Which parish to live in in Andorra?
Located in the Pyrenees, Andorra is made up of 7 parishes, whose capital is Andorra La Vella or Andorra la Vella. And as in any expatriation project, the choice of the city remains an essential question. What is a parish? Which one should you choose to help you live and feel comfortable in your new country?
The concept of parish and town in Andorra A parish, called "parròquia" in Catalan, is what could be described as a mini-region, each containing a main town and several villages. This makes the concept somewhat more complex to understand if you are used to city systems in France. Each parish has its own postcode beginning with AD. The Principality of Andorra has 7:
Canillo (AD100),
Encamp (AD200),
- Ordino (AD300)
- La Massana (AD400),
- Andorra la Vella, the capital of Andorra (AD500),
- Sant Julià de Lòria (AD600),
- Escaldes-Engordany (AD700). Each parish has its own commune, which would be the equivalent of a town hall in France or what is designated as a commune in Belgium. Each applies its own communal taxes. It becomes difficult to choose one given that they have quite distinct advantages and disadvantages. Some are more French-speaking than others, more Spanish-speaking. But there are also some that are very cosmopolitan.
- Sant Julià de Lòria (AD600),
- Escaldes-Engordany (AD700).
Chaque paroisse possède chacune sa propre commune, qui serait l’équivalent d’une mairie en France ou ce qu’on désigne par commune en Belgique. Chacune d’elle applique des taxes communales qui leur sont propres. Il devient difficile d’en choisir une étant donné qu’elles comportent des avantages et des inconvénients bien distinctes. Certaines d’entre elles sont davantage francophones que d’autres, plus hispanophones. Mais, il y en a aussi qui sont très cosmopolites.
The countryside in Andorra
One of the peculiarities of Andorra is that it can also be very difficult to differentiate between countryside and city. In fact, all the big cities in Andorra are less than 10 minutes away from the countryside. And all the cities are about 30 minutes from the capital, Andorra la Vella.
This can be an asset if you want to live in a country with an exceptional natural setting. Even in the big city, you can enjoy a green landscape and very close to nature.
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City parishes, to enjoy the conveniences of a big city
To help you choose the best city for you, we recommend that you consider the advantages of the major Andorran cities. They are recommended if you want to have all the necessary comfort nearby (school, health center and pharmacy, shopping centers…). They will be ideal if you don’t like to take the car to go shopping.
In city parishes, we have Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany. For these large cities, especially in the capital, there are many neighborhoods you can choose from, both in the valley and a little higher up. However, if you live near certain avenues such as Meritxell or Carlemany, which are quite important commercial axes, it is not uncommon to be disturbed by constant noise.
Outlying parishes
These peri-urban parishes are the other cities that make up the Principality of Andorra. You can choose them according to your needs and aspirations as regards a city where it is good to live. If you often travel to France, we generally recommend Canillo which is also mainly French speaking.
You can also choose Le Pas de Case which is a town in Encamp. The latter is also an excellent choice if you are looking for a good mix of town and countryside. On the other hand, in La Massana and Ordino, you will be able to bathe in a community of expatriates from various countries although they are located a little further from the French border.
Sant Julià de Lòria, on the other hand, is a parish close to the border, where it is warmest in Andorra. As for ski lovers, they will have plenty of choice (Canillo, Ordino, La Massana, etc.).
Moving around in the Principality of Andorra
Andorra is a small country with an area of only 468 km². Internal road traffic is convenient, although traffic jams are not uncommon during rush hour, especially in the capital.
The best way to choose a city to live in Andorra is to visit the country first. This will give you more information and help you decide which city is best for you.
