It is a stately building from the end of the 16th century. From 1702 it became the seat of one of the oldest and most continuous parliaments in Europe, the General Council, created in 1419. It is open to the public with a service of guided tours in several languages. A historical building: At the entrance door, a shield bears the date of 1580, the year of its construction on a rock that dominated the entire valley of the Valira river. Currently, the structure is the same as that of the 16th century, but the building has undergone some modifications, the most important being that of 1962. The gardens, a walk through time: In front of the building, where the cliff of the Roc del Valle used to be, a square built in the project of the new parliamentary building, in 2011, opens, which allows a clear view of the old house and offers a splendid view over the valleys. On the façade, the sides and the back of the building there are dates and sculptures that commemorate significant moments in Andorra.
The automobile has been one of the most important challenges of the twentieth century. The nearly eighty vehicles on display show the evolution of aesthetics and mechanics to suit the needs of each era, and how speed limits and power have been overcome. The museum also houses a hundred bicycles, a witness to the challenges that the evolution of technology has overcome by transforming a clumsy, cumbersome and dangerous contraption into a stylish, reliable and practical machine. The collection, largely made up of pieces from several private collections, is considered one of the most important in Europe in terms of cars and a world reference for bicycles.
The house opens its doors as a space for socio-cultural reflection linked to the natural, cultural and landscape heritage of Andorra. Cal Pal, located in La Cortinada, was part of a group of properties attached to the Escoter inn, the object of a donation made in 1435 by Bernat Escoter, vicar of La Massana, and his mother, Raimunda Escotera, in favor of Joan Pal de Ordino. It is one of the most representative constructions of Andorran vernacular architecture and of which several extensions can be documented in the sixteenth century and early nineteenth century when a third body was added to one side of the house when the colomer and the two covered galleries of the southwest facade were built, with which the house acquired its final appearance. On the northwest façade, the boqueros of the roof beams with the representation of human faces stand out.
This museum belongs to the Reig family foundation and is located in the family's former tobacco factory: Cal Rafeló, a 4-storey building located in the center of town. Tobacco production has been and is a fundamental economic activity for Andorra, for this reason the objective of the center is to disseminate the historical importance of this activity, and it makes use to a large extent of new technologies, with audiovisual projections and multimedia explanatory systems . * A museum to understand tobacco production: Learn, step by step, how this mass-market item was made and how it is made today. The cultivation, the arrival of the leaf to the factory, the gravy, the drying, the packets of stinging, the cigarette, the cigar, its customs control ... All the stages of this activity are part of the permanent exhibition, where you can also Get to know first-hand some of the machines and tools that were used in the factory. * Temporary exhibitions and activities: Along with the permanent exhibition, the center has other rooms and other spaces dedicated to temporary exhibitions of different themes, not always directly related to tobacco. In addition, the Reig Factory Museum is a living space in which numerous activities are organized throughout the year. * A pleasant and multimedia visit: The visit to the Reig Factory Museum is pleasant and entertaining, in part thanks to the multimedia system that guides the visitor at all times. Those who prefer, can join the group guided tours, with a duration of approximately 1 hour and a limit of 25 people.
In this space, located a few meters from the church of Santa Coloma, you can learn firsthand how wall paintings were made during the Romanesque period, along with other objects of religious worship: you will see the oil lamps of the church of Santa Eulalia de Encamp, the thorny cross of Sant Serni de Nagol or the Christ of Sant Martí de la Cortinada, among other objects. The Romanesque frescoes of the church of Santa Coloma, one of the most precious examples of this style in Andorra, stand out among the exhibits in this museum space.
Comic lovers have a meeting point in La Massana! This original museum, located in the Plaça de les Fontetes in La Massana, is a place of worship for comic book lovers. In addition, it regularly hosts exhibitions of internationally acclaimed authors such as Antonio Bernal, Alfonso Font, Philippe Xavier, Ana Miralles... And in spring you have an appointment not to be missed at La Massana Cómic, a monographic show dedicated to graphic comics that has been held every year in La Massana since 1997.
Since March 2017, the new Carmen Thyssen Andorra Museum has been a must-see gallery for lovers of the best art, especially painting from the 19th and 20th centuries. This museum occupies a total of 500 m2, of which 250 m2 are dedicated to the large exhibition hall. The entire surface is perfectly accessible and is equipped with the latest technical advances in museum matters. In this sense, new technologies play a fundamental role: thanks to the touch screens, the visitor will be able to interact directly with the work, enjoying different information and points of view. The exhibitions of the Carmen Thyssen Andorra Museum show some of the best works from Carmen Thyssen's private collection. From its headquarters in Madrid and from other artistic spaces it owns, pieces by masters of the 19th and 20th centuries reach Andorra, representatives of the main currents of their times: French Impressionism, North American Impressionism, Catalan Modernism, Fauvism, Cubism, German expressionism, North American hyperrealism ... Among them we can find the Mata Mua, the work of the master Paul Gauguin. Finally, the center also has works from the 16th century.
Since 2007, Molines Patrimonis has financed a dozen excavation campaigns at the Roureda de la Margineda, which have uncovered one of the most important medieval sites documented in the Principality and one of the most important in the southern Pyrenees. The excavations were carried out on land belonging to the Cardelús-Mestre family. During the different excavation campaigns, thousands of objects from the Middle Ages have been recovered, mainly pottery, iron and bronze, which have allowed us to discover what life was like for our ancestors. All these findings have forced us to reconsider some essential aspects of the medieval history of Andorra. In the summer of 2012, the Margineda site opened its doors to the public in order to offer a "journey to the heart of Andorra's history".
The Museum has a permanent exhibition of 121 motorcycles ranging from the late nineteenth century to the present day. The exhibition space of 900 m² distributed on a single floor and divided by sectors, allows visitors to make a comfortable and attractive tour. The Motorcycle Museum has unique pieces such as the Henry Capel Loft Holden of British origin, patented in 1896, and a Diamant of 1900 of French origin, both steam-powered. Also, an American Cleveland of 1915, with a markedly sporty design. More contemporary are the four raid motorcycles loaned by the five-time Dakar Rally winner on two wheels, Cyril Despres. You can also see a Solo Electra, manufactured by the Japanese brand Honda in 1968, which is the first to be manufactured with electric propulsion. The mythical Italian Vespa from the mid 50's; Bultaco and Montesa machines that made epoch in trial competitions; racing and street bikes, etc.. A whole range of models that have marked the evolution of two wheels and also of history, such as the 1940 BMW with sidecar, protagonist of World War II.
The exhibits are interactive and allow you to listen to the sounds of nature and discover its fragrances and aromas. In addition, the permanent exhibition of 2,104 meters will show you how the Pyrenees were formed and the climatological phenomena that have shaped its landscape. The center is located in the village of La Cortinada, in the parish of Ordino, in the old Masover House. Services: * Guided tour: duration 45 minutes. * Last visit: 45 minutes before closing time * Languages: Catalan, Spanish, French and English. * Maximum capacity: 50 people per visit. Space adapted for people with reduced mobility * Activities for school children. * Activities for schoolchildren.
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