Castell del Rei, Pollença, Spain

Pollença’s most emblematic monument is the Castell del Rei, one of the island’s three rock fortresses in the Valley of Ternelles, approximately 492 meters high. In Roman times, it was used as a fortification, and during the Muslim period it was (along with the Castle of Alaró) the last stronghold of resistance from the troops of Jaume I of Aragon, who invaded Mallorca in 1229. They resisted until March 1231.

Another prominent historical fact related to the castle was the resistance offered in 1343, and during a three-month siege, by the last of those faithful to the king of Mallorca Jaume III, after he lost his kingdom and had annexed to the Crown of Aragon.

The castle was used as a watchtower rather than grounds for defence. It was abandoned in the 18th century and is currently in ruins, of private ownership and closed to the public. Currently the road leading to the castle has been reason for controversy. Although it is a public road, the owners have managed to restrict access.

References:

Sealand Villas

Castles and fortifications in Spain

User Reviews

Irene Fernández Nuevo (6 years ago)
Ramon, el guia, una pasada! Nos ha encsntado!

Magda Cáceres (6 years ago)
Un paseo increible! Fuimos un grupo de amigos y hemos quedado satisfechos con la visita...la recomiendo totalmente, quedamos muy agradecidos con el guía! Tiene mucha paciencia y conocimiento lo cual te transmite! Se nota que le gusta lo que hace...es una pena no poder subir al castillo pero entendemos que es para preservar la naturaleza!

Vanessa Sanchez (7 years ago)
Es una pena q ya no se pueda visitar el castillo ni la cala, haces un recorrido acompañado de un guía que te ayuda en el avistamiento de buitres y te facilitan unos prismáticos. El castillo lo ves de lejos, igual que la cala... Total unos 13km, si te gusta ver aves, es una excursión para ti... si no.... yo no la recomiendo, te vas a quedar con las ganas y además en época de calor es horrible.

Frank Witthinrich (7 years ago)
Leichte Wanderung über gute wirtschaftswege die man aber mit dem weg zur carla de Ray kombinieren sollte da ist der Aufstieg weil der so lang ist jedoch nicht zu unterschätzen einziger Nachteil ist das vorherige einholen der wandergenehmigung

Tony Flisch (8 years ago)
Stunning walk through managed woodland. Need permit from tourist office

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Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

Castell del Rei

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