Church of Sant Pere Màrtir in Escaldes-Engordany

If you are spending a day in Escaldes-Engordany, the church of Sant Pere Màrtir deserves a stop. It is a fairly recent building, yet it says a lot about the parish: its architecture, the importance the textile trade once had here and the work of two sculptors with a strong presence in the area, Josep Viladomat and Sergi Mas.

Neo-Romanesque architecture in granite

The church dates from 1956 and was designed by the architect Josep Danés, who conceived it as a building dedicated to the pelaires, the local wool workers. The dedication makes sense: the textile sector was of great importance in this parish.

A single glance is enough to take in its neo-Romanesque style, defined by the bell tower and by the granite that clads the whole building. The tower holds three bells, María, Anna and Jacoba, blessed by Bishop Martí in 1981.

What to see on the façade and inside

The façade is the first thing that catches your eye. It is decorated with ceramics and prints devoted to the Beatitudes, the work of the sculptor Sergi Mas.

On the same façade you will see an Immaculate Conception by Josep Viladomat. Inside are the Pietà, also by Viladomat, and the main altarpiece. That altarpiece is thought to have been made with the collaboration of the Confraternity of Wool Workers and Weavers, further evidence of how much weight this guild carried.

Where to find the church of Sant Pere Màrtir

Unlike other outings in Andorra, this one does not require moving the car once you are in Escaldes-Engordany: you can get there on foot. The church is listed on Avinguda Carlemany, one of the parish’s main streets. If you have any questions about visiting times, ask at the Escaldes-Engordany Tourist Office.

Nearby you will find another sculpture by Viladomat, the Puntaire, as well as examples of traditional Andorran architecture such as the La Tosca and Engordany bridges.

If Viladomat has caught your interest, carry on along the same avenue to the Escaldes-Engordany Art Centre, at number 30. It houses the Viladomat Museum, the scale models of Romanesque art and an exhibition room, and entry is free.

A plan for a day off the slopes

Winter is the high season in Grau Roig, and this visit fits nicely into a rest day away from the pistes. If you are staying at Hotel Grau Roig, which appears in the MICHELIN Guide, you can head down to Escaldes-Engordany, see the church and the art centre, and end the day at Caldea, in the same parish.

To carry on exploring religious heritage, very different from the neo-Romanesque of Sant Pere, there is the church of Sant Miquel d’Engolasters and this selection of Romanesque churches in Andorra. And for more ideas for your stay, take a look at what to do in Andorra.