With the capital, Andorra La Vella on the north bank of the Riu Valira, the narrow strip of land to the south was prone to flooding and/or landslides. There were two small communities - Engordany, nestling on the terraced slopes between the upper leg of the Valira and Val Nord - and Les Escaldes on the craggy south side of the valley.
As the river came under more extensive management to control the incessant flooding, businesses grew on the reclaimed land. Eventually, the three area merged into the modern district of Escaldes-Engordany and formed a community separate to Andorra la Vella (the old). Above the community is the country's main reservoir - Engolasters - which is definitely worth a visit. Most of Andorra's non-retail commerce is now in this community along the sides of the new (ish) by-pass towards Spain. Large transporters come to distribution points here to be carried further up the valleys by smaller vehicles that are able to negotiate the inclines and bends.
It is an important thermal center. The name Les Escaldes comes from the existence of sulphurous springs which well up from deep in the earth and reach a temperature of 61ºc and hence are used as source of heating by no few houses in the town. Les Escaldes is set in the midst of beautiful countryside. With its modern buildings and cosmopolitan air, it stretches along both sides of a crossroad, one of whose routes links it to Andorra la Vella.
In 1978 Les Escaldes - Engordany became the seventh of the parishes of Andorra and produced the postcode AD700. Previously it had been granted a special statue in the field of administration and ecclesiastical matters, in spite of being one of the parts of the parish of Andorra. Its main monuments are a fine gothic cross which stands in the town square, and the neo-Romanesque church of Sant Jaume, with its fine decoration and lombard bell-tower, again offering a sharp contrast to the surrounding buildings.
Les Escaldes is one of those places where the link between tradition and modernity-wich exists all over Andorra-may be most easily seen; it is this link which makes daily life there so enjoyable and attractive. According to Antoni M.Badia i Margarit, rector of Barcelona University, "The Principality of Andorra is one of the few examples-if not the only one- of a community which comes from a very old past. And at the same time it is on the same footing as the most advanced countries, with the peculiar feature of feeling the past in everyday modern life; likewise historical events are viewed from the inspiration of present...".
The exuberant vegetation surrounding the town makes Les Escaldes a spot of extraordinary beauty.
Visitors can use their senses to experience the multimedia contents of the Perfume Museum and the audio-guides to follow the different areas which constitute the backdrop of the Museum: the olfactory station, a scented journey, the conquest of shape, the pleasures of luxury, the large display, the scents of diversity and the temporary exhibition.
The Escaldes-Engordany Art Centre is located within a historical building, which also houses the Josep Viladomat space. A selection of the Catalan artist's sculptural production is on display. On the second floor of the Arts Centre is a room dedicated to temporary exhibitions of various themes and formats. A permanent exhibition of Roman art samples by Josep Colomé is located on the third floor.
Come to Caldea, the thermal leisure centre in Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra, and cut loose from everything. The richness of thermal water will make you feel new sensations in a privileged mountain environment.
From steam to ice, from Roman to Japanese culture, Caldea suggests a pleasant journey in contact with water in all its forms and applications.
Caldea's thermal water will refresh you because it is high in sodium, rich in sulphur and oily like thermal plankton. Warm because of its outlet temperature (68ºc) and rich in minerals, Caldea's water, used in a natural way, has an antalgic, healing, decongesting and anti-allergic effect. Get ready to fully enjoy temperatures of between 14ºc and 36ºc and discover why water is life at Caldea. Caldea's thermal water will refresh you because it is high in sodium, rich in sulphur and oily like thermal plankton. Warm because of its outlet temperature (68ºc) and rich in minerals, Caldea's water, used in a natural way, has an antalgic, healing, decongesting and anti-allergic effect.
Notable events include the town's annual jazz festival.
