Andorran Romanesque tells us of how parish communities were formed, the first relationships of power, and the fascination of mystery and the ineffable, and it lies at the heart of the country's heritage. However, this doesn't mean we can forget that many features of the Andorran landscape, as well as the layout of its populated areas, are the product of a culture which was based on an intensive but rational use of the natural resources provided by the mountains. Maintained by countrymen and shepherds, builders of roads and boundary walls, forgers, charcoal burners, carpenters and weavers, the traditional culture of Andorra, which has very close links with that of the other valleys of the Pyrenees, have given form to the country. Today, the remains of this culture can still be glimpsed beneath the more dramatic forms of urban models.
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The Council of Europe is promoting an initiative designed to establish a rural habitat route which will bring together the most representative heritage features of the Andorran, Catalan, and French Pyrenees.
In Andorra, the high points of the route are three houses which have been converted into museums: the æCasa Cristo in Encamp, æthe Casa Rull in Sispony, and the æCasa Areny-Plandolit in Ordino. These three houses are sufficiently representative of the social and economic differences in Andorra in the past. Now they have been opened to give the contemporary public an idea of what life behind their walls was like.
Around the houses are other features forming part of this route: cultivated landscapes, villages, small industries … In some cases - especially the tours of the museum houses - there will be set times. But in most cases, all you need is a healthy curiosity and a little time to spend on walking and looking. We'll take a trip into the near past, and get a glimpse of how our ancestors lived.
Cultural Itineraries:
1 - Casa Cristo
2 - Casa Rull
3 - Casa Areny-Plandolit
4 - Suntraps and shady spots