Andorra

Nestled on the mountainous border between southern France and northern Spain, Andorra is a tiny principality that's home to a population of just 75,000 people. Known as both a tax haven and a winter sports resort, Andorra attracts nearly 10 million tourists every year and offers some of the best skiing and scenery in the Pyrenees.

The capital of Andorra is Andorra la Vella. A glacial river flows through the centre of this attractive city which is home to more than 20,000 of Andorra's population as well as the majority of large businesses and banks. Andorra only has a few towns of any size - Escalades-Engordany, Ordino and Canillo - but its mountain roads are in excellent condition and lead to breathtaking scenery and some of the best skiing and walking areas in the Pyrenees.

The countryside is littered with historic chapels and churches as well as small, remote villages. The unspoilt tranquillity of this principality is probably one reason that the population of Andorra enjoy the longest life expectancy in the world - an average of 83.5 years. Andorra itself was for many years ruled jointly by the French leader of State and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell. In 1993, this system was modified - while Andorra retains its joint heads of state, it now has its own democratically elected parliament.

Andorra does retain some of the quirks of its French-Spanish history, however. Depending on where you are in Andorra, you will find either French or Spanish post boxes and the main spoken language is Catalan - as in the neighbouring Catalunya region of northern Spain. French and Spanish are widely spoken, however, along with some English in urban and tourist areas.