Camí de Cavalls

Route of the path 'Camí de Cavalls'

The Camí de Cavalls is an ancient path of 186 km (116 miles)[1] that encircles the island of Minorca, Spain. This long-distance walking route is the GR 223 of the Senderos de Gran Recorrido network in Spain and it is also used to reach some of the most inaccessible beaches of Minorca.

History

Camí de Cavalls: section from Es Talaier to Cala en Turqueta

It is widely accepted that the Camí de Cavalls was built in order to connect the watchtowers, fortresses and cannons distributed along the coast of the island and to make the transport of troops and artillery easier. However, the date of its origin is not so clear. The most accepted theory attributes it is the French invaders during the different periods they lived in the island, but according to some studies, it could have been created in the 14th century.[2]

Since its original function was the defence and the control of the island, it was patrolled by soldiers mounted on Menorquin horses, hence the word cavalls (meaning "horses" in Catalan) in the name of the path.

Restoration

During decades part of the path belonged to private properties and could not be used by everybody. However, after an agreement between the island's government and the landords, the path became public. Then, the Government started the restoration of the whole path, spending €934,977.37 in a first stage and €800,159 in a second stage completed in May 2011.[3]

Stages

The path is divided in 20 different stages, each of them between 5 and 14 km. All the start and arrival points can be gained access to by road traffic, making possible to cover only one or some stages of the path at a time.

Stage Start Finish Duration Distance Difficulty
1 Maó Es Grau 3 h 30 min 10.0 km (6.2 miles) Medium
2 Es Grau Favàritx 3 h 30 min 8.6 km (5.3 miles) Medium
3 Favàritx Arenal d'en Castell 5 h 13.6 km (8.5 miles) Medium
4 Arenal d'en Castell Cala Tirant 4 h 10.8 km (6.7 miles) Easy
5 Cala Tirant Binimel·là 4 h 9.6 km (6.0 miles) Medium
6 Binimel·là Els Alocs 5 h 8.9 km (5.5 miles) Difficult
7 Els Alocs Algaiarens 4 h 30 min 9.7 km (6.0 miles) Middle
8 Algaiarens Cala Morell 2 h 10 min 5.4 km (3.4 miles) Middle
9 Cala Morell Punta Nati 3 h 7.0 km (4.3 miles) Easy
10 Punta Nati Ciutadella 4 h 10.5 km (6.5 miles) Easy
11 Ciutadella Cap d’Artrutx 5 h 13.2 km (8.2 miles) Difficult
12 Cap d'Artrutx Cala en Turqueta 5 h 13.3 km (8.3 miles) Medium
13 Cala en Turqueta Cala Galdana 2 h 30 min 6.4 km (4.0 miles) Easy
14 Cala Galdana Sant Tomàs 4 h 30 min 10.8 km (6.7 miles) Medium
15 Sant Tomàs Son Bou 2 h 30 min 6.4 km (4.0 miles) Easy
16 Son Bou Cala en Porter 3 h 30 min 8.0 km (5.0 miles) Medium
17 Cala en Porter Binisafúller 4 h 30 min 11.8 km (7.3 miles) Easy
18 Binisafúller Punta Prima 3 h 30 min 8.1 km (5.0 miles) Easy
19 Punta Prima Cala de Sant Esteve 2 h 40 min 7.3 km (4.5 miles) Easy
20 Cala de Sant Esteve Maó 2 h 20 min 6.0 km (3.7 miles) Easy

Events

Once the whole path is restored, activities and events around it are arousing. Between April 28, 2012 and May 1, 2012, the world champion in adventure racing Arnau Julià went in 82 h 30 min three times around the path, one running, one in mountain-bike and the last one in kayak, covering in total more than 500 km (310 miles).[4]

The Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls was held for the first time between the 18th and the 20th of May 2012 and 140 participants took part in the five different races of this event: Trail Cami de Cavalls 185.3 km, Trail Costa Nord - 94.2 km (North coast only), Trail Costa Sud - 91 km (south coast only), Trekking Costa Nord - 46.6 km and Trekking Costa Sud - 43.5 km.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Tres cuartas partes del Camí de Cavalls ya están señalizadas" (in Spanish). Menorca.info. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  2. ↑ "Camí de Cavalls". VisitMenorca.com. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  3. ↑ "El Gobierno central concluye la segunda fase de las obras del Camí de Cavalls" (in Spanish). Menorca.info. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  4. ↑ "El reto 360ºx3, la triple vuelta a Menorca de Arnau Julià" (in Spanish). Camí de Cavalles 360. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  5. ↑ "Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls Website". Retrieved 2012-05-19.

External links


Coordinates: 39°55′35″N 3°54′33″E / 39.92639°N 3.90917°E / 39.92639; 3.90917

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