Bellver Castle
Bellver Castle features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Palma de Mallorca. Give it roughly ~75 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type castle
- Suggested visit ~75 min
- Palma de Mallorca Palma de Mallorca guide
About Bellver Castle
A rare circular Gothic castle on a wooded hill west of the city, built for King James II around 1300, ringed by round towers and now home to Palma's history museum, with huge bay views.
Bellver Castle crowns a pine-covered hill about three kilometres west of the centre of Palma, some 112 metres above the sea. It was built in the early 14th century for King James II of Majorca, with the main work carried out around 1300 to 1311 by the master mason Pere Salva among others. Its plan is unusual in Europe: a circle, with a round inner courtyard, three round towers set into the wall and a detached round keep joined to the castle by a high bridge over the moat.
The castle served first as a residence of the Kings of Majorca, withstood sieges in 1343 and 1391, and for centuries was used as a prison; the statesman Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos was held here from 1802 to 1808. In 1931 the Second Republic gave the castle and its woods to the city, and from 1932 it has housed the Museu d'Historia de Palma, the city history museum. Its name comes from the Catalan for beautiful view, which the ramparts amply repay.
Did you know? Bellver is one of only a handful of fully circular castles in Europe, with a round courtyard, three round towers in the wall and a detached round keep reached by a bridge over the moat.
How long is a visit to Bellver Castle?
Set aside roughly ~75 min for Bellver Castle. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Bellver Castle worth your time?
Bellver Castle is among the 13 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Palma de Mallorca, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Palma de Mallorca
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Bellver Castle and read more:
Day 2 of the Palma de Mallorca in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Bellver Castle
Preview the Palma de Mallorca tour free in the Gingerguide app.