Entering the Castle Bellver, Palma, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

Castell de Bellver is a 14th-century Gothic castle on a wooded hill west of Palma, on the island of Mallorca. It is unusual for its circular plan, and from the top you look over the whole city and the bay. For centuries it served as a royal residence and later as a prison, and today it houses a museum about the history of Palma.

The story behind it

Bellver was built in the early 14th century for James II of Majorca, at a time when the Kingdom of Majorca was an independent realm. The name comes from Catalan and means roughly "beautiful view", which is easy to understand once you stand on the roof. Few European castles are truly round, and Bellver is one of the best known, with a central courtyard and a separate tower standing just outside the main walls.

Its role changed over the centuries. After the royal court moved on, the castle was used as a fortress and then as a state prison, and it held prisoners from different periods of Spanish history, including the 20th century. That darker chapter gives the building a very different mood from its elegant architecture. Today it is run as a city museum.

What to look for

• The perfectly round layout of the castle, which is easiest to appreciate from the courtyard and from the roof terrace.
• The two-level courtyard, where rounded arches run along the lower floor and pointed Gothic arches along the upper one.
• The detached round tower beside the castle, which stands apart from the main building and was used as a keep.
• The panoramic view from the roof, taking in Palma, its cathedral, the port and the sweep of the bay.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 1 to 2 hours for the castle itself, more if you want to walk in the surrounding pine forest.
• Late afternoon is a good time for softer light over the bay, and mornings are cooler in summer. Wear sturdy shoes, as the approach and the stairs are steep in places.
• You can go inside and climb up to the roof. Check current opening hours and entry details before you go, as they can change.
• The castle sits on a hill above the city, so plan how you will get up there, whether on foot through the woods, by bus or by taxi, and check current routes.

See it on a quest

The quest Palma de Mallorca: Prison Break from Castle Bellver takes its theme from the castle's past as a prison. You reach Bellver on foot as one stop of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot instead of just looking around. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no group to join.