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FROM THE COSTA DORADA - ANDORRA |
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Andorra
The Principality of
Andorra is a small, landlocked principality in southwestern
Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and
bordered by France and Spain. Once isolated, it is currently
a prosperous country mainly because of tourism and its
status as a tax haven. It has the highest life expectancy
in the world, at 83.51 years. Andorra is not
to be confused with the comune of Andora in Italy. Andorra
has no military force of its own; its defense is the
responsibility of Spain and France.
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Geography
Befitting its location in the eastern
Pyrenees mountain range, Andorra consists predominantly
of rugged mountains of an average height of 1996 metres
with the highest being the Coma Pedrosa at 2946 metres.
These are dissected by three narrow valleys in a Y shape
that combine into one as the main stream, the Valira
river, leaves the country for Spain (at Andorra's lowest
point of 870 m).
Andorra's climate is similar to its neighbours' temperate
climates, but its higher altitude means there is on
average more snow in winter and it is slightly cooler
in summer. |
History
Tradition holds that
Charlemagne granted a charter to the Andorran people
in return for their fighting the Moors. Overlordship
of the territory passed to the local count of Urgell
and eventually to the bishop of the diocese of Urgell.
In the 11th century a dispute arose between the bishop
and his northern French neighbour over Andorra.
In 1278, the conflict was resolved by the signing of
a paréage, which provided that Andorra's sovereignty
be shared between the French count of Foix (whose title
would ultimately transfer to the French head of state)
and the bishop of La Seu d'Urgell, in Catalonia, Spain.
This gave the small principality its territory and political
form.
Over the years the title passed to the kings of Navarre.
After Henry of Navarre became King Henry IV of France,
he issued an edict (1607) that established the head
of the French state and the Bishop of Urgell as co-princes
of Andorra.
In the period 1812–13, the French Empire annexed
Spanish Catalonia and divided it in four departments.
Andorra was also annexed and made part of the district
of Puigcerdà (département of Sègre).
In 1933 France occupied Andorra as a result of social
unrest before elections. On July 12, 1934, an adventurer
named Boris Skossyreff issued a proclamation in Urgel,
declaring himself Boris I, sovereign prince of Andorra,
simultaneously declaring war on the bishop of Urgel.
He was arrested by Spanish authorities on July 20 and
ultimately expelled from Spain. From 1936 to 1940, a
French detachment was garrisoned in Andorra to prevent
influences of the Spanish Civil War and Franco's Spain.
Franco’s troops reached the Andorran border in
the later stages of the war.
During World War II, Andorra remained neutral and was
an important smuggling route between Vichy France and
Spain.
Given its relative isolation, Andorra has existed outside
the mainstream of European history, with few ties to
countries other than France and Spain. In recent times,
however, its thriving tourist industry along with developments
in transportation and communications have removed the
country from its isolation and its political system
was thoroughly modernised in 1993, the year in which
it finally became a member of the United Nations.
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Culture
The only official language
is Catalan, the language of the nearby Spanish autonomous
region of Catalonia, with which Andorra shares many
cultural traits, though Spanish, Portuguese and French
are also commonly spoken. The predominant religion is
Catholicism.
Andorra's long history has provided it with a rich folklore
and an abundance of folk tales, with roots originating
as far as Andalusia in the south and the Netherlands
in the north.
Andorran culture is Catalan in essence, since the native-born
population of Andorra is Catalan. However, it has given
a significant and easily identifiable contribution to
the conglomerate of Catalan culture.
Two writers renowned in Catalonia and the region, Michèle
Gazier and Ramon Villeró, both come from Andorra.
Andorra is home to folk dances like the contrapàs
and marratxa, which survive in Sant Julià de
Lòria especially. Andorran folk music has similarities
to all of its neighbors, but is especially Catalan in
character, especially in the presence of dances like
the sardana. Other Andorran folk dances include contrapàs
in Andorra la Vella and Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany.
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