Description of the attraction
The House of the Valleys is one of the main attractions of Andorra la Vella. This legendary building is located in the very center of the Old Quarter, which has long been considered the hallmark and symbol of the city.
The three-story building of the House of the Valleys in the style of rural Catalan architecture was erected in 1580 and originally belonged to the noble and wealthy Busquets family. The House of the Valleys is a medieval Catalan manor house with towers, embrasures, hinged loopholes, battlements and steel bars on the windows. In 1702, the building was purchased by the General Council of Andorra. For three centuries, before the construction of the new building, the parliament sat within its walls. During this period, the House of the Valleys was rebuilt several times until it took its modern form.
At one time, the House of the Valleys (Casa de la Val) simultaneously housed the chapel of San Ermengol, the court, the prison and the hotel. It is worth noting that the prison was privileged, so only residents of Andorra were sitting here.
The house of the valleys has a rather austere and ascetic appearance and resembles a fortified castle or a small medieval fortress. Its walls are built of solid and raw gray stone. The decor is completely absent here. On one side, the building is adjoined by a rectangular tower with a sharp roof, which simultaneously served as a sentry post and a dovecote. The chapel contains the flag and coat of arms of the Principality of Andorra.
Today, the House of the Valleys is a museum, the interior of which anyone can see. The asceticism of the interior of the house is in perfect harmony with the general appearance of the building. There are wooden benches around the perimeter of the house. The ancient frescoes of the 16th century are of particular interest to visitors. in the main hall, brass candlesticks and an old dining room with preserved antique utensils. On the ground floor of the building there is the Hall of Justice - the only court in the country, on the second - the Hall of the Council and the Postal Museum with a philatelic collection.
