Andorra’s rich cultural heritage is made up of beautiful Romanesque churches, houses bearing witness to former ways of life, ethnographic museums, thematic routes and millenary traditions that have come through to our days.
Andorra holds its national festival on 8 September, the festival of Meritxell, the patron saint of Andorra.
The Principality has two national festivals: 8 September, the festivity of Nostra Senyora de Meritxell, the patron saint of Andorra, and 14 March, Constitution day.
These two days along with Christmas and the New Year are the only 4 days on which the shops in Andorra close.
Andorra has its Constitution day on 14 March.
The Constitution of Andorra
Andorra approved its Constitution on 14 March 1993 by national referendum and thus became a democratic and social independent state in law headed by its coprinces, the Bishop of Urgell and the President of the French Republic.
Meritxell Festival, patron saint of Andorra.
The Meritxell sanctuary lies in the village of Meritxell, in the parish of Canillo.
The sanctuary is formed by the ancient Romanesque church, the present temple which is the work of the architect Ricard Bofill, a royal path with several oratories and a cross.
Andorra public festivals and leading cultural events
Andorra’s public festivals are an opportunity to get to know the country’s essence.
Andorra public festivals
The summer is the time of public festivals: these are popular celebrations with fun activities for all ages, shows of folklore and local cuisine, led by music and dance as night falls.
Escaldes-Engordany Public Festival, 25 and 26 July
Canillo Public Festival, third weekend in July (holiday from Saturday to Monday)
Sant Julià de Lòria Public Festival, last Sunday in July (holiday from Friday to Tuesday)
Andorra la Vella Public Festival, first weekend in August (holiday from Saturday to Monday)
Encamp Public Festival, 15 and 16 August
La Massana Public Festival, 15 and 16 August
Ordino Public Festival, 16 September
Andorra holds leading cultural events throughout the year.
Andorra holds leading cultural events throughout the year.
Leading cultural events
Cultural life in Andorra never stops... the Season of Music and Dance is followed by the Season of the ONCA (Andorra National Classical Orchestra), the Colours of Music Festival, the Summer Evenings, the Narciso Yepes International Festival, the Autumn Organ Cycle, the Theatre Season...
In addition to sporadic shows in the Andorra la Vella Congress Centre and the Ordino National Auditorium.
Without forgetting in the summer that the museums of Andorra programme evening activities for enjoying culture differently: theatre or candlelit tours to music, stories, astronomy…
A series of experiences that give the summer nights freshness.
Traditional festivities, fairs and markets
Andorra holds several events associated with gastronomy, such as Andorra's gastronomic demonstration, the Andorran Cuisine Autumn Evenings and the Andorra at the Table Cycle, in addition to several traditional fairs and craft markets.
Most of the fairs and markets coincide with religious festivals and natural earth cycles.
With the arrival of spring La Massana holds Andoflora, a fair of ornamental plants and flowers.
The Andorra la Vella Craft Market is held during the capital’s public festival (first weekend in August) and is a demonstration of the country’s craft and local products.
At the end of September in Sant Julià de Lòria, a medieval town, we find a medieval market with performances of stories and legends from ancient Andorra.
The country’s two most traditional fairs are held in October, when the herds come down from the pastures at the end of summer: the Livestock Fair in Canillo and the Andorra la Vella Fair, a multi-sector show with a selection of the country’s local products.
And in December, The Santa Llúcia Fair and the Christmas markets fill the streets with lights and decorations to make the traditional crib scenes and decorate the Christmas tree.