Serving as the capital of Andorra-Sierra de Arcos, Andorra is a mountain-dwelling town that lies partway between Madrid and Barcelona. It forms part of a traditional mining area where coal was extracted for decades, with an open-air industrial museum among its attractions.
Things to do in Andorra
On the outskirts of Andorra is the Museo Minero, an open-air museum that preserves the mining remains of the Val de Ariño. Join a guided tour to learn about the history of the San Juan well and the evolution of the exploitation systems that have been used here since the 1940s. Gaze up at the 147-metre-high tower and see its Robey extraction machine, then stroll through the landscaped grounds that surround the site.
One of the best ways to learn about the mining heritage of Andorra-Sierra de Arcos is aboard “La Jaqueca”, a reproduction of the Baldwin steam locomotive that once plied the Andorra-Escatron mining railway. Seated in a vintage wagon, you’ll pass by several mining relics.
On the other side of Andorra is the Museo de la Semana Santa de Andorra, which is dedicated to the town’s Easter celebrations. Occupying a historic warehouse, it showcases the processional steps of the participating brotherhoods and a recreation of the “Breaking the Hour” as drummers emulate the tremor after Jesus’ death. Also on display are ethnographic and religious artefacts donated by local residents.
Getting around Andorra
Andorra is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Zaragoza and Zaragoza Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Madrid is 4.5 hours’ drive from Andorra while Valencia is three hours away. Buses connect to Andorra from cities across Aragon while the town centre can easily be explored on foot.