DRY STONE

The construction of Dry Stone walls (pedra en sec) is an ancestral technique that consists of building walls and buildings without mortar, that is, by placing the stones in such a way that they form a solid structure. Constructions made using this system pepper Mallorca’s rural landscape in the guise of field boundaries, walls, huts, horse trails, mine fountains, lime ovens and snow houses, among others.

The field boundaries, called marges, are the most plentiful Dry Stone structure, walls that delimit an area used for farming called a marjada. Especially in places with steep slopes, they have enabled the mountain slopes to be used for farming and help prevent the rain from damaging the croplands. In the Tramuntana mountain range, the field boundaries have help reclaim almost 200 km² of cultivable lands, more than 20% of the region.

Builders of Dry Stone walls are called margers, a trade documented on Mallorca since the 15th century which requires a great deal of technical knowledge. As soon as they could move stones, it was common for the children in a family to learn the trade from their father, uncles or brothers. The master made the wall and assigned the jobs, as he was the one who knew where to place each stone strategically in order to yield a solid structure.

The durability and aesthetic of Dry Stone walls are the cornerstone of the Route of the Dry Stone (GR 221), a long trail marked with signs that meets the standards of the Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada (Spanish Federation of Mountain Sports and Climbing). Travelling along this pathway is a unique chance to discover the Tramuntana mountain range on foot by walking more than 280 km along ancient horse trails that run close to the highest peaks and most solitary spots.

The route is organised into eight different legs and ten variations. At the end of each leg there is a refuge offering food and lodging. The entire route can be taken, or just some of its legs, as the itinerary can be adapted to each individual’s needs.