Majorca in the winter

At the beginning of the 19th Century the composer Frederic Chopin together with his lover George Sands spent the winter in Valledemosa. The outcome of his stay is that the Parisian writer wrote her account of “A winter in Majorca”, where her french and cosmopolitan mentality of that era clashed head on with the puritan and conservative mentality of a rural Majorca in the 19th Century. If George Sands who dressed as a man and smoked, was to re-write his work today, he would most certainly speak marvels of Valledemosa and the people of Majorca.

During winter months, the days have fewer hours of sunlight. Majorca appears like it is enveloped in an almost magical vapour. The tenuous,soft and faint light, marks the winter feeling in Majorca. The valleys and the mountains seem to be subject to this luminous effect, as if the tops were shrinking and withdrawing into the flat land and hillsides in an act of submission to the sun. The rain waters the whole of Majorca in winter, the snow makes its presence on the most elevated points,the trees are bare and awaiting the arrival of the next spring season. But life does not come to a standstill in Majorca. The people move from the coast to the interior of the island, making it the turn of the villages and the capital to be full of life. In spite of the fact that the weather can be at its worse, there are plenty of phenomenal activities available.



There is nothing like having a walk in the mountains when the weather permits. The Serra de Tramuntana is at its best. The reservoirs of Cúber & Gorg Blau look like swiss lakes, full of life, freshness and greenery. The routes, such as the Torrente de Pareis, the camino del Archiduque, from Randa to the Monastery of Cura, and go up to the Monastery of Lluc, are all popular routes used by the Majorcans who love to go for walks in the mountains. The bicycle is a good companion in winter. The routes between the villages shown as touristic bicycle routes, are activities of immense beauty. The winter in Majorca is also a time to enjoy horse riding. There are various stables around the entire Island to enable the practice of this sport, either for beginners or experienced riders. The activity in the yacht clubs is not reduced as residents still go out to sail and also prepare their boats in the winter. The sea in winter has two sides to it, the friendly and affable, and the stormy. Our most experienced navigators know this only too well. The star activity to practice in the winter is golf. The golf courses of Son Vida, Aucanada, Santa Ponsa, Puntiró, Pulla & many more are at their best in the winter season so that the fans of this sport can enjoy their winter in Majorca.



The villages and the capital of Majorca are dressed for winter. Their bars, squares, restaurants and shops are full of life. In Majorca, the winter is the best time to appreciate our gastronomy. The sausages such as the sobrassada & the botifarró are the queens of the barbecues and local festivals such as Sant Antoni in Sa Pobla & Sant Sebastià in Palma. The llom amb col (pork fillet with cabbage and seasonal mushrooms) is one of our most popular dishes. In winter, a stroll through the town is a must. The cellars, cafeterias & bars serve hot drinks such as a mug of hot chocolate. The streets of Palma and the villages appear to fade away like the suns rays in winter. The old town of Palma with its enormous, historical buildings, seems to languish for the effect of the sun, and the desire for better weather to arrive. On a cultural level, the exhibitions, museums, concerts, readings and fashionable shows are the order of the day.

Majorca in winter changes its summer climate for colder temperatures. Exchanging its summer appearance to one of a winter flavour. Everthing becomes much calmer and quieter in the winter. But, Majorca does not come to a standstill and is still dynamic even in the winter.