Andorra: this is a country between France and Spain, independent, hidden in the Pyrenees Mountains. In October, 1933, Lawrence A. Fernsworth wrote Andorra - Mountain Museum of Feudal Europe,National Geographic Magazine. He visited Andorra by hiking over and around the mountains. Prior to reading this, I thought Andorra was just a region in Spain. Not so!
This tiny (468 sq km) country gained independence from Spain in the 1200's and has fiercely maintained it even now. Andorra continues to be ruled by a triumvirate of the current French President, the current Bishop of Urgel in Spain, and a representative elected by representatives of the six parishes of Andorra. In 1933, the great majority of transportation was by donkey or by walking; the mountain rivers are much to fast for boats. There were no taxes.
The mountain land was nearly all unsuitable for agriculture except for raising a small amount of tobacco and hay, and for grazing sheep, goats, donkeys, and cattle. "To an Andorran his little patches of earth are more valuable than gold. . . A man's wealth consists first in his land, and then in his mules. His philosophy is that land never runs away, while gold does, and sometimes even the mules!" (p. 506).
As for women, "She has achieved, or had thrust on her, equal rights with men for hard work. Only a few valley towns along the main highway know such conveniences as automobiles, farm machinery, or electric light," (photo caption, p. 506).
Mr. Fernsworth worried that Andorra probably would lose its independence and charm after being modernized from the outside. Not so! The republic of Andorra still thrives, more than ever, in 2014!
For many centuries, the chief occupation of Andorra was smuggling. Now their economy is dependent upon the tourist trade. With all the mountains, it must be a wonderful area for winter sports!
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