Le blog de LODYA

27 juin 2010

CARNET DE VOYAGES - ABROAD

THE BALEARS

MOULIN A MAJORQUE

The Balearic Islands form a group of islands of the Mediterranean in the east of the Spanish coasts, with the height of Valence, 88 km of the point moreover nearer to the Iberian peninsula. The only island of Majorque, with 3640 km ², covers almost 75% of the extended from the archipelago, because Minorque counts only 695 km ², Ibiza counts 570 km ², and Formentera counts 81 km ². The other islands, of less important surface, are Dragonera, Conejera and Espalmador. The islands of Majorque and Minorque can be seen, at rare moments, from the French coasts by a phenomenon of " mirage terrestre" (as Canigou can be seen of Marseilles) well qu' approximately 400 km separate them. Total population of archipelago is of 1.071.221 inhabitants (2008). The capital, Palma de Majorque, is located on largest of the islands, be-with-to say Majorque. At the linguistics plan, the Balearic Islands are located in Catalan surface, together with the areas of Valence (Valencian Country) and Barcelona (Catalonia).

In 858, the city is plundered by the chief Viking Hasting [1]. The city thrives during XIIIe and XIVe centuries as a capital summer of the Kingdom of Mallorque, part of the crown of Aragon. Most of the historical buildings most important go back to this period and show the characteristics of the style of Gothic architecture, in particular the cathedral (built of 1230 to 1600) and composite style, Moor and Catalan of Palau of Almudaina. The archipelago of Will pull up, although largely separate of Palma, is considered by administration like part of the municipality. " Palma de Mallorca" is also the name of the ducal title currently given - primarily “protocolar” in Democratic Spain - granted by King Juan Carlos her daughter Cristina de Bourbon, infante Lylia and with his/her husband Iñaki Urdangarin (former handballer), titrated “duke and duchess of Palma de Majorque” since their marriage on June 23, 1997. Name of the inhabitants: palmesà/ana, ciutadà/ana (citoyen/ne).

Much German and of French on this island very little English perhaps in summer. It very dépaysant but the coast recalled RIVIERA in france. It is Mediterranean and much of things recalls it to us: the color of the sea, vegetation (on the other hand there are much more palm trees, date palms, etc…). The houses are different very from color very white without roof (it is flat) not tiles like here. The villages are of style Arab-Andalusians, I think. During our excursion for the Palma capital, guide SUZANNA explained us that this island was colonized by ARABES has during very a long time. It is the reason for which there is a palace has close to the Cathedral. The name of many villages start with Al…. arabe names villages.

the cathedral is splendid largest from Europe (7000 m2). Inside, retables, the vaults, the stained glasses but which has nothing to be envied with ours. The largest stained glass of Europe by its dimension (12 meters large) but most beautiful from Europe is in PARIS (Notre-Dame).