Casa de la Vall, Manor house and former parliament in Andorra la Vella, Andorra
Casa de la Vall is a rectangular two-storey manor in Andorra la Vella, built of rough grey-brown rubble masonry with a steep slate pyramidal roof topped by a small metal cross. A cylindrical stone turret with a conical roof sits at one corner, and the tower carries protruding stone corbels and narrow slit windows. The Busquets coat of arms and the arms of Andorra stand at the door.
The Busquets family built the house in 1580 as a manor and defensive tower. The Consell de la Terra acquired it in 1702, and it remained the seat of the General Council until 2011. It was listed as a heritage property in Andorra's cultural heritage in 2003.
The main floor holds the Council Chamber, a chapel dedicated to St. Ermengol, and the "closet of the seven keys", whose cabinet has one lock for each Andorran parish and keeps documents such as the Manual Digest and Politar Andorrà. The old kitchen serves as the Sala de los passos perdidos for protocol ceremonies. The Busquets and Andorra coats of arms stand at the door.
The building can be visited with guided tours or audio guides that provide access to the historic rooms inside. It is worth taking time to explore the interior carefully to appreciate the architectural details and furnishings.
On the first floor, the "closet of the seven keys" holds documents such as the Manual Digest and the Politar Andorrà. Its lock has one key for each of Andorra's parishes, so no single parish could open it alone.
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