Postal services in Andorra
Encyclopedia
Postal services in Andorra are unique in that they are not operated by the Principality itself, but by its two larger neighbouring countries, Spain
and France
. This is a legacy of the centuries of de facto control exercised by those two countries over Andorra
. Correos
of Spain and La Poste
of France operate side by side; Spanish post boxes are red and French ones are yellow.
Both postal administrations issue their own postage stamps for use in Andorra — those of Spain and France are not valid. Andorran stamps feature unique designs, often featuring the country's two co-princes or joint heads of state, the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell in Spain. Mail to addresses within the Principality is delivered free of charge.
having its own post code (or codi postal in Catalan
).
PO Box addresses require different post codes, ending in the digit "1", so, for example, a letter sent to a PO Box address in Andorra la Vella would require the post code AD501.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. This is a legacy of the centuries of de facto control exercised by those two countries over Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
. Correos
Correos
Sociedad Estatal de Correos y Telégrafos, S.A., popularly known as Correos, is the national postal service of Spain, as recognized by the Universal Postal Union. With 63,000 employees and 5.4 billion pieces of mail sent each year, Correos is one of the largest postal services in the world...
of Spain and La Poste
La Poste
La Poste may refer to:* La Poste, the postal service of France* La Poste Suisse, the French name for Swiss Post* La Poste, the French name for De Post - La Poste - Die Post of Belgium* La Poste Tunisienne, the Tunisian postal service...
of France operate side by side; Spanish post boxes are red and French ones are yellow.
Both postal administrations issue their own postage stamps for use in Andorra — those of Spain and France are not valid. Andorran stamps feature unique designs, often featuring the country's two co-princes or joint heads of state, the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell in Spain. Mail to addresses within the Principality is delivered free of charge.
Introduction of post codes
Until 2004, Andorra had no post codes, but in that year, in cooperation with both countries' postal administrations, they were finally introduced, with each of the seven parishes of AndorraParishes of Andorra
Andorra consists of seven communities known as parishes . Until relatively recently, it had only six parishes; the seventh, Escaldes-Engordany, was created in 1978....
having its own post code (or codi postal in Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
).
| Parish | Post Code |
| Canillo Canillo Canillo is one of the parishes of Andorra. Canillo is also the name of the main town of the parish. Canillo has a gondola link to the main ski resort of Grandvalira.-Geography:... | AD100 |
| Encamp Encamp Encamp is one of the parishes of Andorra, located on the Valira d'Orient river, and connected by a cable car to Lake Engolasters. It is also the name of the main town in the parish. Other settlements include Vila, El Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, el Tremat, la Mosquera, and Les Bons. As of 2004, it... | AD200 |
| Ordino | AD300 |
| La Massana La Massana La Massana is one of the seven parishes of the Principality of Andorra. It is located in the northwest of the country. . La Massana is also the name of the main town of the parish. The name Massana derives from the Latin name mattianam for a variety of apple.The parish is extremely mountainous and... | AD400 |
| Andorra la Vella Andorra la Vella Andorra la Vella is the capital of the Co-principality of Andorra, and is located high in the east Pyrenees between France and Spain. It is also the name of the parish that surrounds the capital.... | AD500 |
| Sant Julià de Lòria Sant Julià de Lòria Sant Julià de Lòria is one of the parishes of Andorra, in the far south of that country. It is also the name of the main town of the parish, which at 908 m is the lowest settlement in Andorra... | AD600 |
| Escaldes-Engordany Escaldes-Engordany Escaldes-Engordany is one of the parishes of Andorra. The parish is composed of the areas of les Escaldes, Engordany, Els Vilars d'Engordany, Engolasters, and El Fener. As of 2005 it has a population of 16,918. Notable events include the town's annual jazz festival.... | AD700 |
PO Box addresses require different post codes, ending in the digit "1", so, for example, a letter sent to a PO Box address in Andorra la Vella would require the post code AD501.