Carmen Thyssen Museum Closes Valira Site, Relocates to Andorra Telecom Node

The Carmen Thyssen Museum in Escaldes-Engordany has closed its doors at the former Valira hotel site after a decade of operation. Its final exhibition, *Vincles: Cuixart conversa amb la Col·lecció Carmen Thyssen*, ended on 4 January, and the space will not reopen under that name.

The museum is relocating this autumn to the basement of the Node, Andorra Telecom's new headquarters in Andorra la Vella, rather than summer as previously planned. The delay stems from setbacks in the Node's construction timeline, though the 700-square-metre basement area—split into two rooms—remains the most advanced section.

This move marks a conceptual shift. Unlike the past ten years, when the Valira site functioned more as a rotating exhibition gallery without a permanent display, the new setup will include a dedicated 200-square-metre room for a permanent showcase of works from Baroness Carmen Thyssen's personal collection. Officials expect this to attract higher-calibre loans, easing past challenges with temporary borrowing and insurance costs. The site has previously hosted masterpieces by artists including Gauguin, Monet, Matisse, and Sisley since 2017.

The larger 400-square-metre room will host rotating immersive exhibitions, akin to experiences like *Van Gogh Alive*, which opens this week at the Prat del Roure in Escaldes-Engordany. Including ground-floor services and a shop, the total space will nearly triple the previous footprint.

The Node's prime location along the capital's main commercial axis should boost visitor numbers. The foundation aims to increase attendance tenfold from 2024's figure of just over 10,000—half the 20,000-plus recorded in the debut year with the *Sons* exhibition.

The Valira site will remain closed until the move, as funding does not allow overlapping exhibitions in a single season. Unresolved issues include the legal framework for the foundation's occupancy of Andorra Telecom's basement, likely a concessional arrangement with compensation rather than a standard lease. Details, along with a review of the *Vincles* exhibition and the new agreement, are expected at a press conference tomorrow.

The future of the former Valira premises, rented for €9,000 monthly by Escaldes-Engordany parish and supported by €450,000 annual government funding, remains undecided. The Culture Ministry hopes to retain the space for collections from two private collectors, with negotiations advanced. The final call hinges partly on whether the parish extends the lease beyond its 1 January 2027 expiry.