# Valldemossa

Valldemossa is a village in the hills of Serra de Tramuntana in Mallorca, with a population of 2000 in 2023. The reason to visit is its 14th century Charterhouse, which has been a palace, monastery, secular accommodation and now a museum. George Sand stayed there with Frédéric Chopin and wrote an uncomplimentary travel novel, Un hiver à Majorque, "A Winter in Majorca". Warmer in his words was Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria, who became a champion for Mallorca wildlife, and settled in nearby Deià.

## Get in

Valldemossa is 20 km north of Palma de Mallorca by highway Ma-1110. From the airport head northwest to join Palma ring road. Use the large parking lot at the edge of the village.
TIB$^{[deadlink]}$ Bus 203 runs hourly from Palma, taking 30 minutes and continuing to Deià, Sóller (another 40 min) and Port de Sóller.
Valldemossa is on GR 221 long-distance hiking trail ("Ruta de Pedra en Sec - route of the dry stone walls"), which leads over nine stages from Port d'Andratx along the west coast and through the mountains of Serra de Tramuntana to Pollença.

## Get around

Valldemossa is small enough for walking.

## See

* A total solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, starting at 20:31 and lasting 90 seconds. The chances of a clear sky are 65%, but you need to be on the coast with a clear view to the horizon, as the sun will be setting over the sea. A few minutes later, sunset ends the show.
* Charterhouse of Valldemossa (Museu Cartoixa), Plaça Cartoixa, ☏ + 34 971 612106. M-F 10:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-16:00. This was built circa 1300 as a royal palace by Jaume II but in 1399 became a Carthusian monastery. This monastic order takes its name from the Chartreuse Mountains in France, and is also rendered in English as "charterhouse". The church was rebuilt in neoclassical style in 1751. In 1835 the Spanish government seized this and other church property, to reduce national debt and promote a modern economy; they were about as successful with that as their century of previous confiscations had been. The monks' cells thus became available for rent, the most famous occupants being Frédéric Chopin with George Sand in winter 1838/39. Part of the complex remained palatial (Palau del Rei Sanxo, included on same ticket), and this often has recitals of Chopin's music. Adult €12. (updated Sep 2024)
* Fundació Coll Bardolet is an art exhibition space at Via Blanquerna 4 by the Charterhouse, open daily 10:00-18:00. Josep Coll i Bardolet (1912-2007) was a painter who settled here in 1944.
* Church of Sant Bartomeu is 200 m east of the Charterhouse, at C Rectoria 10.
* Birthplace of St Catalina is a shrine next to the church at C Rectoria 5. Caterina Tomàs i Gallard (1531-74) is Mallorca's patron saint. She was born here and worked as a farmhand until entering the convent of St Mary Magdalen in Palma, where she's entombed. She was beautified in 1792 and canonised in 1930. Her feast day is 5 April, but in Valldemossa it's 27/28 July.

## Do

* Golf: Son Termes is the nearest course, in Palmanyola.
* Horse-riding: there are ten equestrian centres between Palma and Palmanyola.
* Fiestas on 28 July celebrate St Catalina, and on 24 Aug St Bartomeu.
* Artdemossa is an arts festival, nowadays held at the end of August.

## Buy

* Supermarket Coaliment is at Marquès de Vivot 8 by the Charterhouse, open daily 09:00-20:30.
* 39.66662.64071 Lafiora (6 km S of Valldemossa on Ma-1110), ☏ +34 971 611800. Feb-Nov M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa 9:00-13:00, Dec-Jan M-F 09:00-14:00. Glass workshop. (updated Sep 2024)

## Eat

       "The food is expensive, includes too much pig, and the peasants are as unpleasant as dishonest. The smell of bad olive oil stinks."
          - A Winter in Majorca by George Sand.
Can Uetam is an upscale restaurant with rooms, open 12:00-22:00.
A dozen other places cluster along main street by the Charterhouse.

## Drink

The restaurants and cafes serve alcohol.

## Sleep

* 39.71052.62241 Marton Hotel, C Rei Sanxo 7, ☏ +34 690 251333. Pleasant central hotel, some street noise. B&B double €150. (updated Sep 2024)
* 39.70952.6232 Ca's Papà Sweet Hotel, Jovellanos 8, ☏ +34 971 612808. Comfy small place south side of village. B&B double €150. (updated Sep 2024)
* 39.71032.62383 Es Petit Hotel de Valldemossa, C Uetam 1, ☏ +34 971 612479. Great reviews for this cosy central hotel. (updated Sep 2024)
* 39.71112.62714 Hotel Sa Vall, Son Escanyelles 19, ☏ +34 667 777710. Charming small hotel east edge of village. B&B double €130. (updated Sep 2024)
* 39.70392.63025 Hotel Mirabó de Valldemossa, off highway km 16, ☏ +34 661 285215. Beautiful finca up a hairpin lane south of the village. B&B double €250. (updated Sep 2024)

## Connect

As of September 2024, Valldemossa and its approach roads have 4G from Masmovil, Orange and Vodafone, and 5G from Movistar.

## Go next

* Sóller has a historic centre. An ancient train connects it to Palma, and an equally ancient tram rumbles down to Port de Sóller.
* Palma de Mallorca the capital needs a couple of days to explore.