With Romanesque architecture, beautiful hiking trails and a network of ski slopes, this Andorran village is a popular European vacation spot.
La Cortinada is a charming mountainside village with year-round outdoor pursuits and cultural attractions. Visit an ancient church, pick up insights into the area’s natural history, swoop down ski slopes in winter and hike through some of the same terrain during the summer.
Visit La Cortinada’s centre to admire the modest and beautiful stone exterior of its 12th-century Romanesque Church of Sant Marti de la Cortinada. Inside, marvel at an ornate ceiling and study its beautiful frescoes. They depict traditional Andorran culture in scenes of hunting, farming, dancing and music-making.
Learn about Andorra’s flora and fauna on a guided English tour of the La Cortinada Nature Centre. Discover how the Pyrenees were formed. There are interactive displays designed to awaken your senses to the local natural environment.
During winter, take the panoramic 30-minute bus ride from La Cortinada to the ski slopes of Vallnord. Linked by cable car, the Vallnord site offers 21.7 miles (35 kilometres) of skiable area and caters to all abilities. Savour the fresh mountain air, wind your way through the pistes and enjoy breathtaking views of the Pyrenees.
In late spring or summer, follow the easy, yet picturesque 4-mile (6.5-kilometre) hiking trail from La Cortinada through the villages of Arans and Llorts. Allow 2 hours for the trek as you follow well-marked signs. The route passes through dense green forests and meadows filled with wildflowers and along trickling streams.
When you come back to the village, enjoy a meal and drink in a bar or restaurant and put your head down in a variety of accommodation.
Reach La Cortinada by flying into airports in Barcelona or Toulouse. Then make the rest of the journey by bus or car. If you are driving, the trip takes about 3 hours from either location. Once you have unpacked your bags, revel in the natural beauty, outdoor pursuits and cultural activities.
