The small town of Valldemossa is located about 18 kilometres north of Palma de Mallorca and another two kilometres to the airport. Around 1,500 people live in this town, which is located amidst a picturesque mountain landscape.
History
The village became well-known rather through a particularly bad review. In the winter of 1838/39, the French writer George Sand came to Valldemossa and spent her winter holiday with her beloved. In her opinion, it was incredibly bad and she thus wrote a travelogue about the Mallorcan village and its inhabitants. This report was actually read by only a few people, but almost everyone knows it. To the advantage of the small mountain village, more and more tourists came to get their own impression of the place.
Valldemossa
You will find several restaurants, cafés, bakeries and small delicatessens right in the centre of town and every Saturday morning there is a small market where you can buy fresh food. The restaurants and cafés are not particularly cheap, but the location and quality contribute to an extremely pleasant atmosphere.
As the mountain village is situated on a high plateau in the Tramontana Mountains, it is an excellent starting point for hikes. The most common destination is the summit of Puig des Teix, a 1,064-metre mountain that rises above the small village. Once at the top, you have the best views over the north coast of Mallorca.
Culture
If you want to avoid the tourist crowds, leave the busy streets and follow the cobblestone alleys that wind through the village. These also contribute to the special charm of the village and lead to beautiful little houses. This is where you can unwind in peace and quiet. If you are interested in Majorcan culture, visit the monastery Real de la Cartuja or the Museo Frédéric Chopin y George Sand.
You will also find the Costa Nord cultural centre in Valldemossa today. This is very popular among tourists; after all, it was founded on the initiative of the US actor Michel Douglas. In addition to interesting information about the flora and fauna of the Serra de Tramontana, the mountain range surrounding Valdemossa, tourists can also find out about various cultural events that take place on a regular basis. Furthermore, a short documentary is shown in which Michael Douglas addresses the guests and offers Majorcan products for tasting.
