Secrets of Valldemossa: beyond Chopin and George Sand

Valldemossa is a beautiful village located on the island of Mallorca, where secrets and treasures are hidden and waiting to be discovered by the most curious visitors. This enclave exudes history, tradition, and a love for its natural surroundings, which is why it has become one of the most popular destinations on the island!

At ROIG we are a car hire company in Mallorca, so we know every corner of the island. On this occasion, we want to show you the best secrets of Valldemossa. Will you join us?

Valldemossa: A village with charm and cultural wealth

Valldemossa is a village located just 17 kilometres from Palma de Mallorca, right in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range and you can reach it easily with your hire car in Mallorca. When you park, you will find yourself in front of a charming medieval village with cobbled streets and excellent views of the mountains.

Being very close to the capital, it has become one of the best things to do in Mallorca.

In addition to being a very attractive place for tourists, Valldemossa also has a rich historical legacy, which makes it a very interesting and special place. Its name means “Valley of Mussa”, in honour of the Arab nobleman who lived here during the period of Islamic domination.

In 1231, when Mallorca was reconquered by King James I, his son and heir, Sancho, commissioned the construction of his palace in this small town.

The Valldemossa Charterhouse: history and art within its walls

The Valldemossa Charterhouse is the highest place in the village and is located at the foot of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This building is divided into several areas, including the following:

Charterhouse Museums

The museums of the Charterhouse of Mallorca house the historical and artistic legacy of the Carthusian monks, the founders of this building. Here you will find manuscripts and objects of interest, such as those belonging to the Polish composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin and the French writer George Sand.

The Charterhouse Church

The Church of La Cartuja de Valldemossa is in neoclassical style and its construction began in 1751, in the same place where the old church was located. This church was consecrated in 1812 and still functions as such. Inside, we can contemplate the plan in the shape of a Latin cross with a barrel vault and a dome at the intersection of the ribs.

The old pharmacy

On leaving the church, you will come across the old pharmacy founded by the monks in the 18th century. This is the third oldest pharmacy in Spain. The Carthusian monks cultivated medicinal herbs in a small garden and then made their own remedies. Here you can see an extensive collection of objects typical of a pharmacy of the period, such as jars, pots, glass bottles, scales, etc.

Routes and natural landscapes: exploring the surroundings of Valldemossa

But the village of Valldemossa is not the only beautiful thing in the area. As we mentioned earlier, this medieval enclave is located at the foot of the Mallorca mountain range, so it has a number of interesting places worth visiting. 

If you enjoy travelling by car, but don’t want to drive, at ROIG rent a car Mallorca we have the perfect solution for you. This is our chauffeur-driven car hire service in Mallorca, where a professional driver will take you to the places you want to visit.

In the surroundings of Valldemossa there are a lot of beautiful villages and places you should not miss. For example, Deià, Sóller, Fornalutx, Estellencs, Andratx and Banyalbufar. Also not to be missed is the Monastery of Lluc, a place of pilgrimage in the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana which is considered the spiritual centre of Mallorca.

Traditions and local gastronomy: discovering the flavours of Valldemossa

Finally, we could not say goodbye to Valldemossa without making a special mention of its rich gastronomy. The culinary offer in Mallorca is very complete and varied, as well as being very good value for money. Moreover, in Valldemossa you will find some traditional restaurants that will make you lick your fingers with each of their dishes.

These are some of the dishes you must try on your holiday to Mallorca:

• Arrós brut: The name “dirty rice” is due to the colour of the broth, cloudy and brownish, given by the spices and the chopped liver added at the end of cooking.

• Ensaimada mallorquina: It is made from strong flour, eggs, sugar, sourdough, and lard. It is perfect for breakfast or as a snack.

• Tumbet: This dish is a mixture of aubergines, potatoes and roasted red peppers, with tomato and garlic.

• Empanadas: The empanadas from Mallorca have their origins in Jewish culture, as evidenced by some of their ingredients such as unleavened bread and lamb.

• Sopa mallorquina: This is a soup made with tomato, cauliflower, peas, onion, artichokes, cabbage, spinach, and green pepper.

• Sobrassada: Sobrassada is a sausage made with pork, paprika and salt, which is cured for several months.

• Cocas: This dish is an essential part of the island’s recipe book and is reminiscent of a pizza. It has a dough base on which the different fillings made with seasonal products are spread. 

Remember that, when your holiday is over and you have to return home, you can do it through our airport transfer service, which is a kind of taxi in Mallorca. This way, you won’t have to worry about public transport timetables or carrying your luggage.

Now that you know Valldemossa’s best-kept secrets, it’s time to look at the car hire offers in Mallorca and choose the one that best suits you. Visit our ROIG website and enjoy the professionalism, experience, and reliability of our service.