Les Mallorquines: History and Catalan Traditions

Les Mallorquines offers several tangible points of interest for travellers interested in regional history and everyday Catalan culture. These include a house dating from the 15th or 16th century, the history of the Royal Road, a medieval bridge and the tradition of the Joc dels Ous. Cuisine and wine complement this cultural focus. If you are looking for a hotel, these themes can help you find a destination that suits your interests.

Houses and Historic Routes

Can Brugués is one of the houses in the settlement of Mallorquines that can be dated to the 15th or 16th century. Carrer de les Mallorquines offers a different perspective on history. It is a section of the Royal Road that connected Hostalric and Girona. Can Brugués anchors the settlement’s history in a specific period; the Royal Road adds the historical link between two places.

The Pont de la riera de Vallcanera

The Pont de la riera de Vallcanera was built between the 13th and 14th centuries. Compared with Can Brugués, which can be dated to the 15th or 16th century, the bridge is of an earlier date. It is described as a single-span bridge with a round arch and a span of about 10 metres. The crossing itself also has a clearly defined form: it runs over two slopes, is about 4 metres wide and is bordered by stone parapets. Span and width refer to different measurements: the former refers to the arch, the latter to the crossing. An information panel at the bridge currently provides access to digital reconstructions of the structure.

Joc dels Ous and Catalan Cuisine

The Joc dels Ous clearly distinguishes between historical accounts and present-day practice. According to the orally transmitted origin story, farm workers in the surrounding area were paid in eggs around Easter. On Easter Tuesday, they went to the village’s inns to play for the eggs in the “joc del 31”. Today, the Joc dels Ous activity is centred at Hostal Mallorquines, where the eggs used in the tradition are also sold.

The Hostal Mallorquines restaurant offers a daily changing menu based on traditional Catalan cuisine and using products from the surrounding area. The Hostal Mallorquines wine cellar offers house wine made using the establishment’s traditional methods.

Transport and Services Along the Historic Road

The presence of the hostal along the historic road is likely to have initially encouraged the settlement of people who supported the transport of goods and travellers, repaired carriages and cared for draft animals. This historical context draws attention not only to the road itself, but also to the practical work that accompanied travel along it.

For the broader travel overview: Sils.