Behind the Walls of Alaró Castle

Alaró Castle stands in a strategic location in the Tramuntana Mountains, dominating the landscape from a steep rock that made it almost impenetrable for centuries. Alongside Santueri Castle and El Rei Castle, it is one of three rock-based castles in Mallorca, and its existence is documented as early as the 10th century, when the Arab chronicles referred to it as Hisn Alarum—‘the Christian fortress’. This name was no coincidence: during the Muslim invasion, the square withstood more than eight years of siege before falling, an early symbol of its defensive character. Archaeological remains found in the area, however, show that occupation goes back much further: there is evidence of Talayotic presence, as well as Roman and Byzantine remains, confirming that this cliff was used as a lookout for millennia.

After the Christians conquered Mallorca, the castle was used as a military bastion, and soon played a leading role in one of the most famous events of the Middle Ages in Mallorca: the resistance of Guillem Cabrit and Guillem Bassa. In 1285, during the conflict between the Kingdom of Mallorca and the Crown of Aragon, both defended the fortress against the troops of Alfonso III in the name of Jaume II. Legend has it that, when ordered to surrender, they responded in a mocking tone: ‘Here we only know one king: Jaume, and Anfós is eaten stewed’ (Anfós is the Mallorcan word for ‘Alfonso’ and also a type of fish). Their mockery angered the monarch, who ordered them to be roasted alive ‘like goats’. Their martyrdom had such an impact that, for centuries, they were revered as the people’s heroes. In fact, Pope Martin IV himself went so far as to excommunicate the Aragonese king for his brutal retaliation. Today, their names remain inseparable from the castle’s history, and relics attributed to them are kept in the castle’s oratory.

The current structure of Alaró Castle, as can be seen in its ruins, is the result of several different phases of construction between the 14th and 15th centuries. There are still sections of the walls, five defence towers and the keep, popularly known as Es Constipador (literally ‘The Blocker’). According to tradition, this name refers to the wind that constantly blows over the top and gives a blocked nose to anyone who stays up there for too long. But the character of the site changed radically in the 17th century, when the Oratory of Mare de Déu del Refugi (Our Lady of the Refuge) was built. The former military stronghold then became a place of worship and a destination for local pilgrimages. For generations, the residents of Alaró and nearby towns went on a pilgrimage every first Sunday after Easter to honour the Virgin and remember the martyrs Cabrit and Bassa.

Beyond its military and religious history, the castle is also valuable heritage in terms of archaeology and nature. Inside the enclosure you can still see wells, ovens and cisterns that ensured survival during long sieges, as well as the mysterious ‘Torre de sa Cova’, partially carved into the rock and used as a medieval prison. Also, the immediate surroundings of the castle form part of the Natura 2000 Network, listed as a Site of Community Importance and a Special Protection Area. The summit is home to species endemic to the Tramuntana Mountains, and you can often see peregrine falcons flying over the crumbling walls, like a living echo of the site’s warring past.

Alaró Castle has gone through centuries of partial abandonment, restoration attempts and management changes. In 1931 it was declared a Cultural Interest Asset (BIC), one of the first Mallorcan monuments to receive this protection. Today, its conservation is managed by the Alaró Castle Foundation, which coordinates efforts between the diocese, the town council and private owners. But keeping it standing doesn’t just mean preserving its stone: it also means protecting the legends, historical documents and traditions behind it.

Alaró Castle is therefore much more than a medieval fortress. It is a place where history, myth and nature intertwine: a space that has been a talayot, a bastion, a sanctuary, a prison and a spiritual sanctuary. Its ruins speak of battles and conquests, but also of worship, resistance and collective memory. From the heights of the Tramuntana Mountains, this ancient rock sentinel silently guards the traces of those who have lived in and defended it, making it essential heritage for understanding Mallorca.