Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0011/00110.txt

Text File | 1991-06-24 | 28KB | 650 lines

$Unique_ID{COW00110}
$Pretitle{401}
$Title{Andorra
Overview}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Council of Tourism}
$Affiliation{Government of Andorra}
$Subject{andorra
de
sant
la
andorran
country
general
council
romanesque
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$Date{1990}
$Log{Snow Covered Mountain*0011004.scf
}
Country:     Andorra
Book:        Andorra, A Great Country
Author:      Council of Tourism
Affiliation: Government of Andorra
Date:        1990

Overview

     The Principality of Andorra is a beautiful country, set in the heart of
the Pyrenees between France and Spain, with 468 square kilometres of
territory. Andorra offers a wide range of possibilities going from the most
ancient deep-rooted traditions to the most modern business, from history and
art to hikes through mountains and woodland, from good food to skiing or other
sports, from handicrafts and folklore to the purest of eco-systems.

     At any time of year, Andorra has surprises in store - thanks to its wide
range of landscapes.

     In Andorra you can discover incredible shades and colours that are quite
unique and form a perfectly balanced counterpoint going from the dynamic
glittering shops in the streets, quite the latest in shopping centres, to the
serene and restful outlines of the mountain crests. And the whole is plunged
in a splendid natural spectacle.

     Andorra is one of the oldest states in the world and has shaped its
modern personality without forgetting those specific traits which have marked
it down the ages. It is a land which is firmly anchored to its historical
roots. Andorra is now universalist, preeminently oriented towards tourism,
with a very complete infrastructure of services, hotels and restaurants,
transports, excursion and sightseeing programs, shows and exhibitions, all
totally synchronized so that everyone can indulge his favourite pastime at any
hour of day.

     Andorra is fascinating. Andorra is a pleasing paradise. With its climate,
its wildlife and its traditions, it is like a dream.

     The following pages will try to explain the reality of this country which
is within your reach and waiting to welcome you during your stay here, which
you will most certainly treasure in memory and not hesitate to repeat many
many times.

History and Culture

Andorra - 1000 years of history

     According to the legend, Andorra was founded by the Emperor Charlemagne
in gratitude for the inhabitants of these Valleys having guided his army
during his struggle against the Arabs. What is certain is that in the act of
consecration of the Cathedral of the Sue d'Urgell in the year 839 the
Parishes of Andorra are listed and noted as belonging to the territory of the
Count of Urgell.

     Beginning in the XIth century, the Counts of Urgell gradually ceded their
rights to the Church of Urgell until, in the year 1133, Count Ermengol IV gave
the Bishop all his possessions in the Valleys of Andorra. At the same time he
asked the Andorrans to pay homage to the Bishop and his successors as liege
lords. Owing to various military actions by neighbouring lords against the
Church of Urgell, the Bishop placed himself under the protection of the Caboet
family and in the year 1159 a treaty was signed between both parties by which
the sovereignty of the Bishop of Urgell over Andorra was officially recognized
while at the same time the Valleys of Andorra were granted in feof to the
house of Caboet.

     The heiress Arnalda de Caboet married Viscount Arnau de Castellbo,
bringing with her the feof of the Valleys of Andorra. In her turn, Ermessenda
de Castellbo, the daughter of this marriage, married Count Roger Bernat of
Foix and thus transmitted to him the feof of the Valleys of Andorra which she
had inherited from her parents.

     After various conflicts between the Count of Foix and the Bishop of
Urgell who both claimed to sovereignty over Andorra, on the 8th of September
1278 the "Pareatges" were signed. This is Andorra's first constitutional
document and sets out the economic, judicial and military rights of the Lords.
It also stipulates that the Andorrans must pay the tribute called "Questia" to
the Lords on alternate years. Ten years later, a new set of "Pareatges" was
signed to settle some points which resolved the dissensions between the Lords
and the declarations of the "Pareatges" are still in vigour today, thus
setting up the institutional balance of the Principality of Andorra.

     In the year 1491, the Men of Andorra asked the two Co-princes to grant
them the right of meeting in a "Consell" (Council) in order to settle
community problems. By a privilege granted by both Co-princes the "Consell de
la Terra" (Council of the Land) was set up. This was the first form of
parliament in Andorra and with the passing of time was to become the "Consell
General" (General Council) made up of representatives of each and every Parish
in the Principality.

     As from the XVIth century, the rights of the Count of Foix passed to the
French Crown when Henry II of Foix and III of Navarre became Henry IV of
France. His son, Louis XIII of France, confirmed the incorporation into the
French Crown of the rights of the houses of Caboet, Castellbo, Foix and Bearn.
Thus the rights of the houses of Caboet, Castellbo, Foix and Bearn. Thus the
right to Andorra and its sovereignty are shared by the persons of the Bishop
of Urgell and the King of France, the latter being successor to the Counts
of Foix. This structure was temporarily interrupted by the French Revolution
but on the 27th of March 1806, at the request of the Andorrans themselves,
Napoleon I reestablished the Co-principality definitively by royal decree.

     On the 22th of Abril 1866, the "Nova Reforma" (New Reform) was
promulgated. It stipulates that the members of the General Council shall be
elected by the limited suffrage of the "Caps de Casa" (Heads of households).
On the 17th of July 1933 universal male suffrage was established for elections
to the General Council, and finally by a decree of the two Co-princes dated 14
April 1970 Andorran women were granted the vote.

     In 1978, the number of Parishes, traditionally six, was increased to
seven.

     Thus, at present Andorran Parishes are: Canillo, Encamp, Ordino, La
Massana, Andorra la Vella, Sant Julia de Loria and Escaldes-Engordany. Four
Consellers Generals (General Councilors) are elected in each Parish and these
make up the 28 members of the General Council or parliament under the
chairmanship of the Sindic General and Sub-Sindic General.

     The Co-princes, Heads of State of Andorra, delegate functions to the
so-called Delegats Permanents (Permanent Delegates) who reside respectively in
the Seu d'Urgell and Perpignan.

     In the same way they appoint the Veguers who live in the Principality and
are charged with administering justice and maintaining public order.

     By a decree dated 15 January 1981, the Co-princes, at the request of the
Andorrans themselves, granted the setting up of the Andorran Government. This
government is chaired by the Cap del Govern (Head of Government) and made up
of a group of from 4 to 6 Consellers de Govern (Government Councilors).
The Head of Government is elected by the General Council. In the same decree
it is specified that Andorra is a personal co-principality in which
sovereignty is held equally by the Bishop of Urgell and the Head of the French
State as successor to the Count of Foix.

Art

Andorra, architecture and art

     The artistic heritage of the Principality of Andorra, the true expression
of the collective feeling of a whole community, is beyond price. One can begin
with the seat of the General Council, known as the "Casa de la Vall", which
was built at the end of the XVIth century. It is a noble's house with
defensive elements incorporated. In the Casa de la Vall there is the Session
Chamber of the General Justice chambers and a cosy, antique kitchen. You can
also see there some magnificent gothic frescoes representing the passion of
Christ.

     Without forgetting such works o