Ordino

Ordino is the capital of the northernmost parish and has kept more of its character than the other Andorran towns: stone houses around a square, the church of Sant Corneli i Sant Cebrià with a carved wrought-iron grille, and the Casa d'Areny-Plandolit, the house of a family that made money from iron and that ran the country's affairs for generations. The whole parish was named a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2020.

Background

Ordino parish covers 85 square kilometres, making it third in size among Andorra's parishes after Canillo and Encamp, and it had 4,858 residents in 2017. It takes in most of the Valira del Nord valley, with villages such as El Serrat, Llorts, Arans, Ansalonga and Arcalís, as well as Sorteny National Park, Andorra's largest nature area. The town stands at 1300 metres at the foot of Casamanya (2740 m), a summit close to the exact centre of Andorra. The CG-3 to La Massana is the only main road in and out all year. In 2023 UN Tourism named Ordino a Best Tourism Village.

Source: Wikipedia, "Ordino"

Highlights

• The stone square - the village centre kept largely intact.
• The parish church - Sant Corneli i Sant Cebrià with its wrought-iron work.
• Casa d'Areny-Plandolit - the noble house at the centre of the village.
• The biosphere reserve - the parish designation made in 2020.

When to go

May to October is the pleasant season. Winter brings ski traffic through the valley. Museums close on some days.

Practical notes

Museums keep limited hours and close on some days. The village is small and half a day is enough. Parking is tight in the centre.

Nearby

Sorteny is north, and La Cortinada is up the valley.

Key facts