Mallorca's cultural west

Village with a hillside location: Banyalbufar in the Tramuntana.

Anyone on holiday in the warm south or the lively east will immediately notice the striking difference to the west of Mallorca. Like another island that has reached its peak with the Tramuntana. Anyone travelling towards the mountain range, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will at some point cross the threshold into a completely different Mallorca. Here, green valleys, steep cliffs and romantic mountain villages dominate the landscape. The Tramuntana mountain range, which stretches from Andratx to Cap Formentor far to the north, is Mallorca's showpiece from a scenic perspective and is a first-class scenario with its combination of high peaks and steeply sloping coasts.

Many gorges and valleys form panoramas on the mountain slopes that nature lovers and geologists alike dream of. Picturesque villages and small towns have developed in many of the areas that were once only accessible by boat. Nowadays, the west of Mallorca is, of course, accessible; you don't have to take the magnificent panoramic road along the west coast from Palma, but can drive through a tunnel to Soller in just 25 minutes. Nevertheless, it is the adventurous roads with their crazy hairpin bends that invite you to follow the fantastic views through the mountains. If you want to drive this adventure route, start in Andratx in the south-west and drive via Sant Elm, Banyalbufar, Estellencs, Valldemoosa, Deia, Sóller and Fornalutx. A beautiful way to get to know the west of Mallorca.

In addition to this wild, rugged charm, the west also has very sophisticated towns. This definitely includes the harbour town of Port Sóller. You can walk all the way round the town's spacious bay on the chic waterfront promenade. In the harbour you will find numerous offers for boat tours. When you hear the west of Mallorca, you inevitably and rightly think of the Torrent de Pareis, the island's most famous gorge. You can visit this natural wonder via an old smugglers' path, which also leads through an elongated tunnel. Only La Reserva Nature Park, which specialises in exciting hikes, is more adventurous.

Mallorca West - 4 highlights

Tip 1: Panoramic road

The 710 coastal road has already been voted the most beautiful in Europe by the ADAC and anyone who indulges in slow driving on this route with its adventurous bends and charming mountain villages will understand why. A new panorama of Mallorca's wild west coast lurks around almost every corner. Start in Port d'Andratx and finish at the northernmost point of the island, Cap Formentor.

Tip 2: Vintage cars on rails

For nostalgics, the "Red Lightning" is a dream come true. The antique Siemens railway runs over many mountains and through a total of 13 tunnels directly from Palma to the touristically flourishing town of Sóller. The town lies in a completely enclosed valley surrounded by orange groves and criss-crossed by gardens, with the oldest railway station in the world and Art Nouveau architecture.

Tip 3: Son Marroig

The manor house with the romantic Carrara marble temple was commissioned by the Austrian Archduke Ludwig Salvator, Mallorca's first tourist. The imposing estate lines the cliff opposite the island of Na Foradada and forms a nature reserve with Son Moragues and the Miramar monastery. Son Marroig is popular as a backdrop for a marriage proposal or for getting married on Mallorca.

Tip 4: Valdemossa

One of the most beautiful mountain villages in Mallorca, which is no longer an insider tip, but a must-see on the island. Winding alleyways, well-kept stone houses, facades decorated with flowers and imposing buildings make the village a top day trip destination. Valdemossa owes its fame above all to the Charterhouse and its most famous guests, Frédéric Chopin and the writer George Sand.

Mallorca West: UNESCO cultural heritage Tramuntana

A backdrop like a great wonder - that is the Sierra Tramuntana, which has been declared a cultural heritage site and characterises the island like no other landscape. Mallorca's largest protected area is a natural landscape with a strong character, which includes 62,000 hectares of land and 1000 hectares of sea in addition to the approximately 90 kilometre-long mountain range. The Tramuntana is Mallorca's backbone and a protective barrier that, among other things, keeps much of the rain away from the rest of the island.

The Tramuntana has been declared a UNESCO cultural heritage site.

20 municipalities with around 8000 inhabitants - from Andratx to Pollenca - are part of this unique landscape. In addition to the highest peak on the island - the Puig Major (1443 m) - other giants such as the Puig de Massanella (1348 m), the Serra d'Alfàbia (1069 m), es Teix (1064) and the Galatzó (1026 m) rise in the Tramuntana. Be it on the challenging mountain roads or on the popular GR 221 Pedra en Sec long-distance hiking trail. The route is also known as the stone route or dry-stone route and measures 280 kilometres in total, which can be completed in 8 stages.

Picasso and Diana - the celebrities in the west

After physical exertion, the best place to revitalise your spirit is in Deiá, the artists' town in the west of Mallorca. What Chopin was to Valdemossa, Picasso was to Deia - an honour. His presence and that of other celebrities made the town famous beyond the island's borders. Even Princess Diana came to relax among the ornate façades and multi-faceted architectural styles of this small dream village. Deia not only has mountain scenery and architectural monuments to offer, there is also a dreamy bathing bay, Cala Deia.

Climatically, the west stands out from the rest of the island with a comparatively cool and often windy climate. At the same time, the tranquillity of this corner of the island hides some of the greatest treasures to be found. And surprisingly, the most prosperous communities on the whole island have developed here in the seclusion of the Tramuntana. These include Banyalbulfar. The pretty village literally clings to the mountains with its terraces and exudes so much charm that you won't want to take your eyes off it. Valdemossa has the best ranking of all Mallorca municipalities in the Spanish tax statistics every year. The inhabitants here earn the highest incomes.

Port de Sóller and its bay are beautifully embedded in the mountains of the west.

Mallorca West - 7 excursion tips:

1 Torrent de Pareis - the highlight in the west. A hike through what is probably the most beautiful gorge on the island. It will be strenuous, but it will be worth it. Experienced hikers cross the riverbed, which is dry except for a few days a year, humbly following the 200 metre high rock faces. The reward comes at the end: the sea.

2nd Cami de Correus - one of the few hikes that start directly in Palma and lead into the Tramuntana. The guided tour leads along the old post road from Esporles to Banyalbufar. An experience in the seclusion of the mountain world with wonderful breaks in the wild and romantic nature.

3rd round trip to the west - you follow in the footsteps of Chopin, who helped the west of Mallorca to some fame because he spent a winter there. After a city tour, coffee break and museum visit, this day trip takes you via Sóller to Port de Sóller and via Llucalcari, Deia and the famous "Sa Foradada" cave to Valdemossa.

4th La Granja - if you want to find out more about the history of Mallorca and especially about the life of the old Mallorcans, you will find many answers in the "La Granja" museum in Esporles. The country house from the 10th century is surrounded by the Tramuntana and magnificent gardens.

5 La Reserva - La Reserva Nature Park is an excursion destination for adventurers and families. Hiking, swimming, climbing, picnicking, cable cars and suspension bridges - perfect outdoor fun in fabulous surroundings.

6. Sa Calobra - if you like thrills, take the hairpin bends, if you prefer a more relaxed pace, take the boat from Port de Sóller to Sa Calobra and after just under an hour you will be at the entrance to the famous Torrent de Pareis gorge.

7 Jardines de Alfabia - the gardens of Alfabia in Bunyola are a little surprise and a delight. The combination of country house, park and history flatters with Arabic influences, water features and manicured gardens. A visit to the 500-year-old country house reveals how Mallorca's nobility used to live.

History from the west

Mallorca's snow houses

Long before refrigerators were invented, the people of Mallorca utilised the snow of the Tramuntana to produce ice. Cases de neu, or snow houses, were built in the mountains, where the natural coolant was collected, pressed into ice and stored to be transported down to the valley in summer. This was done by snow sellers, a profession that still existed on the island until the beginning of the 20th century.

You can still admire some of these snow houses in the Tramuntana today. Most of the ruins can be found around the Puig Major, in the Massanella and Puig d'en Galileu massifs, below the Tomir peak or in the Puig des Teix area. If you want to find out more about snow sellers and other traditional professions on the island, visit the ethnological park in Caimari.