Comments on: Andorra: The Ugliest Country in Europe?

By: Alastair Bland

Alastair Bland — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:17:07 +0000

Thanks for the comment, but I have to object. Andorra has not married modern facilities with nature; rather, it has built modern facilities in spite of, or regardless of, nature. Also, I don’t dislike capitalism, as you say. When I travel, I anticipate villages and towns precisely because I can stop and buy things–usually just groceries, coffee, cheese, wine and the like from small locally operated businesses. That is capitalism that I feel enhances a culture and a landscape. However, Andorra is out of control. Along its only main road, one finds miles of billboards, shopping centers and glitzy perfume outlets–plus, there is a McDonald’s sign at the top of the highest paved pass in the Pyrenees, which I felt to be a sort of breach of public trust. Other nations in Europe boast thriving economies and yet have not marred the sight of their nations with commercialism in its ugliest forms the way that Andorra has.

By: Wagner Almeida

Wagner Almeida — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 01:05:39 +0000

This is one of the worst articles from Smithsonian in recent times. It is biased by an author that dislikes everything that represents capitalism. I have been in Andorra and it lacks the boredom of some French villages and it is more cosmopolitan than most midsize European cities. From an American perspective there is nothing wrong with Andorra. It marries modern facilities with nature without jeopardinzing any of them.

By: edgar

edgar — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:29:07 +0000

Hi, i’am andorran and I partially disagree with you.
GOing from france to spain crossing only the highways and te main streets ain’t visiting Andorra!!
May be, if you come again I could show you the other 98% of land (which as you said is not available for construction, Ordino, Pal, Casamanya comapderosa and Hundreds more of places. As you said we partially live from tourism so by this article you unnecessary harm our reputation without knowing well our country.
You could talk abaout thaht is the only county in Europe that never had a war, slaves, colonies or so many other bad things that our neighbours had or even have.

For this reason and because i’m openning an Hotel in october 2012, I invite you to come again, and it will be for free!! not just tax free ;))

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 19:13:12 +0000

I would say it is possibly uglier than the ugliest parts of the US.

By: James

James — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 15:23:12 +0000

I work in Andorra and I agree that it is an ugly country. Otherwise, if the Governments and the people had worked to preserve its natural beauty and identity, Andorra would be a sweetest land. There are too much big buildings, roads, houses, shops, malls… and it is polluted. The natural beauty is now in the highest mountains, where no constructions were build.

By: Alastair Bland

Alastair Bland — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:10:58 +0000

Comment from the author: Hi Vinn – I saw the high mountains above the valley, and I have no doubt whatsoever that there are some wonderful things to be experienced up there. However, travelers on bikes can’t be expected to push up one-way roads in the hope of seeing a pretty stream or village. In other places, beautiful scenery is available from the main highway, and if Andorra wished its visitors to see the natural and cultural beauty of the place, they should have left out the billboards and warehouses full of junk for sale. Perhaps someday I’ll take a hike in the Andorran high country. I’m sure it would be splendid. Until then, best regards.
Alastair

By: Emma Smith

Emma Smith — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 02:27:09 +0000

Harsh, but true. I went to Andorra long ago, and all I remember was buying cut-rate perfume.

By: Vinn

Vinn — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 20:09:23 +0000

Hey, I live in Andorra and it is a beautiful, peaceful, friendly and safe country with amazing facilities. The whole country has the population of Scranton city, Pennsylvania and the capital, Andorra La Vella is smaller than Prichard city, Mobile. But it has to cope with an incredible 9 million visitors a year.

The main ‘drag’ is the single thru road from Spain to France and the majority of day tourists hit the cheap malls to stock up on duty free gas, cigarettes and alcohol. These locations are best avoided of course; the high volumes, cents-in-the-dollar profit margins and small population means the country can invest in a low tax, high health lifestyle for its lucky inhabitants. All away from the tourist trap commercial areas. Many live in the pretty villages in other valleys or hidden in the hills away from the passing crowds. I have never seen so many beautiful walks or hikes for every ability, meticulously marked and maintained, empty of folk in unspoilt mountains.

Ten to fifteen minutes drive (yes it has to be a 4×4) from my mountain hideaway, high in the hills in the next valley, I can be in Illa, the new shopping small center voted Europe’s best in 3 categories this year or in the ski resorts during the winter months. Spa’s, gym’s, auditoriums, medical facilities, life expectancy! All these are world beating too.

In this tiny population, I can buy the best wines of France and of Spain, choose from French cheeses and Spanish olive oil. Oranges from Seville or croissants and bread from the Dordogne. Rabbit caught in the local forests or pure beef from the small Andorran herds of 10 or so cows apiece – and all in a small local supermarket with 3 aisles. It has the best of 3 countries.

Of course the traffic is not just one way. I go to the market a short drive over the Spanish border every week and to the organic farmers market in France. The difference in style – both produce and lifestyle is astonishing. And all just half an hour or so in each direction. I can either finish my shopping with a ‘canya’ and tapas or cafe and croissant, depending on which country’s cafe I sit down in.

From my house I can see unadulterated mountains of pine and ash, the far distant cable car taking skiers to the pistes or bikers to their mountain trails. In the middle is a tiny little near thousand year old church perched on a precipice with eye-witness wall carvings of our first duty free visitor – Hannibal’s crossing from Africa on the way through Andorra to sack Europe.

Last weekend’s thunderstorm reverberated around the mountain peaks for hours, knocking out all satellite TV but bringing Andorra’s myriad window boxes of rouge-red geraniums a much needed drink before resuming the weeks blue skies and baking sun, low humidity and fresh pure mountain breezes.

So, all in, I think the powers that be gave me one of the most enviable locations to live and lifestyle to pursue in Europe. My advice? If you visit, be sure to look in, up and away!