Castell del Rei, Pollenca - Ruined Castle

The hike to this remote mountain castle, 7 km north of Pollenca, is one of the most popular in Mallorca. The castle is on a large private estate and you have to apply for permission at the Town Hall in Pollenca to get access. Please note that this permission can take up to four days to be granted. Walk from Pollenca to avoid parking problems and allow at least five hours for the round trip.

You get there by taking the small country road to Ternelles opposite Pollenca's Roman bridge. Stay on this road until it ends at the gate to the estate. The walk then climbs gently through a cool pine forest, eventually reaching the castle, 490m above sea level. Founded by the Moors and strengthened by Jaume I, this was the last fortress to surrender to Pedro of Aragon when the brief-lived kingdom of Mallorca came to an end. It has been abandoned since 1715 and would be terribly romantic if it were not for the crowds.