Mallorca is mostly known as a sun and beach island, but as many already know, it’s much more than just that. As a strategic point in the Mediterranean, Mallorca has a turbulent history with many conquests, reconquests and battles between different villages and tribes. The castles we can see on the island are the voiceless witnesses in stone of these events, many from different eras and each one of them with a fascinating story. Every one of these castles is worth a visit, that’s why we would like to give you a mini tour of some of them in this blog entry.
We shall start our mini tour with which is probably the most famous castle on the island, Bellver Castle, located about 3 kilometres from the centre of Palma de Mallorca at a height of 112, 6 m. It doesn’t only stand out due to its location enabling it to be seen from most points of the Balearic capital city, but because it’s the only defence construction designed in a completely circular shape in the whole of Europe by the architect Pere Salvà, who had already redesigned the Royal Palace of La Almudaina. From the outside it is an almost unconquerable masterpiece of defense, while in the inside, where the patio is, the two floors have Roman and Gothic styles. Altogether there are four towers from which three are part of the circular construction, while the fourth one is accessible by a small bridge. This tower offers views of the centre of the island, hence the castle´s name for its “bella vista” (“beautiful views”). After having served as King Jaume II´s residence, it was used as a prison with the prisoners being thrown into a five metre deep cave below the fourth tower, the Tower of l'Homenatje, which today is a museum.
Now we will go to the west-south side of the island where we can visit the Castell de Bendinat. One of the theories relating to the name of the locality of Bendinat in the municipality of Calvià, is that king Jaume I camped out here and after having a bread, garlic and olive soup said “Hem ben dinat”, which means “We have eaten well”. It’s more probable that it comes from the Arabs such as the names of the villages of Binissalem, Binifaldó, etc. As the old estate wasn’t regal enough for him, the Marquis de la Romana in the 19th century built the Castell de Bendinat in gothic style, like other European castles. Today it belongs to the Foundation Astroc that organizes cultural activities, especially artistic exhibitions in the old property.
Time to travel into the heart of the island where the most fortified castle is located. The Castell d’Alaró at 815 m of altitude dominates the town from the top of the hill of Alaró. It’s one of the three castles built out of rock in Mallorca that served as defence and protection of the island; the other two are in Pollensa (Castell del Rei) and Felanitx (Castell de Santueri). In AD 905 it was mentioned for the first time specifically as a construction for military service in an Arab chronicle, but from other sources we know that there were already buildings in the area from the Bronze Age and the Romans. The Arab chronicle says that the castle could not be conquered until the inhabitants of the castle exhausted their food supplies and surrendered. This opinion is due to the fact that after the Muslim invasion there were a few refugees who held out against the enemy in the Castle of Alaró for eight and a half years. Just as it served as a refuge for the Christians, at the time of the Catalan conquest it was a refuge for the Muslims themselves. Above the castle, of which the only remains are the castle walls and five towers, is the chapel of la Nostra Senyora del Refugi. There, hikers that walk along the route GR 221, and other visitors, can stay and enjoy unbeatable scenery in the heart of Mallorca.
From the south of the island we are going to travel to the north, where close to Pollensa, more specifically in the valley of Ternelles, is the castle in the far north corner of Mallorca the Castell del Rei (King’s Castle) at a height of 492 metres and about a three hour walk from the heart of the town. Together with the castles of Alaró and Felanitx it’s one of the three castles built out of rock on the island. Back in the Roman times it was used as a small stronghold, but in general it was more like a watchtower. However, people repeatedly sought refuge here: During the Catalan conquest, it was a refuge for the Muslims, as well as the Castell d’Alaró; and after the victory of the King of Aragon over Jaume III, King of Mallorca, it was the last show of resistance and loyalty to the Mallorcan king. From the 18th century, in which it was vacated, the castle slowly deteriorated and today only ruins remain. In 1896 the Pollencí poet Miquel Costa I Llobera wrote a poem in the castle's honour in his dialect “U castell d’U rei”. Currently, the castle stands on a private estate and permission to obtain access has to be applied for at Pollensa Town Hall.
On the opposite side of the island, in the northeast, is the Castle de Capdepera which are the ruins of a fortified township. It’s probably the castle with the richest hidden history, which you can still feel inside the walls and well preserved buildings. Located beside the town of Capdepera at the top of the hill, the castle was built on top of a Muslim village in the 14th century by King Jaume II. The only thing that remained of the old town was the tower, the Tower d'en Miquel Nunis that was the site of one of the most important events for the Balearic Islands in the Medieval era: It was when the Caliph wo reigned in Menorca signed a contract with the Mallorcan king, Jaume I, guaranteeing submission and the paying of taxes. Up to the 17th century more and more people from the neighbouring regions sought refuge in the castle, due to continuous attacks and robberies by Turkish pirates. But from the beginning of the 18th century, with the Bourbons taking over the Spanish crown, the castle was turned into a small military base, creating administrative problems between the military and civilians. In 1983 the castle was given to the citizens of Capdepera and today the fortress is a small museum with exhibitions and the principal site for the Medieval Fair of Capdepera that is celebrated annually.
This is the end of the tour with the third castle out of the three castles made out of rock on the island, the Castell de Santueri (Santueri Castle), in the municipality of Felanitx close to Manacor. This castle is surely one of the most spectacular ones thanks to its location above the meseta of Puig de Santueri at 423 metres above sea level, making the castle unassailable. It is very possible that the area was already populated during the Talayotic period and probably served as a place of worship. The current ruins date from the 14th century medieval era, although they were built over the Muslim ruins which were probably also built over the Byzantine and Roman ruins. The most striking feature of this castle are undoubtedly the walls that are adapted to the cliffs, in a way that there is no space left between the precipice and the walls. During the Revolt of the Brotherhoods it was a site of resistance remaining loyal to the Crown, after that, it almost fell into disuse except for a little maintenance against possible attacks coming in from the sea. At the present time, you can visit the castle with guides and enjoy amazing views overlooking the whole southeast of the island of Mallorca, and even see Menorca on a clear day.
Sadly, we have no castles for sale, but there is something we do have, and that’s more than one property that would make you feel like royalty, following the motto: “My home is my castle”.
Don’t hesitate to get in contact with us if you want to know more about our properties for sale in Mallorca.
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