Andorra is the small country whose capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest-elevation national capital in Europe. The city stands at about 1,023 metres above sea level in the Pyrenees.
Andorra la Vella lies in the valley of the Gran Valira River and forms part of Andorra’s principal urban area. Its altitude reflects the country’s mountainous setting between France and Spain. The capital is a centre for government, commerce and tourism, with a strong retail sector.
Andorra is a landlocked microstate governed as a parliamentary co-principality. Its two heads of state are the president of France and the bishop of Urgell in Spain, while day-to-day government is conducted by an elected parliament and executive.
The country’s official language is Catalan, making Andorra the only sovereign state where Catalan is the official national language. Despite its small territory, it has a major winter-sports and mountain-tourism industry.