Castle of Alaró: Expropriation Decision Is Not Yet a Completed Protection Plan

What will the expropriation actually change for the Castle of Alaró?

The Island Council has approved expropriation proceedings for 201,347 square metres around the Castle of Alaró. Eight private owners and the Spanish state are affected. The land comprises four plots; the procedural documents state a minimum value of €194,945. Those affected can submit objections until 1 December. This distinction matters: the decision initiates proceedings, but it does not mean that the land has already changed hands.

The plan has an ambitious goal. The castle and its surroundings are to be transformed into a historical and archaeological interpretation centre. The site contains remains of the fortress walls, six water cisterns, irrigation channels and other traces of history. The complex covers approximately 20 hectares. The public access path is to remain open; the chapel will continue to belong to the Diocese of Mallorca and is not part of the planned transfer of ownership.

An assessed minimum value is not automatically the final price

The stated sum of nearly €195,000 requires careful context. According to the information available, it is the minimum value for the four plots—not necessarily the final compensation, nor proof that the entire complex can be acquired for that amount. How the individual shares will be valued, what objections will be submitted and how ownership disputes will be resolved all remain open questions.

A key issue is establishing who owns the land. The Island Council must determine which areas belong to private individuals and which to the state. The Spanish Ministry of Culture was asked to clarify this, but no response had been received according to the information available on the proceedings. The Ordinas family also claims to own the fortress and its surrounding land. In August, the family offered the complex for sale for €3.4 million. However, a sales offer and a public expropriation proceeding are two different processes. One does not automatically resolve the other.

Law 4/2025 is cited as the basis for the plan, which aims to transform the castle into a historical and archaeological interpretation centre. According to the information available, over the past three years the Island Council has documented features worthy of protection, mapped the area and identified the affected estates. This is necessary groundwork. But it does not replace the legal clarification of ownership or a robust plan for maintenance, access and ongoing costs.

Questions that still need answers

The key question is not just: who owns the castle? It is also: how will it be protected after a possible transfer, without the public sector taking over a site whose upkeep remains unresolved? The information released so far offers no concrete answers about a timetable, future operations or maintenance funding. Nor does it explain how visitor numbers will be managed or vulnerable archaeological remains protected. These are not minor details. Masonry and historic water systems need regular care, not just a new sign by the path.

Anyone who hikes up from Alaró knows how the surroundings change: village sounds and traffic below, then wind, stone and views across the plain farther up. At places like this, recreation and cultural heritage meet in very practical ways. Keeping the path open matters to the people who walk there. At the same time, “open to the public” should not mean that every part of the site can be entered at any time without regard for its condition. Clear signs, well-marked paths and on-site information could help reconcile both aims.

The proceedings should also be easy to understand. Those affected need transparent valuations and sufficient time to submit objections. The public, in turn, should be told exactly which areas are involved and how the decision will affect access. A map, a clear overview of the ownership questions and regular updates would not be grand gestures; they would simply be useful administration.

The real test comes after the decision

A sensible next step would be to clarify ownership shares and valuations transparently, carefully review objections and, at the same time, present a concrete protection and maintenance plan. That plan should set out responsibilities, a realistic funding framework and rules for visitors. Only then will it be possible to judge whether the proceedings lead to a lasting public project—or merely a change of ownership accompanied by high expectations.

The Castle of Alaró is too valuable for its future to be reduced to a headline or a purchase price. The decision could open the way to better protection. It does not yet prove that this protection has been organised or funded. That is what will determine whether expropriation genuinely benefits the site.