Cabrera Castle restoration project

What does it consist of?

The scope of this project to restore this historic icon of the Cabrera Archipelago ranges from the archival research through to execution of repair works in the affected areas – exterior walls, courtyard paving, the lookout, steps and terraces.

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Data

  • Mallorca

  • Govern de les Illes Balears

  • Direcció General d'Espais Naturals i Biodiversitat

  • 859.105 €

  • 859.105 €

  • 47.621 €

  • 2019

  • 2020 - 2025

  • In execution

  • Cultural heritage

  • Executed: 5.54%

  • 07.05.2025

The project

Cabrera Castle is a fortress located in the Cabrera Archipelago, to the south of Mallorca, in the largest Maritime-Terrestrial National Park in Spain.

At a height of 72 m above sea level, at the eastern end of the entrance of the natural harbour of the largest of the islands that form the archipelago, the castle is a solid hexagonal mass, which has been witness to countless events and changes in fortune throughout history.

The first historical reference dates from 1410, in a text that mentions the tower keepers, who were entrusted with the surveillance and maintenance of the early tower, and who used fire and smoke signals to warn the nearest tower, at sa Rápita, of any possible attacks on the coast of Mallorca.

In the 16th century, with the rise in sieges by pirates and corsairs in the Mediterranean, the castle was destroyed and then rebuilt at least ten times. In 1510, two Berber galleys attacked Cabrera, captured the keepers and fishermen, and destroyed the tower. Fortunately, a sudden storm meant that help was able to arrive in time to free those taken prisoner. In 1550, the Turkish corsair Turgut leading 1,500 men, took the island, took control of the castle’s artillery and completely destroyed the building. In the 16th century, after it was rebuilt, a chapel was established in the castle, where priests would come to hold mass for the garrison.

In 1715, during the War of Spanish Succession, the tower was used as a lookout for possible Bourbon raids. This was the last time that artillery was fired from the castle.

Between 1809 and 1815, Cabrera was used as a prisoner for Napoleonic soldiers and the castle was turned into a field hospital. An inscription carved into one of the fortress walls dates from that period: “Fleury Grapain prisonnier en 1809 et 1810”. The castle was also used as a quarantine hospital during epidemics.

In 1949 it was declared a site of cultural interest, as a way of protecting Spanish castles, and refurbishment works were last carried out in 1982.

The tower has spectacular views of the small island sa Conillera, the harbour mouth, with the sa Creueta peak and the Llebeig cape, Es Forn cove, s’Espalmador and sa Platgeta.

Declared a national park in 1991, the archipelago is located to the south of Mallorca and features one main island, Cabrera Gran, and 18 smaller islands, of which sa Conillera is the largest.

In 2019, legislation was passed to increase the protected surface area from 10,000 to almost 90,000 hectares, making it the largest maritime national park in the western Mediterranean area. This park will afford the highest levels of protection for threatened species, including coral, dolphins and whales.

 Restoring this piece of heritage (outer walls, steps, courtyard paving, lookout, terraces and rails), due to unavoidable erosion and humidity problems, requires the use of traditional building materials such as sandstone, an abundant and highly used material in the Balearic Islands in ancient times, and hydraulic lime mortar, combined with materials that provide greater durability, such as synthetic fibre made from epoxy resin.


Project gallery

Proyecto de restauración del Castillo de Cabrera
Proyecto de restauración del Castillo de Cabrera
Proyecto de restauración del Castillo de Cabrera
Proyecto de restauración del Castillo de Cabrera
Proyecto de restauración del Castillo de Cabrera
Proyecto de restauración del Castillo de Cabrera

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