The parish of Escaldes-Engordany has officially joined the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA), a move that was formalised during the organisation's general assembly held in Loutraki, Greece. The event saw the participation of the parish's mayor, Rosa Gili, and the Councillor for Citizen Participation, Ramon Tena.
During the ceremony, EHTTA President Riccardo Mortandello presented Gili with a commemorative plaque marking Escaldes-Engordany's incorporation into the association. This membership is seen as a significant step in the parish's strategy to enhance the value of its thermal heritage, strengthen its international presence, and establish connections with other European cities that share a history and identity linked to thermal waters.
In her address, Mayor Gili highlighted the historical significance of thermal waters in Escaldes-Engordany's development. She expressed pride in the parish's natural hot springs, which reach temperatures of 70 degrees Celsius, describing them as a privilege for the area's ancestors and a contributor to their quality of life. Gili noted that residents from neighbouring towns also travelled to Escaldes to benefit from the therapeutic properties of its waters.
The mayor also discussed the recent Caldes project and the establishment of Caldea in the 1990s, a facility that has helped position Andorra as a leading destination for thermal and wellness tourism.
“We want to learn from the experiences of other cities, draw inspiration from their projects, and continue to improve together,” Gili stated, emphasising the importance of collaboration to strengthen ties between regions and promote European thermal heritage as a reference point for culture, history, tourism, and well-being.
The EHTTA is a network that brings together municipalities and territories across Europe with a tradition linked to thermalism. The association manages the European Route of Historic Thermal Towns, recognised as a Cultural Route by the Council of Europe since 2010, and works to protect, promote, and raise awareness of Europe’s thermal heritage.
