Andorra

With its 468 sq km of tumbling valleys, Romanesque churches and sky-reaching peaks wedged between France and Spain, Andorra offers by far the best ski slopes and resort facilities in the entire Pyrenees. Once the snow melts, there's outstanding walking, ranging from easy strolls to demanding day hikes in the Principality's higher, more remote reaches, where you can wander for hours, almost alone.

Bustling capital Andorra la Vella is crammed with traffic and duty-free day trippers, retaining just a sprinkle of character in its centuries-old Barri Antic. That's all soon forgotten, though, once you strike out above the tight valleys.

According to local legend, Andorra was founded by Charlemagne in the 9th century. Until the 1993 proclamation of its constitution, this Catalan-speaking minicountry was jointly governed for over 700 years by two co-princes: Spain's bishop of Urgell, and the French president, who remain honorary heads of state.