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Andorra Car Rentals
by Avis of Europe ●
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Major Listings Hotel Lodging
Accommodations in Andorra |
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AHOTELS CONFORT PATAGONIA
Nestled In The Pyrenees
Mountains In Arinsal, In The Principality Of Andorra,
Vacationers
At The Ahotel Confort Patagonia Can Enjoy
A Skiers' Paradise, Just Steps Away From The Town's Ski Resort,
Pal-arinsal. Visitors Can Explore The Splendor Of The
Pyrenees Mountains In Both Winter And Summer, Take A Short
Trip To The Capital City, Andorra La Vella, For More Urban
Entertainment
Or Other Outdoor Activities. |
Andorra Is
Midway Between The Major Airports Of Barcelona,
Spain And Toulouse, France, Each At About 155
Miles Or 250 Kilometers Away. |
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Andorra |
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Encamp |
Les Escaldes |
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History
Main article: History of Andorra
Tradition holds that Charlemagne granted a
charter to the Andorran people in return for
their fighting the Moors. Overlordship over the
territory was 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 parage, 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.
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
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.
In 1958 Andorra declared peace with Germany,
having been forgotten on the Treaty of
Versailles and remaining legally at war.
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 modernized in 1993, the year in which
it finally became a member of the United
Nations.
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Background:
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For
715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under
a unique co-principality, ruled by the French chief
of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel. In 1993,
this feudal system was modified with the titular
heads of state retained, but the government
transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long
isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra
achieved considerable prosperity since World War II
through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal
and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy
with its lack of income taxes. |
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Location:
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Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
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Nationality:
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noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran |
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Ethnic groups:
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Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French
7%, other 6% (1998) |
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic (predominant) |
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Languages:
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Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
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Currency:
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euro
(EUR); French franc (FRF); Spanish peseta (ESP)
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Currency code:
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EUR;
FRF; ESP
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Exchange rates:
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euros
per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175
(2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs
per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997);
Spanish pesetas per US dollar - 149.40 (1998),
146.41 (1997) |
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