Sant Julià de Lòria Cultural Centre to Fully Reopen by Late May

Sant Julià de Lòria's cultural and congress centre will reopen fully by late May or early June, with all auditoriums operational from day one, Cònsol Major Cerni Cairat has confirmed.

Speaking at the traditional Sant Sebastià escudella event—relocated indoors due to rain and facade works, as it was in 2023, 2024, and this year to the Reig Patrimonia car park—Cairat said the centre would return to its traditional location at the access stairs and Plaça de la Germandat next year. "We have moved it because facade works have resumed, and we expect everything to be operational by late spring—late May or early June," he noted, adding that the project remains on the planned timeline despite a two-week delay from November's facade incident.

That event stemmed from a defective subjection piece that fell, causing only material damage. Works have since accelerated without additional costs, following audits that clarified the causes. Unlike the partial reopening a year ago—which restored the library, lobby, cafeteria, and seminar rooms—this phase will activate the entire facility at 100% capacity.

The Culture Department is preparing an inauguration event worthy of the parish's heritage. "After more than three years with the auditoriums closed, we must stage a celebration on the scale of Sant Julià's culture," Cairat said, with details to be announced soon.

Demand is already high, with requests from theatre companies, programmers, and artists from neighbouring areas. The centre will resume established programmes, including the joint theatre season with Andorra la Vella and the French embassy's cycle, while supporting third-sector groups, local cultural associations, and the University of Andorra. "We have many demands to programme shows, which excites us and shows the need to recover this key facility for Sant Julià and Andorra by filling it with art and culture," Cairat stated, forecasting near-total occupancy from the outset.

Insurance will cover much of the €7.5 million in fire damage from November 2022, following negotiations that, alongside initial project refinements needed at the start of the current term in January 2024, had previously slowed progress. "The most important thing now is that, despite the wait, the cultural centre will function normally again," Cairat emphasised.