The mountainous, romantically rugged country of Andorra is situated in the eastern Pyrenees, bordered by France and Spain. Four rivers run through the country and there are several mountain lakes. Accommodation consists of over 350 hotels and guest houses. Its two greatest attractions are that it is both a duty free state and a centre for winter sports, particularly in the main towns of Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany. Most ski resorts offer good facilities. Nursery slopes and skiing for intermediates are available. Andorra la Vella, the country’s capital, lies at the junction of two mountain streams. Sights worth visiting include a fine 12th-century church and the Casa de la Vall, the ancient seat of government. Cuisine is mainly Catalan, and local dishes include coques (flavoured flat cakes), trinxat (a potato and cabbage dish) and truites de carreroles (a type of mushroom omelette). The many bars and hotels provide a variety of evening entertainment.

Western Europe, border of France and Spain.

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

467.76 sq km (180.6 sq miles).

67,159 (official estimate 2002).

143.6 per sq km.

Andorra la Vella. Population: 20,724 (2002).

Andorra is situated in the eastern Pyrenees, bordered by France to the north and east and Spain to the south and west. It is roughly halfway between Barcelona and Toulouse. The landscape consists of gorges and narrow valleys surrounded by mountains. Much of the landscape is forested, but there are several areas of rich pastureland in the valleys. There are four rivers and several mountain lakes. Ski resorts and the spa town of Les Escaldes are Andorra’s main attractions.

Principality under the suzerainty of the President of France and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel. Heads of State: Co-Princes Joan Enric Vives i Sicilia (Bishop of la Seu d’Urgell) since 2003 and Jacques Chirac (President of France) since 1994. Head of Government: Albert Pintat since 2005. Recent history: The present Andorran constitution, introduced in 1993, formally enshrined Andorra as a Principality. Administration is in the hands of a General Council with 28 members, four from each of the seven parishes, elected by universal suffrage. The Council elects a President and a Vice-President. Domestic politics are dominated by two parties – the Uniò Liberal (UL) and the Agrupament Nacional Democràtic (AND). Following a comprehensive victory in the February 1997 poll, at which the UL took 18 of the 28 seats on the Conseil Général, a UL Government took office under the leadership of Marc Forné Molné. Four years later, in 2001, the electorate returned the Molné Government for a second term, again with an absolute majority. However, in 2005, Albert Pintat of the Liberal Party became Prime Minister, although not with an absolute majority. Molné lost his seat in the 2005 election but, in any case, was barred by the constitution from standing for a new term.

The official language is Catalan. Spanish and French are also spoken.

Roman Catholic.

Sockets: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Lighting: 125 volts AC.

Normal social courtesies should be extended when visiting someone’s home. Handshaking is the accepted form of greeting. Dress is informal and smoking is very common; customs are similar to those of Spain.