Andorra al natural: Patrimoni de la Humanitat
.
The Principality of Andorra, located in the heart of the Pyrenees, stands out for an extraordinary cultural and natural richness that has been recognised internationally. “Natural, Cultural and Intangible UNESCO Heritage” is the result of the third collaboration between Andorra and National Geographic, within the Natural Andorra project.
The first chapter focused on the country's fauna and flora, from the perspective of National Geographic Explorer Jaime Rojo. The second addressed the challenge of making tourism compatible with sustainability, under the slogan “The space where ideas germinate”.
In this new stage, the driving force is the discovery of the heritage that Andorra preserves with pride. This project has Jaime Rojo at the head, providing continuity to bring us closer to the knowledge of the territory and the committed vision of its people.
Natural, Cultural and Intangible UNESCO Heritage
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognised several elements of Andorra and its traditions as World Heritage Sites and even a Biosphere Reserve, highlighting its unique identity and the balance between human activity and the natural environment. Currently, Andorra has five places listed as World Heritage Sites and one Biosphere Reserve: The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, the summer solstice celebrations in the Pyrenees (falles), the Bear festivities in the Pyrenees, transhumance, the art of dry stone constructions and the Ordino Valley. All these elements reflect a living culture, deeply rooted in the territory and closely linked to nature.
The summer solstice celebrations, the Ordino Valley as a Biosphere Reserve and the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley as a World Heritage Site are three outstanding examples of this legacy, preserved over the centuries and fully alive today.
Summer solstice celebrations – living tradition and intangible heritage
The summer solstice celebrations ("falles") are one of the most iconic cultural manifestations of the Pyrenees, and in Andorra they have a prominent role. This ancestral festival is celebrated on the night of Sant Joan, around 23 June, coinciding with the summer solstice. Its essence is light and fire, symbols of purification and renewal. The "falleros" – usually young local people – descend from the mountain to the town centre spinning lit torches that trace trails of fire through the night.
The Andorran towns where this tradition is maintained, such as Andorra la Vella, Encamp and Sant Julià de Lòria, experience these days with a great emotional and communal intensity.
The falles are not just a celebration, but a way to convey values, identity and belonging to a territory. In 2015, this practice was recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, within the set "Summer solstice fire festivals in the Pyrenees".
In addition to their cultural aspect, the falles make summer tourism more dynamic, giving visitors an authentic and participatory experience. The fire show, accompanied by traditional music, popular dances and typical food, makes this night a magical experience.
Ordino Valley – UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Ordino is the parish that has best managed to preserve its traditional landscape, its forests and meadows. This commitment to the preservation of natural and cultural heritage has been recognised by UNESCO, which in 2020 declared the Ordino Valley a Biosphere Reserve.
This international recognition highlights the territory's capacity to balance human development with the conservation of biodiversity. Active tourism, local gastronomy, the preservation of traditional paths and the protection of endemic species are some of the aspects that reinforce this sustainable model.
The valley has a wide variety of habitats: red pine forests, alpine pastures, wetlands and glacial lakes. This ecological mosaic houses protected species such as the capercaillie, Pyrenean chamois and golden eagle. It is also full of history, with dwellings, huts and Romanesque churches that speak of a way of life inherently linked to the mountain.
Valle del Madriu-Perafita-Claror – A global treasure in the Pyrenees
The third major recognition by UNESCO within Andorra is the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, declared a World Heritage Site in 2004. It is the only place in the country with this distinction and one of the few Pyrenean valleys to have received this honour. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it retains a cultural landscape of great value, which reflects traditional high-mountain agricultural and livestock activities.
This valley occupies 10% of the country's total territory and extends through the parishes of Escaldes-Engordany, Encamp, Sant Julià de Lòria and Andorra la Vella. Without modern roads or infrastructure, it is only accessible through the cobbled roads used for centuries by shepherds and merchants.
The landscape is made up of "bordes" (high mountain shelters), dry stone walls, fields, forests and wetland areas that have been developed away from urban pressures.
This combination of nature and human activity has generated a rich yet fragile ecosystem that represents a model of sustainable adaptation to the Pyrenean environment. The experience of visiting the valley is almost spiritual, an immersion in a past that still breathes in every stone, every path and every moment of silence.
In addition to its cultural value, the valley is of great importance in terms of biodiversity. It is a refuge for many species and a privileged space for scientific research, environmental education and responsible hiking.
Explore the traditions and landscapes of Andorra as recognised by UNESCO.
