Review of Pas de la Casa, Andorra

Resort Overview for Pas de la Casa:

Pas de la Casa/Grau Roig is located on the eastern border of Andorra, a tiny duty free principality in the southern Pyrenees. Its a country ideally suited to snowsports with its high snow sure mountains and almost mediterranean climate. Not surprisingly, it has become a firm favourite with the skiers and boarders who return year after year to enjoy the snowsports, the young cosmopolitan atmosphere and the friendly Andorran hospitality. The Pyrenees are no longer considered to be 'off the beaten track' of world skiing and this tiny principality has gained an excellent reputation for wintersports.

Until the 1950's Andorra's economy centred mainly on the summer pasturing of sheep and cattle and the harvesting of tobacco, rye, olives and grapes while industry was limited to processing these products and the production of handicrafts. Since then tourism has taken over as Andorra's main source of revenue, exploiting its scenic mountains and recognising the massive potential for wintersports. Due to the lack of customs duties and low or non-existent taxes, Andorra has become an important international centre of retail trade attracting millions of shoppers from all over Europe to its duty free haven.

There is no national monetary unit in Andorra, both French francs and Spanish pesetas are accepted. The official language is Catalan due to its affinity with the neighbouring Catalonian region of Spain where most of its inhabitants originate from but Spanish, French and English are all widely spoken.

As well as being one of Andorra's most popular ski resorts Pas de la Casa is also a border town - the gateway into the country from France. The name Pas de la Casa (literally Pass of the House) derives from the days when all you would have found there was a shepherds' hut which served as a landmark for travellers crossing the River Ariege. Nowadays its a busy border control manned by customs officers checking on the numerous visitors who come here either solely for the duty free shopping or to enjoy the variety of snowsports on offer. Its popular with the young French and Spanish too who frequently make the border crossing to enjoy the unrestricted nightlife in this unique Catalan snow-filled Tijuana.

The skiing at 'Pas' was first developed in 1957 by Francesco Viladomat, a local businessman, it started with only one draglift and gradually grew with more lifts introduced every year. Until 1976 the station was on one mountain only, the Peak of Envalira; by the 1980s it had spread to Monmalus and the Peak of Cubil up to the area of Cercle de Pessons and the Cortals d'Encamp.

The 1990's brought dramatic changes to Andorra and its massive financial investments have brought Andorra's sports facilities, both on and off the mountains, firmly into the 21st century. Rather than build new resorts, developers have concentrated on linking existing ones to create even bigger skiing areas. Pas de la Casa or 'Pas' as it is affectionately known now links with neighbouring Grau Roig and has also established a lift link with Soldeu/El Tarter forming one of the largest lift linked areas in the Pyrenees.

Access to the resorts has been simplified too with the installation of the Funicamp (mountain cable car) in 1998/99 making the journey from Encamp, Andorra's most central village, a mere 14 minutes to the slopes - a journey which would previously have taken 4 times as long on a winding mountain road.

The Skiing in Pas de la Casa:

All of Andorra's ski areas are now included on a 'Ski Andorra' Pass' and with all the resorts so easily accessible its possible to stay in or near Andorra la Vella, the capital, and enjoy a different resort every day. Indeed, with the new Funicamp cable car at Encamp in central Andorra, Pas de la Casa's lift system now covers half of the country. Due to their position Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig are virtually guaranteed snow from the beginning of the last week in November until the first week in May. To complement the natural snowfall there is an advanced automatic computer controlled snow making system with 427 cannons covering 111 hectares of the mountain (23km of piste).

Andorra's English speaking ski schools have an excellent reputation, regularly winning awards for being the best in Europe. There are 3 ski schools, one in Pas de la Casa, one in Cortals (an area of Funicamp) and one in Grau Roig with a total of 180 instructors, most of whom speak English. Tuition is available in skiing, snowboarding, telemarking, cross-country, snowblades and snowshoeing. Night skiing is now no longer available.

Improvements to the resort have included the development of a new beginner area, the Piso, at the Funicamp mid-station so beginners can start off very gently with only a short ride up on the Funicamp from Encamp. Pessons which is Grau Roig's beginner area is right beside the car park with 4 beginner lifts and the 'Pas' beginners can start off at Abelletes with 3 beginner tows for practise. A total of 8 green runs making up 25% of the overall skiing area ensures ample area for practise before progressing on to the wide range of blue runs. 55% of the slopes are aimed at intermediates, this is made up of 11 blue runs and 23 reds.

Intermediates will find this is an area they can easily get around and even beginners, with some tuition, shouldn't have too much difficulty. For experts looking for something more difficult there are 13 black runs. The Fis Taupes above the village can be a challenge, depending on the snow conditions and for a black run through the trees theres Granota on the Grau side.

There are 2 slalom stadiums at the Costa Rodona and a smaller one at Grau Roig where the young Andorran teams can regularly be seen training. The Grau area has most of the trees and this is where the 3 cross country circuits are located, following the course of the River Valira these are well planned circuits with a total of 12 km of cross country piste for all abilities. With 8 mountain restaurants theres alway a good refreshment stop nearby and as usual prices are very reasonable. The Refugi dels Llacs del Pessons has views over the nearby lake while the Solanelles has amazing panoramic views.

Après Ski in Pas de la Casa:

With 30 bars in Pas de la Casa holidaymakers are spoilt for choice. Something for everyone depending on whether you want to relax over a quiet meal by a log fire or join the non-stop party scene. The Milwaukee bar, Billboard, West End, Pas 83 all have a lively atmosphere with music and dancing. The Underground Bar seems to be one of the most popular but all the bars have very reasonable prices. Most bars have Happy Hours starting as soon as the lifts close.

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