Campanet Holidays
An idyllic rural village in north-western Majorca, Campanet lures peace-seekers with its unspoilt streets, pretty square and glorious local countryside and coast.
Close that golden, sunbed-covered beach brochure. If you're craving rest and relaxation, you're much better off in this idyllic village spread beneath Majorca's Serra de Tramuntana mountains.
Nuzzled by orange, fig and almond groves, forested peaks and rolling farmland, the village oozes a get-away-from-it-all mood that synchronises seamlessly with the surrounding rural scenery. Here, time seems to have frozen in the serene main plaza and church, as well as in the cosy bars, shops and restaurants occasionally encrusted into the stone-clad streets.
Visit the square on Tuesdays though and you'll witness another, livelier Campanet. You'll be greeted with a colourful open-air market perfect for buying bottles of the sweet, locally made olive oil and fresh produce cultivated in the nearby fields.
Talking of the countryside, it's hard to stay away. All around Campanet, you'll find hiking trails and scenic roads leading to cool, pine-wooded mountains, pretty villages and rustic inns. Places to go include the atmospheric Lluc Monastery, with its legend-shrouded statue of the Virgin Mary and traditional Deya, where the home of the poet Robert Graves is now a poignant museum. And don't miss Campanet's caves or 18th century Valldemosa where a honey-stoned abbey rises up against a curtain of rugged mountains.
When touristy things beckon, travel to the buzzing sands and shops of nearby Puerto Pollensa or Alcudia. Or if seclusion's more your thing, choose nearby Formentor, with its pine-backed sands and glittering turquoise waters.
Back at base, Campanet's nightlife hardly ruffles the surface of the evening with entertainments confined to candlelit hotel suppers or a village restaurant or bar terrace. Go with it - it's all part of Campanet's irresistible magic.
If you crave some sand, a drive up to the Bay of Alcudia with its huge swathe of beach will satisfy your desires. If you prefer sand of the bunker variety there is a good choice of top-notch golf courses in the area so don't forget to pack your clubs. For some more cultural pursuits, the rugged coastline has plenty of sights to whet the appetite. The monastery at Lluc dates back to the 7th century, built after a shepherd claimed he saw an image of the Madonna sitting on a rock. The museum here has some interesting artifacts and a small art collection: you can follow your visit with a walk along the rocks. You may even be lucky enough to catch your own glimpse of the Virgin Mary.
If fresh, fragrant mountain air, breathtaking vistas of fertile valleys and luxurious surroundings are what you're dreaming of then take your next holidays in Campanet. Nestled in the foothills of Majorca's Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, this small town offers an authentic taste of the island most holidaymakers never experience.
The limestone caves and underground lakes of Campanet are perhaps the town's most famous attraction, while the gothic chapel of St Miguel and the weekly Tuesday market are equally inviting. It's a walkers' paradise and golfers will enjoy comparing the courses in the area too. After a hike enjoy a welcome drink in one of the bars in the town square.
To be honest, a drink and a delicious meal are about the extent of the nightlife in Campanet, but you'll find more variety and later hours in nearby Puerto Pollensa and Alcudia. But if you stay at the impressive Hotel Monnaber Nou you may not want to stray too far. With guided mountain walks, horseriding in the hotel's estate and a spa on offer no-one would blame you.
Or hire a car and explore this stunning and remote corner of Majorca when you travel to Campanet. The scenery - mountain peaks plunging to rugged cliffs and hidden coves, vivid green groves and sleepy rural villages - is truly captivating.
So, for a low-key, relaxing break in the Balearics, try holidays to Campanet. You'll be one of the few to explore this often overlooked corner of Majorca. In fact, you may decide to keep it your own secret…