Andorra

Andorra is a tiny but remarkable country located high in the Pyrenees mountains, sandwiched between France and Spain. With a population of only about 80,000 people, it is celebrated for its dramatic landscapes, world-class ski resorts, and duty-free shopping opportunities. Despite its small size, Andorra has gained a strong reputation as one of Europe’s most appealing places to live.

One of the main reasons foreigners settle in Andorra is its favorable tax system. The country imposes very low personal income taxes and almost no corporate tax, making it a magnet for entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals who want to reduce expenses and retain more of their earnings. This financial advantage clearly distinguishes Andorra from its much larger neighbors.

Yet, Andorra’s attraction is not purely financial. The country offers a high level of safety, minimal pollution, and abundant opportunities for outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and mountain biking. Families are particularly drawn to its excellent schools, modern healthcare system, and calm lifestyle, which together create a very high quality of life.

Another striking aspect of Andorra is its multicultural environment. While Catalan is the official language, Spanish, French, and English are also commonly spoken. This blend of traditional culture and modern international influences makes Andorra feel at once rooted in history and highly cosmopolitan.

The population itself reflects this diversity: 47.6% are Andorran, 24.8% Spanish, 11.2% Portuguese, and 4.5% French. This mixture demonstrates the country’s openness and international character.

Andorra also stands out for its unusual political and geographical features. It is the sixth-smallest country in Europe (468 km²), but larger than San Marino, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Vatican City, and Malta. Its government is a co-principality, meaning it has two heads of state: the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell in Spain — a unique form of diarchy found nowhere else in the world.

Other notable characteristics include the absence of an airport or railway, a life expectancy among the highest in the world (around 83 years), and a landscape where about 90% of the territory is mountainous, with an average elevation close to 2,000 meters. Tourism plays a major role in the economy, particularly in winter, when millions of visitors come to enjoy its renowned ski resorts.

Unlike most nations, Andorra has no army; instead, France and Spain are responsible for its defense. Although not a member of the European Union, Andorra uses the euro and has negotiated special agreements with both the EU and its neighboring states.

In short, Andorra proves that even a microstate can offer stability, prosperity, and a cosmopolitan way of life, making it one of Europe’s most distinctive and fascinating countries.

1. Vocabulary Match  

  1. Remarkable — A. To keep or hold on to something

  2. Reputation — B. Safe from danger or risk

  3. Imposes — C. Living in cities and connected with many cultures

  4. Magnet — D. Special or unusual, not ordinary

  5. Retain — E. A nation that is extremely small in land and population

  6. Distinguished — F. To put in place officially, especially rules or taxes

  7. Abundant — G. The general opinion people have about someone or something

  8. Cosmopolitan — H. Easy to notice because of excellence or importance

  9. Sandwiched — I. Attracts or strongly pulls people or things

  10. Unique — J.  To fit people or things into a tight space

  11. Microstate — K. Very surprising, extraordinary

  12. Secure — L. Available in large quantities, plenty

2. Synonym Match 

  1. Tiny — A.  Income

  2. Prosperity — B. Mixture

  3. Scenic — C. Protected

  4. Earnings — D. Very small

  5. Distinctive — E. Growth, success, wealth

  6. Agreement — F. Picturesque, beautiful to look at

  7. Secure — G. Deal, understanding between parties

  8. Blend — H. Special, easily recognizable

  9. Drawn — I.  Contemporary, up-to-date

  10. Modern — J.  Attracted

3.About Andorra:

  • Why are these facts unusal and unique about Andorra and how would you compare it to your city, province or country?

  1. Andorra is the sixth-smallest country in Europe (468 km²).

  2. It has a co-principality system — two heads of state (the French President + Spanish Bishop).

  3. The only country where Catalan is the sole official language.

  4. No airport or railway — only roads connect it with France and Spain.

  5. Very high life expectancy — around 83 years.

  6. Known as a duty-free shopping paradise (low taxes on goods).

  7. A mountainous nation — 90% of its land is mountainous, average elevation nearly 2,000m.

  8. A skiing powerhouse with some of the largest ski resorts in the Pyrenees.

  9. No national army — France and Spain protect it.

  10. A microstate with modern status — not in the EU, but it uses the euro.

  11. Andorra is a very safe place , which is very noticeable when compared to places like Barcelona. 

Compare and Contrast it to Barcelona. 

Question: Do you think Barcelona should try to be more like Andorra? Why or why not?

4.Role Play A:  Tourist & Local

Scenario:
One student is a tourist visiting Andorra for the first time. The other is a local (shop assistant, restaurant waiter, ski instructor, etc.).

  • Tourist asks about:

    • Ski resorts

    • Shopping (duty-free goods)

    • Hiking in the Pyrenees

    • Food recommendations

  • Local responds with helpful suggestions and cultural tips.

Role Play B: Travel Agency Role Play

Scenario:
Two students act as travel agents promoting Andorra. One specializes in winter sports holidays, the other in summer hiking and wellness retreats.

  • Convince a group of “clients” (the rest of the class or the teacher) to book their package.

  • Include transport, accommodation, and cultural activities.

Role Play C: Job Interview in Andorra

Scenario:
A student applies for a seasonal job (ski resort staff, hotel receptionist, duty-free shop assistant). Another student is the interviewer.

Tasks:

  • Candidate talks about experience, language skills, and why they want to work in Andorra.

  • Interviewer asks about availability, dealing with tourists, and teamwork.

Role Play D:  Cultural Exchange Meeting

Scenario:
Students pretend to be exchange students from different countries meeting in Andorra. Each shares:

  • Their first impressions of Andorra

  • Cultural similarities/differences

  • What surprises them most about life there

6. Communication-Based Activities

  1. Would you enjoy living in a small but international country?

  2. Which is more important: low taxes or good quality of life?

  3. Is a quiet lifestyle better than a busy city life? Why?

  4. Can a country be successful without being big?

  5. What are your experiences with Andorra?

7. What do you kow about these other small European countries?

Vatican City (0.49 km²), 
Monaco (2 km²), 
San Marino (61 km²), 
Liechtenstein (160 km²)
Malta (316 km²)
Luxembourg (2,586 km²)

8. Here is a list of famous people who lived or have lived in Andorra. What do you know about them: 

Lionel Messi 

Fernando Alonso

Xavi Hernández  

Julio Iglesias

Jenson Button 

Marc Gené 

9. Fill in the blanks:

1. Andorra is a place where many people reside in to avoid paying high taxes. It is a                                .

2. It is a country without access to the coast. It is                                .

3.When your friend moved to Andorra, they had difficulty adapting to it but now they are loving it. Andorra                                your friend.

4. If you live in Andorra but work in Barcelona, you must drive 3 hours each way.

In total, it is a 6 hour daily                                .

5. Fortunately, you don´t need to drive every day because you are able to work from home twice a week. This means that twice a week, you can                                .

However, you must come to the office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays or                                      .

6. Even though Catalan is the same language that is spoken in Barcelona and Andorra, some vocabularies and pronounciations are different. So, it is the same language but different                         .

7. If you would love to visit Andorra one day before you die, it is on your                                        .

8. If you live in Andorra but are not Andorran, then you are a                                 of Andorra,

but not a                                of Andorra.

9. If you visit Andorra but used your phone as if you still were in Spain, your phone bill will be very high. It would cost you                                                                 .

10. This week, there is an event about innovation that will be taking place in Andorra called  Open Living Lab Days . From September 30 to October 3, Andorra will be                       this event.

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