PICK OF THE WEEK: Andorra (Pyrenees)
Main places:
Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, San Julia de Loria, La Massana, Ordino, Encamp, Canillo, Pas de la Casa
PICK OF THE WEEK: Monday, 24th June – Sunday, 30th June, 2019
THE FESTIVAL OF SANT JOAN, MONDAY, 24TH JUNE
Holiday in Andorra la Vella
MUSIC
Wednesday, 26th June at 22h in the Gardens of the Casa de la Vall, Andorra la Vella. (Tickets 15€ in advance or 20€ on the night.)
ONCA Season: Jardines de Casa de la Vall Concert with the Quartet Sound Boulevard. Musicians: Sergi Claret and Gabriel Coll (violins); Quim Badia (viola); Manuel Martínez del Fresno (cello) Aquí, Ràdio Andorra! – celebrating the 80th anniversary of the first radio broadcast from Andorra. On August 7, 1939 an adventure started in the Valls of Andorra that would place the Principality on the European map. That day Jacques Tremoulet was able to fulfil his
dream of broadcasting for the first time from Andorran territory. It was a convulsive era but, for many listeners from all over Europe, it meant a breath of fresh air. The station was located in a neutral territory and thus escaped the controls imposed beyond their borders.
His story was not free of vicissitudes, but he managed to entertain his listeners for more than 40 years uninterruptedly. Sound Boulevard will make a short tour of the music that filled the Pyrenean radio waves and beyond. That music distracted people away from all the political, territorial and strategic issues surrounding the station. The night’s programme will include rock and pop songs of the forties, fifties, sixties, seventies and eighties. Note: In case of rain, the concert will be held in the lobby of the Consell General. (Super venue for this popular annual event but take a blanket as it can be a bit chilly. C.A.)
NOTE FOR YOUR DIARIES. MONDAY, 1st July at 20h in the National Auditorium, Ordino. (Free) A Performance by the orchestra and corps de ballet of China’s National Theatre of Opera and Dance. Organised by the Andorran Government, there will be Chinese delicacies for attendees to eat afterwards.
FESTIVALS
Monday, 24th June at 21h in the Plaça dels Arínsols, Encamp. Night of the Witches 2019. As usual in recent years, on the night of June 24th, Encamp becomes the most mystical town in Andorra.
From 21h of the evening to well after midnight, an esoteric atmosphere transports all visitors and the curious to a world full of mysteries, where witches, with their divining arts, consult their crystal balls, deal the cards and read the palms of anyone who proffers one. In addition, visitors will find stalls selling candles, incense and esoteric
and decorative objects. Don’t miss the most cabalistic night you will find in the Plaça dels Arínsols this year!
FESTA MAJOR DE SISPONY continued…
Monday, 24th June at 12h Solemn Mass in the church of Sant Joan. 12.30h Aperitif. 18h Children’s spectacular with Ai Carail.
19h Festive hot chocolate for all. (A delicious, very thick, drink made by melting bars of hard, dark chocolate.)
19.30h Evening dance accompanied by the Versió Original.
FESTA DEL POBLE, ANDORRA LA VELLA continued…
Monday, 24th June.
12h Solemn Mass in the Church of St. Esteve accompanied by the Petits Cantors d’Andorra.
12:30h Rumbero aperitif in the Plaça del Poble.
13h Concert de Rumba by Los Manolos
17:30h Children’s show, ‘Revolution’ in the Plaça del Poble
22h Great fireworks display.
Also from 10:30h – 13h and from 16h – 19:30h Giant water slide in the carrer Dr. Vilanova. Free activity, bring your swim things.
PARISH FESTIVAL OF SANT PERE, ORDINO.
Friday, 28th June from 20.30h in the Plaça Prat del Call, Ordino.
20:30h Popular spare ribs BBQ (5€ including raffle) 22h Raffle draw (with prizes offered by the shops of Ordino) 22.30h Burning of the falles with Els Millors of Ordino. Witches Dance by the folkdance group, Esbart Valls del Nord 23h Night dance with Duke Aquarius.
Saturday, 29th June at 12h Mass at the Chapel of Sant Pere.
13h Aperatif at El Serrat.
FESTA MAJOR DE PAL FRIDAY 28TH – SUNDAY, 30th JUNE
FRIDAY: at 21h Popular supper by El Bordet del Poble – 15€
Adults, 10€ children. 23.15h Fireworks. 23.30h Night time dance with Cocktail Elegant. 02h Disco Dj Resident Loonies.
SATURDAY: 16.30h Shooting competition at the shooting range on the left hand side of the road on the way up to Pal. 17.30h Water
Fight. 20.30h Sausage BBQ (5€) 02h Disco Dj Resident Loonies.
02.30h Beer Pong Competition.
SUNDAY:
13h Mass.
13.30h Parade with the Toca-Te’ls Batacuda drummers.
14h Aperitif.
16.30h Afternoon dance with Euphoria.
18h Hot chocolate, cocoa sweet cake and Muscatel. 19h Party ends.
CINEMA
For the third week running no films in English but from Monday
24th – Thursday, 27th June at 20.10h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany Clara y Claire/Celle que Vous Croyez/ Who you think I am… (in French. Directed by Safy Nebbou.
Starring: Juliette Binoche , Charles Berling , François Civil , Nicole Garcia. The Story: Claire, a divorced teacher in her fifties, creates a fake Facebook profile of a pretty 24-year-old girl, finds a picture on the internet and says it’s her. At first she does it to spy on her occasional lover, Jo, but one day, on the social network, she asks Jo’s best friend, Chris, to friend her – and he accepts.
The two exchange messages and their virtual friendship evolves into a false love story. Claire falls in love with Chris, and he is in love with that false profile. But now Chris wants to meet that 24-year-old beauty with whom he has been chatting. She tells him of her great work load, her professional trips and even to an ex with problems of jealousy. The more they love each other the more unsustainable the relationship becomes. Claire is torn between the impossibility of this love and the pain of having to admit the truth and lose everything.
CHILDREN (All children’s activities are in Catalan unless otherwise stated.)
Saturday, 29th June at 16h at the MW Electricity Museum, Encamp. (Free. Prior booking obligatory on tel. (+376) 739 111 or at [email protected] Recommended for children aged 6 to 12,)
Summer Nights in the Museums: Children’s Escape Game. Bombeta and Xispa are two characters that live in the Electricity Museum. They meet Faraday, Franklin and Volta, who are bored and want to play with them …
Saturday, 29th June at 17h at Prat Gran, Encamp. Fiesta del Poblet de Encamp. Lots of activities to enjoy for a busy afternoon. Inflatables, toy library, multi obstacle circuit, giant basketball and slide.
NATURE
Saturday, 29th June at the Refuge of Comapedrosa, Ordino. (10€. Max 30 people. Reservations and info on the correct time from [email protected]. Astronomical lecture (in Catalan) and telescopic observations in the Comapedrosa Refuge followed by coca sweet cake and muscatel.
Saturday, 29th June at 9h starting from the Centro de Interpretación del Comapredosa, Arinsal. 42°34’29.3″N 1°28’52.6″E. (Limited places Registration to [email protected] The Passage of Man into the Comapedrosa Natural Park. (Explanations in Catalan)
In the month of June and September, we offer you a journey back in time to understand the human activities, constructions and traditions that have taken place in the Comapedrosa Natural Park. This time it is The Sheep Folds. We will take the cable car up to the Black Port and descend to the Comapedrosa Refuge through the Sanfons
pass. We will explain the shepherds’ life, the sheep fold structures and their uses.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF SORTENY NATURAL PARK, ORDINO
All tours/talks will be in Catalan
Monday, 24th June. (Free registration at 324 558) Guided tour with a workshop of botanical illustrations from La Capsa.
Wednesday, 26th June at 19h in the Sala la Buna. Award ceremony of the Sorteny photographic competition. AND Conference on the Traditional use of Plants given by Manel Niell of CENMA. Free of charge and open to everyone
Thursday, 27th June at 17h Workshop on the preparation of Medicinal plants by Manel Niell of CENMA at La Capsa, in the new l’Estudi social cultural centre. Free of charge and open to everyone
Thursday, 27th June at 20h in the Sala la Buna. A Conference: The Secrets of the Natural Park of the Valley of Sorteny. 20 years of prospecting and discovery. In charge of Sergi Riba, head of the department of agriculture, environment and sustainability of Ordino Comú. Free of charge and open to everyone
Saturday 29th and Sunday, 30th June in the Sala la Buna. An Exhibition of medicinal mountain plants and their traditional uses. Open from 10h – 14h and from 16h – 19h. Free of charge and
open to everyone.
OTHER
Thursday, 27th June at 20h at the Thyssen Museum, Escaldes-Engordany. (10€. Limited places. It is essential to book beforehand by [email protected]. or by phone at + 376 800 800.) GastroArt. An artistic tasting with all the senses inspired by the painting “Plein Air”. Going into the magic of Impressionism on Plein Air: The new experience is proposed by the Carmen Thyssen Andorra Museum in this latest edition of GastroArt related to the exhibition: “Femina Feminae”. In the evening, in a closed museum, attendees will enjoy an innovative pairing; Outdoor paintings with great light, beauty and movement that transport the viewer fully into nature married to tastes and cocktails, offered through the participation of Fourteen Restaurant. An exclusive explanation given
by the artistic director and curator of the exhibition, Guillermo Cervera.
STREET MARKETS
Saturday, 22nd June from 10h – 14h in the Plaça dels Arínsols, Encamp. Encamp Saturday market. The Encamp Entrepreneurs Association (AEE) recommences their traditional market as a showcase for trade in the parish. This initiative, which was launched in 2014 with the collaboration of the Comú d’Encamp, has had numerous auxiliary
activities such as botifarrades (sausage barbeques) children’s face painting, magic, musical performances or batucades (drum bands).
Culturally yours,
Clare.
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Look for about the author of the blog Clare Allcard
See also Andorra travel guide
See also Pyrenees travel guide
See also France travel guide
See also Spain travel guide
