The Romanesque Churches

Scattered across Andorra's valleys and villages is a remarkable collection of small, exquisite Romanesque churches, among the principality's most treasured historic sights and a legacy of the medieval Pyrenees. Dating largely from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, these simple, harmonious stone chapels, with their characteristic slender bell-towers, rounded arches and, in some, precious surviving frescoes and carved altarpieces, dot the landscape in settings of great beauty. Among the finest are Sant Joan de Caselles, Santa Coloma with its distinctive round tower, and Sant Romà de les Bons, each a serene window into Andorra's deep history and mountain faith.

What you actually see

• Sant Joan de Caselles - the fine church with its bell-tower and frescoes.
• Santa Coloma - the church with the distinctive round tower.
• Sant Romà de les Bons - the chapel in its scenic hillside setting.
• The frescoes and altarpieces - the medieval art within the churches.

When to go

Year-round; the churches dot the valleys and villages and can be visited on a scenic drive or as stops between the mountains and the capital, though some open only at set times or for guided visits, so a little planning helps. The mild months are pleasantest for touring the villages and combining the churches with walks and views.

Honest expectations

The churches are small, simple and modest in scale rather than grand cathedrals, so their appeal is their age, harmony, setting and surviving medieval art rather than monumental splendour, and some are locked, opening only at certain times or by arranged visit. For those interested in history, architecture and the medieval Pyrenees, though, this scattering of ancient stone chapels amid beautiful mountain scenery is a serene and rewarding cultural highlight.

Nearby

The villages, the capital and the valleys of Andorra hold the churches.