First published: 02/07/24.

James F 0

Creation Of The Co-Principality Of Andorra

Creation of the Co-Principality of Andorra (Part of Nomination)

Creation of the Co-Principality of Andorra by James F

Visited June 2024.

Many other reviewers have inadvertently visited one of the proposed locations for this site in Andorra, although noone yet on the Casa de la Vall, which is what I will focus on here.

The proposed OUV of this site has to do with the establishment of a "peaceful state in the Pyrenees." The historical accidents that led to the statehood of the Co-Principality of Andorra are doubtless interesting, but don't seem to me to reflect any unique interchange of values or real that would constitute OUV... I still think a couple of these places are worth a visit if/when you're in Andorra... if only to keep your sanity in the discount mall/duty-free area/tacky firearm shop zone of the capital!!!

The Casa de la Vall has historically been the seat of Andorra's government and housed all court proceedings and legislative activity for almost all of its history until the Legislative Council moved to the modern-looking building across the street. It remained a working house for its history with guest rooms, kitchens, etc. constituting the main part of the building. It was necessary to travel through these to get to the legislative chamber or courtroom.

At 3pm on the Saturday, I was the only visitor. I spoke to the people in the entrance in French (with which I had much more success in Andorra than English) and watched the panic in their eyes as they realised I was the first tourist of the day not to want a Spanish-language audio guide. In fact, I was the only tourist in the entire building at the time, which I found odd for a Saturday in June. This is a classic "do it yourself" sort of tour you often find

The visit is easily done in an hour. It's an interesting insight into the history of Andorra, even though I hardly think this constitutes World Heritage. The Legislative Chamber on the first floor (through the bishops' chambers) is set up as it would have been until the councillors moved across the street, with gilded portraits of the two co-Princes (Emmanuel Macron and the Bishop of Urgell at the time of writing) on the walls. It's more Oxford College chapel than legislative chamber, but being able to get so close was undoubtedly exciting. The second floor consists of large billboard displays explaining every single stage of the constitutional development of Andorra and its relation to parts of the house/artefacts on display in the adjacent room... so in other words admittedly exactly what you would want in a museum explaining OUV. 

Do make this detour if you come to Andorra en route to the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley for the rare opportunity to be alone in a historic European Parliament... and perhaps not to need to come back to Andorra if this site does indeed get inscribed some day!!

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