Andorra, over the Pyrenees and the Gorges de Carança

Sonny, the motorhome is enjoying himself parked up in France, a country that we have visited many times, and are very familiar with! We have stayed on a couple of lovely Aires over the last couple of nights and we are currently on an Aire at Peyriac-de-Mer (N43.09372 E2.96205), set in a little meadow near to the Étang du Doul.  It's only €5 for 24 hours and includes fresh water, chemical toilet and grey waste disposal (All of Sonny's sanitary requirements!). You can walk over the boardwalks to see the wildlife and then into the pretty little village, where there is an 11th century church and unlike Spain, you don't have to pay to have a look inside! 

Walking across the Étang du Doul

Street view down to the old church.

We left our last stop in Spain (La Seu d'Urgell) to travel into Andorra, over the Pyrenees.  The journey was spectacular and views magnificent.  Unfortunately, the camera doesn’t do it justice!

Below is the entrance to Envalira Tunnel (tolled), which you can use to avoid going over the pass - where's the fun in that!

Plenty of snow at the very tops - at 2410m!

The ski lifts at Pas de la Casa, ski resort at the border to France.

Andorra is known for being a tax haven, so passing through we thought we would stop at a winery to see if there were some bargains to be had.  We enjoyed tasting some lovely products - meats and cheeses to taste.  You could also do wine/spirit tasting but unfortunately not for us, as we were driving!  Although it had some lovely produce, it was pricey and no good for someone like us who are on a strict daily/weekly budget!!

Wine and local produce shop.

An old Andorra Pastis delivery van parked outside the shop.

We experienced 3 languages in Andorra, going in they spoke to us in Spanish, then we stopped about half-way in to fill up with fuel and the guy spoke perfect English to us, then stopped to do some shopping at Pas de la Casa and it was all French speaking.  A real test for our multilingual tongues haha!
Coming down the other side into France.  The road wound its way down as it dropped steeply.

Old suspension bridge, that the tourist train (Train Jaune) goes over.

We stopped the night on an Aire at Thues-Entre-Valls (N42.52346 E2.22517).  It was a lovely setting in the middle of a gorge - Gorges de Carança. The climb into the gorge starts gradually for about 15 minutes, then steep for about 45 minutes.  

It then drops down to the river, where you cross a very wobbly suspension bridge. Apparently, the height of the bridge is due to the fact that the water level can rise this high. 

You then cross a metal bridge, skirting the river before climbing up to a narrow ridge.  This did nothing for my fear of heights!  

Trying not to look down!

You can just make me out - gingerly walking along the narrow ridge!

It was a great walk but not sure my nerves could stand doing it again!

The Train Jaune passes across the bridge that goes through the campsite.  We followed the railway line nearly all of the way from leaving Andorra to here, and it's a really pretty route.

The tourist train (Train Jaune) crossing the bridge that spans the Aire

Leaving Thues-Entre-Valls to Peyriac-de-Mer, we stopped at Ille-sur-Têt, to visit the natural rock formation of Orgues d'ill-sur-Têt.  They form a natural amphitheatre made up of tall pillars of rock, which have been eroded into the shapes of organ-pipes and stand up to 12 metres high.  

At the entrance to Orgues d'ill-sur-Têt

They are all formed from white sandy rock, with layers of yellow rock running through them.  Large areas of sand are worn away each time it rains and the ancient shapes are disappearing to form new ones. They are known as hoodoos and some are topped with bits of rock and even some vegetation, offering some protection to the vulnerable rocks below. 

Unfortunately, these rocks that have stood for millions of years and have been shaped by the rain water, will eventually be washed away by more rain water!

They were an incredible sight and apparently the only others to compare it to are Cappodoce in Turkey or Pontis on the banks of Serre-Ponçon Lake – a lovely part of France that we visited a couple of years ago.

From Peyriac-de-Mer we plan to follow the coastal route over the next couple of weeks and then into Italy.

Sally x