- Address: Carrer de la Vall, 28 - AD 500, Andorra la Vella, Andorra
- Phone: + 376 829 129
- Fax: +376 869 863
- Email: consell_general@parlament.ad
- Website: http://www.casadelavall.ad/
- Date of construction: 1580
The building of the ancient parliament Casa de la Val (translated from the Catalan language as "The House of the Valleys") is one of the most ancient buildings of the capital of the Principality of Andorra, Andorra la Vella, and is located in its very center. It was erected in 1580 by the order of the noble family of Buketts. Since then, for almost three centuries here, the parliament held meetings until it was transferred to a new building.
The uniqueness of the structure lies in its multifunctional use: tourists are surprised to learn that apart from the state body, there was also a hotel, a court, a prison and the San Ermengol chapel. At the same time, the prison was assigned to especially important criminals, and not every convict was placed in it.
Exterior and interior
In appearance, Casa de la Vall resembles a medieval tower or castle with embrasures and hinged loopholes, producing a rather impressive and gloomy impression. The material for the walls was a very strong and almost gray stone that had not been processed. Architects did not find it necessary to decorate the building with decor elements, so its appearance is somewhat animated by a rectangular tower, supplemented by a pointed roof. In the old days, she played the role of both a sentinel station and a pigeon house. It is significant that the chapel of Casa de la Val is decorated with the coat of arms and the flag of the country - a national treasure.
The structure consists of a high foundation and three floors. In the garden near the facade there is a beautiful sculpture depicting the national dance.
The interior of the building also can not boast of luxury. In the main hall you will be able to admire the ancient frescoes of the 16th century and copper candlesticks of almost the same period. The ascetic interior is complemented by simple wooden benches along the walls.
The front portal of the building depicts the coats of arms of the seven private (communities) of Andorra and the common emblem of the country, which contains a miter, a staff of the Bishop of Urcal in Catalonia and two bulls symbolizing Spain and France. On the ground floor your view will be the San Ermengol Chapel and the Justice Hall used for court hearings. Also there is a magnificent kitchen with stunningly beautiful antique utensils.
The second floor is occupied by the Council Hall, where parliamentary sessions were held. Its landmark is a casket with 7 locks, designed to store important government documents. The casket was forbidden to be opened if representatives of at least one of the seven were absent from the meeting. At the same time, they also had to enter the hall simultaneously, opening each of the seven locks built into the door. Now on the second floor there is also the Mail Museum, where a magnificent collection of stamps is presented.
Operating mode
You can visit the Casa de la Val from the following hours (May to October):
- from Tuesday to Saturday - from 10 am to 2 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm;
- on Sunday and on holidays the building is open from 10 am to 2 pm;
- Monday is the official day off.
From November to April, the Valley House is closed not only on Monday, but also on Sunday, and from July 15 to September 15 it works seven days a week from 7:00 to 19:00.
Entrance to the building is free for everyone, however, for visiting the Museum of the Post it is necessary to pay 5 or 2.5 euros (children's ticket). Half-hour tours of the building are free of charge several times a day in Spanish, Catalan, English and French.
To get to the building you can on the city bus, which runs throughout the capital, or by taxi, which must be booked in advance: on the street you will not find it.
What else to see?
Not far from the Valley House are such attractions as:
- Sala de la Giusticia (the building of the state court);
- Sala del Concewwe;
- Seth Panis .
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