Sights in Balearic Islands
They are probably one of the most popular travel destinations for island holidays in Europe: the Balearic Islands. The archipelago encompasses much more than the main islands Mallorca and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera – but the other islands are uninhabited or Dragonera and Pantaleu are under nature protection. A small exception is Cabrera, which is also under nature protection – the small island with just 16 square meters and a very manageable number of inhabitants, which you can reach from Mallorca by ferry… however, private visits there are very limited. However, you will find a variety of scenic attractions everywhere in the Balearic Islands. Plenty of sun as well, because the islands offer 300 days of sunshine a year. And a moderate Mediterranean climate with pleasant temperatures in summer and mild, dry winters. The best conditions for a beach holiday, for an active holiday with bike tours, hikes to the Sierra del Norte or just leisurely walks on the beach in secluded bays, for promenades and for long, mild nights in bars and clubs or at parties with a Spanish flair. You can also look forward to various sporting opportunities… even in smaller tourist centers. The program includes surfing, diving, parachute sailing, and more and more golf courses are being added. And finally, the Balearic Islands also have a cultural side that you will encounter in the museums of Palma, but also with wonderful fincas, some beautiful historical buildings, the Sunday hippie market in Formentera or the prominent guests that you will meet mainly on Ibiza can.
Cami de Cavalls
beautiful hiking trail in Menorca
If you want to explore the Spanish island of Menorca in all its beauty on one trip, the historic Cami de Cavalls hiking trail is the perfect option. The long-distance hiking trail on the island of the Balearic Islands has a length of 185 kilometers and leads once around the island. Due to its length, the Cami de Cavalls, which translates as “path for horses” from Catalan, can of course only be mastered in individual stages. The advantage is that the path is completely accessible nowadays. Although large parts of the route still run on private property, these have been freely accessible again for several years.
Starting point of the Cami de Cavalls in Mao
The trail starts in Mao, the capital of the Balearic island of Menorca. It is located in the eastern part of Menorca. From the starting point in Mao, the route runs north and thus counterclockwise. Although the hiking trail provides for a route that is always close to the sea, you can still enjoy not only fantastic views of the sea and dreamy sandy bays, but also other natural beauties such as idyllic pastures or forests and gorges.
Charming places along the Cami de Cavalls
There are also interesting places such as Ciutadella along the way. The municipality was the capital of Menorca for many centuries and has an old town that is well worth seeing. During your stay, you should pay a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Ciutadella, which was completed in the 14th century. It is the largest Gothic building in Menorca and is a very fine example of the Catalan Gothic style. In addition, the Cami de Cavalls passes, among other things, Punta Prima, a district of the municipality of Sant Luis in the southeast of Menorca. It is particularly valued by tourists for its fine sandy beach. Also in Punta Prima is the Torre de Son Ganxo, an imposing defensive tower that was built during the British occupation of Menorca in the 18th century.
Ses Salines Natural Park
If you are in Ibiza, the third largest island in the Balearic Islands, you should definitely not miss the Ses Salines Natural Park. The reserve extends from the southern tip of Ibiza to the north of Formentera. Ses Salines is one of the most fascinating natural landscapes in the Balearic Islands and has even been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The landscape offers a habitat for numerous native animals. Among other things, flamingos can be observed on the coast all year round. Especially in the winter months, more than 200 different bird species can be found in Ses Salines, which can be observed here, among other things, while they are breeding. In addition, the very special flora within the area is influenced by the high salt content of the earth.
Largest underwater meadows in the Mediterranean
The more than 15,000 hectare nature park is world famous for its impressive salt mountains, which form the basis for one of the most important salt extraction areas in the Mediterranean. The nature park got its name from the huge wetlands of the salt pans, which have existed for several centuries. In addition, the only natural park on Ibiza has some of the most beautiful beaches on the island, such as Las Salinas and Es Cavallet. The largest underwater meadows in the entire Mediterranean, which are also part of the nature park, are located off the coast.
Menorca – Mallorca’s green sister
Menorca and Mallorca are Spanish islands. The name Menorca means “the smaller one” and the name Mallorca means “the bigger one”. While Mallorca is familiar to many as an inexpensive holiday paradise, most of Menorca’s green secret are still unknown. Discover the beautiful holiday island in the Balearic Islands now.
Gentle south – green landscape in the middle – wild coast in the north
The capital of the 700km² island of Menorca is Maó or Mahón. In tradition, Hannibal’s brother gives the city its name. The landscape of the dream island is shaped by “Tramuntana” and “Migjorn”. The mountain landscape in the north forms unique natural harbors and the hills in the south enclose charismatic gorges and wide beaches.
In the heart of Menorca there are impressive forests and lush fields. In the romantic idyll of white painted farmhouses, old fishing villages and historic stone walls, the traditional Mahón Menorca cheese has been made for centuries. His name is protected by the European Union. The tasty hard cheese is made from cow’s milk and a treat for every gourmet. It is a raw milk cheese with a rind made from olive oil. Delicious samples await you on a farm tour.
Menorca – The perfect destination for nature travel
Mallorca’s little sister is a perfect destination for those who love the environment. There are hardly any large hotels. The accommodations blend harmoniously into the landscape. This will make you feel right at home. The island has also been protected by UNESCO since 1993 and half of it is a biosphere reserve. This is a region with an official model character and role model function for sustainable development.
UNESCO would like to use a real example to show how ecological, economic and social needs are met, while at the same time consideration is given to the resources for future generations. That is why Menorca is a particularly attractive idea for naturalists and study trips. In Menorca you will get to know friendly people, discover historical cities and experience an unexpected adventure. On the natural island of Menorca in Spain you are personally an active part of an extraordinary experiment for modern and innovative nature conservation.
Take part.
Sights and activities
The Camí de Cavalls is a hiking trail around the island. The 185 km can be comfortably hiked in 13 stages. The perfect souvenir of the island of Mencorca are the avarcas, sandals, formerly made of flat-rolled rubber tires with two leather strips on them, today available in countless variations. In Ferreries you will find the shoe factories with their shops. Those interested in culture will be delighted by the 32 open-air museums on Menorca.
Study trips in the Baltic States
The Baltic states are on the one hand a geographical region with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, on the other hand a historical region in which West Prussia, East Prussia and the Memelland also fall under this term. Geographically or historically: the northern European region on the east coast of the Baltic Sea is a holiday destination that has a lot to offer both in terms of landscape and culture. The landscape is primarily characterized by forest, moraines and dunes and often still very pristine nature. The cities of Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tartu, Kaunas, Klaipeda and Liepaja characterize the cultural area of the overall relatively sparsely populated Baltic States. But you will also encounter smaller, old, partly beautifully restored towns and Hanseatic cities, magnificent country estates, to a number of castles and palaces and also to idyllic villages. The great sights of the Baltic States are located in the main sites. Vilnius in Lithuania, whose scenery is composed of Gothic, Classicism, Renaissance and especially Baroque and whose city center is around a castle hill with the Gedaminas Tower. Lithuania is also worthwhile for a trip to the Curonian Spit with its scenic play of colors of sand dunes, reed meadows and forests, or for a visit to the old capital Trakai with its water castle, which is well worth seeing. With Riga, Lithuania offers a once mighty Hanseatic city with medieval streets, impressive buildings and the largest church in the Baltic States – but above all, Riga is considered the treasure trove of Art Nouveau. After all, the Estonian capital Tallinn shows most clearly the modern.
