highest part of the village, where the hiking trail to reach Coll de la Gallina starts. From there, you’ll be able to take in the spectacular views of the Lauredian valley.

Uniquely built right into the side of the mountain, Sant Miquel de Fontaneda still retains some remnants of paintings by the Master of Anyós, as well as an altar carved from a single piece of stone. To round off your visit, we recommend stopping by the Mas Berenguer winery, one of Andorra’s newest, which makes wine from the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grape varieties. If you want to know more, the Sanctuary of Canolich, at more than 1600 metres above sea level, is another unmissable visit. It is one of the three main sanctuaries in the country, together with the Our Lady of Meritxell Basilica and the Sanctuary of San Antonio de la Grella, in La Massana.

 


Sispony: the sweetest side of La Massana

As one of the seven quarters in La Massana, Sispony is simply brimming with culture, Romanesque art and religion. As soon as you step into the village, you can see the perfect balance between past and present in its buildings. Right in the heart of it, you’ll find its first gem, the Sant Joan de Sispony Church. But despite the beauty of the neighbourhood, it’s actually the cortals (group of bordes) that will take your breath away! Located in the heart of Sispony, you’ll feel like you’ve travelled back in time. It has cobbled streets and stone houses, wooden and wrought-iron railings and windows and, above all, lush vegetation all around. Right here, you can also visit the Casa Rull Museum, one of the few places that give a peek into the life of a family of farmers, in a time when farming and livestock farming were the country’s economic base.

If you’re into hiking, Sispony is the gateway to the Enclar mountain range where you can hike through the Collada de Montaner pass to reach the Enclar and Carroi peaks, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the capital and the surrounding valleys. As the perfect finishing touch to your visit, we recommend indulging your sweet tooth by visiting our unique chocolate micro-producer, Xocland, or sampling the delicious jams by El Pastador. Finally, if you’re a fan of religion and religious art, the parish of La Massana boasts three of the oldest Romanesque churches, which you simply can’t miss: the Church of Sant Iscle i Santa Victoria, the Sant Cristòfol d’Anyós Church and, last but not the least, the Sant Antoni de la Grella Church, which was built right into the side of the mountain.

 


Pal, a town where time stands still

If we had to highlight just one charming village, Pal would undoubtedly be one of our top picks. Located more than 1,500 m above sea level set in natural surroundings, it’s one of the few that have managed to preserve the profile of traditional mountain village. Walk along its streets and enjoy the style of the old houses, testimony to times gone by. Traditional building materials, such as stone, wood and slate, alternate in old and modern houses. The church of Sant Climent de Pal, built between the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th centuries, still retains original elements in its architectural structure. Sant Climent de Pal is one of the oldest and most unique churches in the Principality, and the only one that has a bell tower spanning three floors, with a double geminated window on the top floor.

There’s more! If you’re an MTB fan, just a few miles from the village is Pal Bike Park. Located in the Pal Arinsal ski area, it has numerous circuits where you can practice different types of MTB riding, as well as an area designed for younger riders to get started in the sport. In the middle of summer, you can enjoy various outdoor activities in Mountain Park as a family. Another essential if you’re visiting with children is the Menairons Forest. Together, you’ll journey along a magical path interacting with the environment, where children will begin a lifelong love of and knowledge about nature. Finally, if you like a good viewpoint, Pal has several that will afford you unique panoramas.

 


Ransol: a timeless village

Located atop a mountain, Ransol is a unique village of a few inhabitants with a group of old houses that coexist with more modern and contemporary ones. It has a very important cultural heritage: in the old quarter, you’ll find several medieval houses with traces of the past which will simply blow you away! The village church, San Jaume de Ransol Church, is a pre-Romanesque building that’s located on the side of the road and is part of one stage of the well-known Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. At the entrance to the village, you’ll find Cal Jordi, one of our micro-producers specialising in the production of traditional cold meats. During the tour, you’ll learn how they make their products and enjoy a sampling. Ransol’s excellent location offers spectacular panoramic views of the entire Canillo Valley.

It’s the perfect destination for snow lovers thanks to its proximity to the Grandvalira ski slopes, and it’s also a hiker’s dream with access to La Serrera Peak, one of Andorra’s summits over 2900 metres.  Some of the most well-known routes set off from Coma de Ransol, such as the Querol Lakes and Salamanders trail or the Canillo Parish Circular trail, which runs through Ransol for some of its 30 km.

 

Wherever you look, you’ll be amazed!

As you can see, our villages have so much to offer. This summer, try something different and discover these wonderful gems scattered all across our country.