Mahon to San Lluis

The Grand Talyot at Trepucò

For today's walk we decided it was time to see something of he prehistoric civilisation of Menorca. We constructed a route to two of the sites near to Mahon from parts of other walks in the invaluable Walk! Menorca guide.

We set out from Mahon's main square, Plaça Esplanada and along Carrer Cos de Garcia, where we enjoyed the elaborate towers and facade of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

We crossed the ring road and passed the municipal crematorium now following signs to Trepucò. One of the key features of Menorca is the dry stone walls and I rather liked the combination of shape and colour in this typical example near Trepucò.

At Trepucò you walk up a stony track to suddenly emerge in front of the Grand Talyot (picture at the head of this post). It is the largest on the island. Talyots typically have an underground chamber underneath a tall tower, and although their purpose is not known definitively, the general assumption seems to be that they were watch towers.

The Grand Talyot was damaged in 1781 when the Duke of Crillión, leading the Franco-Spanish forces against the British, adapted it for use as a gun emplacement and created a star-shaped fort around it.

Not far away is a Taula, a T-shaped stone. Taula means table and the name derives from a myth that the stones were the tables of giants. It is placed in an stone enclosure and is certainly a most impressive site.

A second, smaller Talyot stands at the rear of the current site - only a fraction of the original town, which is thought to have stretched to 500 square metres.

After this fascinating visit, we set off towards our second site at Trebalugar. We turned right out of  Trepucò and followed a straightish lane leading to the hamlet of Biniaroca. This was a pleasant, if undramatic section. There was a rather nice, rather battered cross by the road at one point.

At bit further we noticed this curious round structure in the grounds of one of the numerous large house. We saw one earlier and wondered what it was for.

We bore left at Biniaroca to then turn left on to the Me-6 road to Trebalúger (yesterday we walked for a while on the wonderfully named Me-2 road) and here at last I managed to photograph one of the many Clouded Yellow butterflies to be seen on Menorca.

A helpful sign on the edge of Trebalúger pointed us towards the Talyot which turned out to be a much simpler affair, but still imposing and mysterious.

This time it was possible to climb up to the top and see a sort of crater with stones and flowers.

And there was a great view north to the La Mola fort at the mouth of Mahon harbou.

We followed the lovely Cami Vell away from Trebalúger along a rather lovely track with meandering dry stone walls on either side ...

... and continued along country lanes through country which became more and more densely populated as we approached San Lluis. Every house seemed to have a sign warning of a guard dog.

San Lluis was founded in the 18th century by the French Marquis de Lannion. It seems all, or almost all white, notably the massive church, and is largely laid out on grid pattern designed by the Marquis. Like Es Castell, it has a windmill at either end of the town.

After a pleasant lunch with Menorcan rose wine we got a taxi back to Mahon.

Conditions: another wrm, suny day.

Distance: about 10 km.

Rating: four stars. The two Talyots were fascinating.