A look at the past: a country of medieval origin
With more than a thousand years of history, Andorra has many stories to tell: how the country was founded, its rulers and its inhabitants.
From prehistoric times to the pre-Roman period, Andorra’s early inhabitants left their mark in various places across the country, such as Balma de la Margineda, El Cedre (Santa Coloma) and Antuix (Escaldes-Engordany).
Legend has it that Charlemagne founded Andorra in 805, in gratitude for the help its inhabitants offered in the fight against the Saracens.
However, the first document in which the country is mentioned is the act of consecration of the Cathedral of Santa Maria d’Urgell, in the mid-9th century, in which the parishes of Andorra are mentioned as fiefs of the Counts of Urgell.
After years of intense struggle between neighbouring Counts and the Church to achieve sovereignty over Andorra, the signing of two treaties called Pareatges ended the hostilities. They were signed in 1278 and 1288 by the Archbishop of Urgell, Pere d’Urg, and the Count of Foix, Roger Bernat III. The Pareatges established the shared sovereignty of the two lords over the territory and, as such, the Principality of Andorra was born.
Over the course of history, the figure of the co-prince of Andorra passed from the Count of Foix to the king of France, and with the French Republic, to the president of the nation. On the Episcopal side, the duty has remained with the figure of the Archbishop of Urgell throughout the centuries.
Andorra today
