Encamp

Encamp

The city of Encamp (Encamp) is located 7 km North from the capital Andorra La Vella.

The city of Encamp is the capital of the eponymous district of Andorra. Encamp district includes the village of Les Bons, Vila, El Tremat, La Mosquera and ski station of Pas de La Casa. The city is located in the valley of Сortals.

The city began to develop rapidly due to the construction of the cable car (Funicamp) which later connected the city with the ski stations Grau Rouge and Pas de La Casa. The length of the ropeway is 6 km away. Encamp today – is the best place for skiing due to its proximity to the capital’s infrastructure of Andorra la Vella and major ski stations of the largest ski resort of Andorra Grandvalira.

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Font-Romeu

Font-Romeu: the land of the champions

The city of Font-Romeu is located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of the Eastern Pyrenees (Pyrénées-Orientales) on the Cerdagne plateau, 40 km from Andorra, 87 km from Perpignan (France) and 170 km from Barcelona (Spain, Catalonia). The city is “the heart of the Catalan Pyrenees” with panoramic views, clean air, and bright light. It is located at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level.

The city has about 6,500 inhabitants, with about 2,050 of those being permanent residents.

History of Font-Romeu

At the beginning of the 20th century, on the site of the city of Font-Romeu, there was only a patch of wasteland. In 1903, Jacques Calvet, the mayor of Perpignan and Odeillo from 1902 to 1912, built several chalets in the forest of La Calme in order to spend the weekend there with friends. Consequently, a residence, which became known as Les chalets d’Odeillo, appeared, however, the beginnings of a city was still far away.

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Pas de la Casa

Pas de la Casa (cat. El Pas de la Casa) is a village in the Principality of Andorra located in the parish of Encamp. In 2014 it had 2,434 inhabitants. The village is located on the border between Andorra and France, at 2,050 meters above sea level.

It must be said that at the beginning of the 20th century there was only a shepherd’s hut in this place of passage, which had been known formerly as Pas del Bac or Bac de la Casa.

Geography

Situated between 2000 and 2200 m a. s. l., it is the fourth highest town in Europe, only surpassed by Juf in Switzerland, Trepalle in Italy and St. Veran in France.

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Ax-les-Thermes

Ax-les-Thermes is a city in the south of France (Ariege department, French Pyrenees), located at an altitude of 720-740 m above sea level. The population of the city in 2015 was 1,230 people.

The city is located at the intersection of three valleys – La vallée de la Lauze, l’Oriège and l’Ariège. This location makes it ideal for hiking – both in winter and summer.

In the 1900s, in connection with the construction of the railway, this city became a real tourist destination. Why? There are several reasons for this.

Tourism, sights and what to do?

In 1956, a ski resort was opened here covering about 75 km of slopes (red and mostly black). There are three ski areas in Ax: the first mainly contains beginners slopes, the second is the zone for children (at the very bottom and at the very top). And, finally, a zone for free-riders.

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Guide to Safe Skiing in the Pyrenees: What You Should and Should not Do

Skiing gives us indescribable excitement and adrenaline, but at the same time, accidents are possible, and they do occur.

According to a study conducted by an Andorran insurance company this year, more than a third of the ski lovers surveyed were injured. Of the 4544 people, 19% had fractures and sprains, while the other 19% suffered from cuts and bruises. This is my post about:

So, how to minimize the risk of injury?

Are you fully prepared?

This is an obvious question some people forget to ask themselves before going to the ski resort. Heart problems, weak knees and being in a low physical condition means that skiing is not for you.

One needs practice to achieve confidence and control on the slopes. Mobility, stamina, and coordination are also important qualities. A quick descent down the slope is not fun if it goes out of control.

If you are traveling in a group that includes beginners and intermediate-level skiers, then choose places with “blue” and “red” tracks, as well as more complicated “black” ones, so that everyone can choose a slope corresponding to their level.

FOLLOW THE “10 REQUIREMENTS” OF THE INTERNATIONAL SKI FEDERATION!

The International Ski Federation (FIS) has developed ten rules of conduct for skiers and snowboarders around the world. They are designed to ensure your safety.

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