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.
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. 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. It is 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. 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.
Apres Ski
Buzzing and excellently priced bars with regular Happy Hours and several discos, plus a host of lively cafés and restaurants; • The lively themed Mexican evening at the Milwaukee Bar, The Marseilles, The Mistral, Billboard Disco and the KYU night club.
Eating Out
Huge variety of French and Catalan dishes are particularly tempting for those who enjoy Continental cuisine; • The “KSB” bar for sizzling char-grilled meat specialities and Bar Marseilles serves lunchtime snacks and evening meals.
Activities
Tobogganing • Snowmobiles • Excursions to Andorra La Vella
calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
