This calm Pyrenean village has stone houses along narrow streets, a 12th-century Romanesque church, and the Ordino-Arcalis ski slopes. Local restaurants serve cargols and panellets.
Ordino, a medieval town in northern Andorra, sits at 1,300 meters in the Pyrenees mountains. You'll find the 12th-century Sant Corneli i Sant Cebrià church with its distinctive bell tower in the town center, walk past houses with carved wooden balconies on Carrer Major, and hike to the three crystal-clear Tristaina Lakes. In winter, the north-facing slopes of Ordino Arcalís fill with skiers, while in summer, the stone-paved streets come alive with the scent of roses during the July festival and the sound of traditional bagpipes in August.
Getting to Ordino
The main access to Ordino is via the CG-3 road from La Massana. From Barcelona Airport, the drive takes about 3 hours through the Pyrenees, while Toulouse Airport in France is also 3 hours away. The L6 bus runs every 30 minutes between Andorra la Vella and Ordino during peak hours, with the journey taking 25 minutes. The narrow mountain roads require careful driving during winter months, when snow chains might be necessary.
Medieval Architecture
Walk through Ordino's medieval center to see several Romanesque buildings from the 12th and 13th centuries. The Sant Corneli i Sant Cebrià church, first mentioned in documents from 839, has 1-meter-thick stone walls and a square bell tower. Inside Sant Martí de la Cortinada church, you can examine 12th-century murals showing scenes from the life of Saint Martin. The streets follow their original medieval layout, lined with three-story houses built from local granite with wooden balconies and dark grey slate roofs.
Winter Sports at Ordino Arcalís
At Ordino Arcalís ski resort, you can ski across 442 hectares with 30.5 kilometers of marked runs. The north-facing slopes retain snow from December through April, longer than other Andorran resorts. Experienced skiers can explore 21 designated freeride zones with 120 marked routes. The resort hosts the Freeride World Tour competition each winter, and its 101 snow cannons ensure reliable skiing conditions throughout the season.
Natural Landmarks
Walk through Sorteny National Park to spot some of its 700 plant species, including rare Alpine flowers like the Pyrenean lily. The three Tristaina Lakes circuit takes about 3 hours to complete, with each lake at a different elevation between 2,000 and 2,300 meters. From the Tristaina sundial viewpoint at 2,701 meters, you can see the peaks of southern France. Follow the 4-kilometer Iron Route between Llorts and La Cortinada to explore old iron ore mines and stone shepherd huts, with signs explaining how miners extracted and processed iron ore until the 19th century.
Local Festivals
During the Rose Festival in July, residents decorate their balconies with red and pink roses, and create flower carpets in the streets. The first weekend of August brings the Festa del Buner, when bagpipers play traditional instruments called buners throughout the town. According to local legend, a medieval musician used his bagpipe music to drive away a pack of wolves threatening the village. Today, both festivals bring together local families and visitors for street performances, food stalls, and dancing.
