Expropriation at Castell d'Alaró: End of a Dispute or New Flashpoint?

The island council tightens the reins — but at what cost?

Today the Tramuntana blows a little sharper at the foot of Puig de Alaró, as if to challenge every decision once more. The island council has formally activated a tool that allows expropriation of Alaró Castle for so-called “strategic projects.” On paper it is about rapid protection and securing one of the island's most visible ruins. In practice another question looms: Who owns Mallorca's cultural heritage — the state, the municipality, or the families rooted here?

What is concretely at stake?

The new status would designate the site as a public place with archaeological protection. That sounds good and very Mallorcan: inspected walls instead of crumbling remains, secured paths instead of dangerous trails, information points instead of dubious uses. But the ownership situation is complicated. Parts of the complex are state-owned, parts belong to a local family, and the chapel and refuge are the municipality's responsibility. Negotiations over a purchase repeatedly failed — the biting cold of the Tramuntana seems to have crept into the talks as well.

The underappreciated consequences

Public debate often reduces to an image: good cause versus forced expropriation. Less visible are the everyday effects. Who will be responsible for guarding and maintaining the site in the future? Who decides which shepherds’ paths remain open and which traditional uses are restricted? Will the affected family retain a say after a possible expropriation or be excluded from decision-making?

And a third problem threatens: precedent. If the island council succeeds in taking over here by expropriation, uncertainties could spread to other parts of Mallorca. In villages where land ownership is closely tied to family history, people will ask whether their property might soon be classified as “strategic.” This is more than legal theory — it touches identity and trust.

Opportunities — but only with clear rules

There are real advantages. A professional restoration program can secure the Castell in the long term, manage visitor flows and protect archaeological substance, following international conservation principles such as the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. On the GR-221 (Dry Stone Route), after the sweaty ascent when the view finally opens up, many hikers want inspected walls and secured paths. Equally important: transparent financing and procedures, otherwise a rescue can quickly turn into an administrative debacle.

Concrete proposals — pragmatic and locally anchored

1. Independent valuation and mediation: Before any expropriation step there should be a neutral assessment and a binding mediation process. This reduces confrontation and lengthy court proceedings.

2. A local "Heritage Trust": Establish a foundation or cooperative in which the island council, the municipality, representatives of the family, the refuge and local associations have voting rights. This keeps decisions anchored locally rather than in distant offices. A model could look to heritage trust models such as the National Trust for governance ideas.

3. Earmarked financing: A portion of tourist levies and a special maintenance fund could be permanently allocated to care and operation. Visible to everyone — from the hiker in a sweaty T‑shirt to the innkeeper in Es Verger.

4. Visitor management instead of eventisation: Time slots, maximum visitor numbers on peak days, hardened paths and clear information offers instead of souvenir stalls on the wall. This preserves the spiritual side of the place — Mare de Déu del Refugi should remain a pilgrimage site, not an event stage.

5. Archaeological training and local employment: Restoration projects with archaeological supervision following ICOMOS guidelines, supplemented by employment programs for residents. This creates local maintenance skills and acceptance.

A narrow path

The island council's decision is more than a bureaucratic act — it is a test of governance on the island. If it proceeds transparently, with fair compensation and genuine inclusion of those affected, a solution can emerge that strengthens the ruin and the community. If, however, expropriation and central control happen in haste, the flashpoint grows: mistrust, legal disputes and the fear of small communities for their rights. Questions about the process under the Ley de Expropiación Forzosa (BOE) will follow.

Whether revolt or relief follows depends on a simple recipe: clear rules, fair processes, local participation. Until the courts decide, hikers sit on the steps, hear the goats' bells, smell rosemary and quietly discuss who actually owns the stones. The word "expropriation" may sound abstract — up there, between sky and wall, it is very real: it is about memory, income, and home.