The Consell de Comú de la Massana has approved the construction of a scenic viewpoint at l’Alt de la Capa, awarding the contract to a joint venture formed by Locubsa and Desplom for a total of €892,148.54. The decision was backed by ten votes from the majority council members, with two votes against from the minority.
Eva Sansa, the head councillor, stated, “This project aligns with our commitment to advancing the tourism development of the parish, focusing on new attractions that respect our values; the observation of our landscape, both day and night, the organisation of events, and, importantly, it meets significant environmental criteria, with minimal impact on the terrain during construction and the placement of the infrastructure, which will integrate naturally into the ridge.”
Mònica Solé, the tourism councillor, explained that work is already underway on programming, marketing, and commercialisation plans. “The scenic viewpoint will be located within the ski area, in a zone where the station already has infrastructure. This presents an opportunity to enhance the station's appeal, broaden the experiences we can offer, and ensure it remains an attractive space beyond winter. At the same time, this activity will benefit Arinsal and create new opportunities around it,” Solé noted.
During the session, the debate focused on the project’s location. The minority council expressed agreement on the need for new tourist attractions and acknowledged the project's potential but raised concerns about the chosen site, citing opposition from some members of the public. Sansa defended the decision, stating that one of the criteria for selecting the location was to find an already anthropised environment. L’Alt de la Capa is situated within the ski domain of Arinsal, an area that already features infrastructure and elements associated with the ski station's activities.
Sansa emphasised that a viewpoint, by its nature, requires an elevated position to observe the landscape and reiterated the importance of balancing tourism development with environmental respect. She highlighted the significance of tourism to Andorra's economy, which accounts for approximately 40% of the GDP, and the necessity of continuing to create attractions and economic opportunities.
Reflecting on the past, Sansa recalled the contributions of Josep Serra, who played a pivotal role in establishing the Arinsal ski station, which transformed the local economy and generated prosperity for the parish. She affirmed that the scenic viewpoint is part of the ongoing effort to create new opportunities linked to the mountain.
The project, designed by architect Toni Riberaygua and engineer Carles Puig Becerra, will serve a dual purpose as a panoramic viewpoint and a stage. Its concave shape, resembling a small amphitheatre, will allow for daytime landscape viewing and night sky observation, as well as hosting cultural, astronomical, and small-scale events.
The Comú aims for the facility to diversify the tourist offering year-round, expand experiences linked to the ski station beyond the winter season, and generate returns and new opportunities for the village of Arinsal. A key criterion of the project is to minimise direct intervention on the terrain; approximately 80% of the work will be completed in a workshop, with the pieces transported by helicopter once finished. The infrastructure will rest on the terrain at a single point and will be integrated into the ridge in an environmentally respectful manner. Environmental considerations have been integral from the conception of the project through all execution phases.
The scenic viewpoint is part of the Comú's strategy to continue generating new attractions for La Massana, merging mountain, culture, sky, and architecture.
Additionally, during the same session, the finance councillor reported on the budget situation as of 30 June 2026, indicating a surplus of €4.3 million.
