The village of Valldemossa
Village with great cultural heritage
The village of Valldemossa is about a 15-20 minute drive from Palma de Mallorca (30 minutes from Sóller) in the direction of the Serra de Tramuntana, but once there one feels a world away from the capital. Literally inserted in the mountains and surrounded by more mountains, Valldemossa was named after a Moorish landowner, Muza. With its exclusively pedestrian cobbled streets and rich cultural heritage, this town is a must see in Mallorca.
Below you will find all the information you need to enjoy your visit to one of the most elegant villages on the island.
History & Culture
The village at the top of Mallorca is probably the best known village on the island because the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin and his lover, the French writer George Sand, spent the winter of 1838/9 in the village in rooms they rented from the monastery. The result is that Valldemossa is the most visited village of Majorca.
In fact, Chopin and Sand did not have a very pleasant stay and in the book that Sand wrote about the experience, he made it quite clear. However, the book 'Un invierno en Mallorca' is a best seller and is available in different languages in practically every shop in Valldemossa.
Valldemossa is also home to Costa Nord - a contemporary cultural centre founded by Hollywood actor Michael Douglas, whose finca S'Estaca is located on the road that connects Valldemossa with Sóller, near Deià.
For Mallorcans, Valldemossa has an even more special connotation: it is the birthplace of the island's only saint: Santa Catalina Thomas. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the centre and reach the church of San Bartomeu; in the peaceful C/ Rectory behind the church you can visit its small house and sanctuary.
Main attractions
You can visit the Real Cartuja de Vallmodessa, which has a church and also an old pharmacy. Part of the monsterios is the palace of King Sancho, a palace that was later given to the Carthusian monks, who made it part of the monastery. It is probably one of the buildings that attracts more visitors after La Seu Cathedral. The entrance to Real Catuja includes a piano concert by Chopin.
Things to do in Valldemossa
Located just above Valldemossa, Puig des Teix is one of the most visited peaks of this mountain range. Expert hikers start at the bus stop at
Vallmodessa, they trek some 16km through the Son Marroig estate, once home to Austrian Archduke Lluis Salvador, to the summit at 1064m, where they
they find the views to be amazing. This challenging route takes about four and a half hours and the final stop is the bus stop. You can find detailed information at one of the town's tourist offices.
For a less strenuous option, you can stroll through the enigmatic cobbled streets of Valldemossa. Full of shops, boutiques and all kinds of cafés, bars and restaurants, it offers practically everything. You will also find Cocas de Patatas (the famous biscuits of Valldemossa) in every bakery.
The market of Valldemossa takes to the streets every Sunday morning. Full of colour, it is an ideal event to get to know the local products including fruits and vegetables, cheeses and Iberian ham.
07170 Valldemossa, Balearic Islands, Spain 07170 Valldemossa Spain