Llevant

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The Llevant (German: East) is a landscape zone on the east side of the Balearic island of Mallorca . It includes the municipal areas of Artà , Capdepera , Manacor , Son Servera and Sant Llorenç des Cardassar (San Lorenzo).

description

Parishes of the Llevant

Hills and mountains, fertile fields, cliffs with embedded bays and sandy beaches make the landscape a kind of Mallorca concentrate. Nowhere else on the island are all the elements combined in such a small space.

Wind, weather and rain have formed gentle hills of limestone rocks, overgrown by a macchia of mastic and gorse bushes , tree heather , wild or overgrown olive trees , pines and Aleppo pines , in the undergrowth lavender bushes , rosemary and rock roses . The garriga runs like a red thread through the east. Up from Cap Ferrutx you can see over the Sierra de Artàna , with the highest elevation (509 meters) of Son Salvador, down to the dragon caves Coves del Drac, which reach 25 meters below sea level .

Towards the northeast, the Llevant has numerous bays, including the touristically developed Cala Rajada as well as a little further south the well-known beaches of Cala Millor , Sa Coma and S'Illot , which have now become the destination of mass tourism.

To the west of the Llevant are the vast agricultural fields in the area of ​​Sant Llorenç and Manacor. In the past, donkeys and mules were used for agricultural work, and they have gradually been replaced by modern tractors and machines. The horses on Mallorca, on the other hand, were kept as racehorses.

Twice a year all trotting fans , betting shop owners and breeders come to the Manacor trotting track in Llevant for the Gran Premio para Potros de Tres Años (trotting races for three-year-olds). Originally this tradition goes back to the farmers from the Llevant.

statistics

Landscape area: Population (2019) Area was standing
Llevant 83,520 579.31 km² 2013
Parishes of the Llevant: ......................... Community area Distance from Palma
Artà 7845 139.63 km² 71 km
Capdepera 11,868 54.92 km² 78 km
Manacor 43,808 260.22 km² 50 km
Sant Llorenç des Cardassar 8431 81.98 km² 61 km
Son Servera 11,568 42.56 km² 68 km

history

The early history of the Llevant goes back over 3000 years. In the talayot ​​settlement of Ses Païsses near Artà, around 2000 BC Chr. The original inhabitants of the island from huge slabs of stone houses, defensive towers and defensive walls built. Those towers are called talàia (Catalan) or talayot (Castilian), which goes back to the Arabic word atalaji (guard). In addition to the most important site, the Ses Païsses, there is another well-known settlement Capocorb Vell from the same period further south of the Llevants .

Most of the other buildings of the "Masters of Stone" have been used as quarries by invaders and rulers of the island over the years. Megaliths , large stones from prehistoric times, were used to build the Cathedral of Mallorca . There is still some uncertainty about the inhabitants of the talayots and their way of life.

Although the indigenous people had no script, a name is inseparably linked to Mallorca from their culture: The skill of the Els Foners Balears in handling throwing stones and a suitable slingshot gave the entire archipelago its name: Balearic Islands, from the Greek ballein , in German: throw.

The lush gardens, fruit and vegetable plantations at the gates of the cities go back to the Moorish period.

natural reserve

Llevant has the youngest nature reserve on the island of Mallorca. It was declared a protected area Parc natural de la península de Llevant in November 2001 and comprises a total of 21,507 hectares, of which 16,232 hectares are land and 5,275 hectares are ocean. It is located in the northeast of the area. Here you can find untouched bays and mountains, where the dwarf palm is the aspect determining factor. Among the birds there are the coral gulls , the peregrine falcons and the booted eagles . Most of Mallorca's tortoises live in this natural park.

climate

The Mediterranean climate of the Llevant region is determined by short, mild and humid winters and long, dry and sometimes very hot summers. The summer sea winds especially influence the microclimate of the areas near the sea, which ensure a balanced temperature there. The average amount of precipitation, 90% of which falls from autumn to well into spring, is 450–500 mm per year.

spring

In the spring , the main flowering period. Almond blossom begins in January in the valleys. In March the other fruit trees are also in bloom. The summer dry season begins in May.

summer

In summer it is very hot and dry and the herbaceous vegetation withers. During this time, the temperature can rise to over 40 ° C during the day. Rain is extremely rare in the summer months. In July and especially in August it is high season on the beaches.

autumn

After the hot summer months, autumn begins in September, initially muggy and thunderstorm. The autumn climate is not perceived as pleasant until October: It is already a bit cooler, but the sun still shines quite often and is occasionally interrupted by brief rain showers. Instead, the vegetation that has withered over the summer begins to green again.

winter

The winter is quite mild, as the Tramuntana acts as a protective shield against the cool winds from the north. The temperatures are mostly around 10 degrees Celsius, and it can occasionally snow in deep areas.

Precipitation

The Llevant has year-round rainfall. The driest month is July with an average of 8.8 l / m² precipitation. The highest amount of precipitation is recorded in October with an average of 101.3 l / m². In 1945 the highest value was measured at 224.3 l / m².

wind

The winds are often named after the landscapes and mountains, such as Tramuntana , Sierra Tramuntana, Llevant, Sierra de Llevant etc.

On an island like Mallorca, which lived mainly from fishing and agriculture well into the 20th century, it was vital to be able to interpret the winds. Which wind brings rain, dries up the vegetation, causes high waves?

  • The cold Tramuntana from the west and north must first cross the mountains named after it before reaching the Raiquer and the Pla. There it is noticeably lowering the temperatures inland.
  • Ponenet and Llevant reach hurricane strength , especially if they do not come straight from East or West, but meet in a slight curve north to the island, because then they encounter no obstacle in sight.
  • The west wind Ponent cools and softens summer days as a breeze, in winter, on the other hand, it often brings rain clouds in tow.
  • The east wind Llevant in a warm robe is warm in summer and can reach hurricane strength in winter.
  • The Migjorn from the south, on the other hand, transports warm air from North Africa, which is particularly noticeable in summer.
  • The north-northeast wind Gregal brings rain, which is why it is valued by farmers.
  • The south-southeast wind Xaloc is the sauna wind. He pushes damp summer heat and winter rain before him. In the summer rain, he dumps the typical red dust that he brings from Morocco over the island. Everything that once shone in pure white is then more or less colored red.
  • The south-south-west wind Llebetx , a mild and humid air from the Atlantic.
  • The north-northwest wind Mestral ensures a clear sky.

traffic

Traffic in the Balearic Islands is supervised by the Govern de les Illes Balears ( Ministry of Transport and Construction).

  • TIB is the subordinate central company.

Responsibility: Coordination of rail, bus, ship and air traffic

Streets and paths

All roads lead to Palma de Mallorca. This system goes back to the Romans , who covered Mallorca with a road network.

The streetscape of the island resembles the spread of the left hand, with the thumb pointing downwards: The main traffic arteries correspond to the five fingers:

  • Following the thumb, the southern connection (MA-19) Palma - Santanyí, which opens up large parts of the south coast.
  • The index finger points from Palma via Manacor (MA-15) to the east coast in the Llevant landscape. Other main roads branch off from Manacor:
    • Manacor-Portocristo (MA-4020) southeast part of Llevant
    • or from Manacor towards Sant Llorenç and then:
    • Sant Llorenç-Artà-Capdepera (MA-15) northeast part of Llevant
    • Sant Llorenç-Son Servera-Cala Millor (MA-4030 and MA-4026) Eastern part with the largest beaches and hotel complexes in the Llevant.
  • The middle finger, the Palma-Inca-Alcúdia road, connects the agricultural area of ​​Sa Pobla and the northeast region with the capital (MA-13).
  • If you follow the ring finger as a signpost, you come to Sóller (MA-11).
  • The little finger points to Valldemossa (MA-1110), where it steers to the MA-10, which follows the northwest coast from Andratx to Pollença.

In addition to these approximately 1200 kilometers of very well-developed asphalted main roads, the sometimes narrow cross-connections are also provided with an asphalt surface and are generally easy to drive on. There are only a few so-called white streets. No place on the island is more than forty kilometers from the sea.

Bike paths

In the meantime, the cycle path network has been expanded considerably. Ciclismo is a Mallorcan passion. The streets and paths of the Llevant with little traffic in the area of ​​Cala Millor, in the municipality of Son Servera, are particularly suitable for cyclists.

Means of transport

bus

Mallorca has a dense bus network. Around 65 bus routes operated by various companies connect Palma with almost all places on the island. The main hub is Plaça d'Espanya in the center of Palma. The Oficina de Informatión turistica is also located there .

railroad

The main railway line Palma-Inca-Manacor runs every hour.

Rental car

Car rental companies can be found in almost every holiday resort. There are around 55 rental companies with around 35,000 rental cars. The prerequisite for the rental is: You are 23 years old and / or have had a valid driver's license for 2 years.

ship

There is a ferry connection between Cala Rajada and Ciutadella (Menorca). It is operated by Cape Balear. The crossing takes about 55 minutes.

Beaches and coves of the Llevant

The following beaches and bays are located in the Llevant landscape

Artà beaches and coves
Beaches and coves Capdepera
Beaches and coves Son Servera
Beaches and coves of Sant Llorenç
Beaches and coves Manacor

Artà municipality

Capdepera municipality

Son Servera municipality

Municipality of Sant Llorenç des Cardassar

Manacor municipality

Sports

A variety of sporting activities have established themselves in the Llevant area. Own public golf courses and tennis courts in the Llevant. In addition, it is possible to ride , diving , water skiing , sailing or shoot .

agricultural economics

Bakery products

Ensaïmades, the yeast snail with a label , is a product with a protected geographical indication, which is known as "the lightest, airiest and most delicious pastries on the Balearic island of Mallorca". Due to its unique snail shape , the ensaimada already differs optically from all other types of pastry. Only raw materials that have been grown on Mallorca may be used. There are nine of the certified manufacturers in the Llevant area . The quality certificates are checked and reassigned every year.

Meat and sausages

The sobrassada is a sausage specialty , also with a protected geographical indication, a product from the Balearic island of Mallorca, made from raw, carefully selected and air-dried minced pork, which must come from the island. The same quality standards apply here as for the baked goods. Eight of the manufacturers are located in the Llevant landscape.

Beverage manufacturing

One of the largest liqueur producers on the island of Mallorca, the Moya company in Artà, is located in Llevant on the road to Can Picafort. The most famous liqueurs that Moya makes are:

Vegetables, fruits, fruits

The sea ​​fennel . What at first glance looks like inconspicuous grass and is called Fonoll mari in Mallorqui is still an aromatic side dish to Mallorcan cuisine. The sea fennel grows on the coast of the Llevant, in the area of ​​the splash zone.

Crithmum maritimum , a yellow flowering shrub from the umbelliferae family, resembles wild fennel , hence the name sea fennel . The herb has leathery, one to two pinnate, blue-green, fleshy leaves that can be up to seven centimeters long. Women walk along the rocky beaches with baskets and pluck this herb. The leaves are then preserved for many months by inserting them so that they can be carried on the ships in the seafarers' provisions. Due to the high vitamin C content and the preventive effect against scurvy, it was and is still a component of every duffel bag and travels the vastness of the oceans.

See also: Pa amb oli

Viticulture

The island of Mallorca is an area with a long winemaking tradition , the Romans already cultivated wine.

After the recognition of this area as a wine-growing area ( Pla i Llevant ) in 1993 , business activity in this sector was considerably expanded throughout the area (planting new vines, introducing new grape varieties , improving cultivation techniques, etc.) and at the same time the number of wineries increased . Significant investments in new technologies have also been made in the existing companies, which has led to an increase in production and, in particular, an improvement in the quality of the wines produced here.

  • Growing area

The cultivation area includes the regions in the municipalities of Artà, Capdepera and Sant Llorenç. There is no viticulture in the Son Servera area. The cultivation areas have protection of origin, this was ratified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries on March 20, 2001.

  • sorts

There are red, rosé, white and sparkling wines as well as sparkling wines and fortified wines with designations of origin of recognized quality. The red wines are made from the following red grape varieties: Callet, Fogoneu, Tempranillo, Manto Negro, Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. White wines are made from the Chardonnay, Moll, Macabeo, Parellada and Moscatel varieties.

  • Soil condition

The ground consists of calcareous rock ( marl and dolomite ), as a result of which a calcareous and clayey soil with a slightly alkaline pH value has formed and the earth has tints that range from the red scale to almost white.

These properties of the soil lead to good drainage , which also leads to rapid root penetration of the soil due to the little organic matter present, which means that viticulture can be carried out under very good conditions.

In the provisions of the Llevant designation of origin, the following grape varieties were stipulated with which the wines with designation of origin may be produced:

Red wines : Manto Negro, Callet, Fogoneu, Tempranillo, Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah White wines : Prensal Blanco, Parellada, Macabeo, Moscatel and Chardonnay

Traditional cultivation practice is used for viticulture, which overall results in grapes of greater quality being obtained. The planting density was limited to 2500 to 5000 vines per hectare.

The training and management of the vines takes place according to the so-called "vasosystem" or on the trellis .

  • Characteristics of the wines

The white wines of the Chardonnay grape variety deserve a special mention here, with their very distinctive aromas of tropical fruits, which can also take on a milky, vanilla-like taste when fermented in wooden barrels. The dry Muscat wines provide a range of floral aromas, while the fresh, young wines from the Prensal Blanco, Macabeo and Parellada varieties are more reminiscent of tart fruits. If the wines are blended with one another, complex, aromatic compounds result that pleasantly refresh the palate.

With the red wines, very interesting taste variations are achieved due to the different grape varieties that are used here, which are characterized by their intense color and multi-layered fruit aromas. The tannin contained is gentle on the palate and has a balanced acidity and gives an overall impression of freshness.

  • Grading of the years

Production data 2003: 9 wineries, 9,983 hectoliters of wine production

Born in 1998 Excellent

Born in 1999 Very good

Born in 2000 Excellent

2001 vintage very good

Born in 2002 Good

Born in 2003 (grading still open)

Industry and craft

Crafts and industry generate around 24 percent of the Majorcan gross national product. There is no large-scale industry in Llevant with the exception of the gravel works, pearl production and concrete block factories Manacor and Son Servera. Most of the production facilities belong to the small industry or are handicraft businesses that are usually concentrated in one place.

Basket weaver

The basketry is one of the oldest crafts, yet as older pottery. Remains of plaited and woven plant fibers have been found in archaeological sites. This tradition has continued to this day in the Llevant region near Artà.

Furniture

Furniture production in the shadow of the minarets: In the Llevant area, Manacor is the most important city in terms of furniture production. Nowhere else on the island are there so many furniture stores in addition to manufacturing as in this part, with an offer from new designer and mass-produced furniture to handcrafted one-offs. In addition to the local products, some foreign furniture manufacturers are now also represented by sales branches.

Pearls

In 1902 the first pearl manufactory was built in Manacor by the German entrepreneur Friedrich Hugo Heusch from the Rhenish entrepreneurial family Hoesch / Heusch . The well-known artificial pearls of Mallorca are produced there from a mother-of-pearl- like pulp. Majòricas employed around a thousand people. At the moment, imitation pearls are only produced by the companies Perlas Majórica in Manacor and Perlas Orquídea in Montuïri on Mallorca. Both companies have exhibition and presentation rooms in Manacor, directly at the entrance to the town from the direction of Palma .

gastronomy

Around 600 recipes represent a great variety of Mallorcan cuisine. They are all based on the various raw materials that are harvested in the fields or fished in the sea.

In the case of the virgin olive oil, the Aceite de oliva virgen , the protected designation of origin Oli de Mallorca guarantees the quality. Another indispensable basic ingredient is pork, especially the production of the famous sobrassada .

See also: Mallorca's cuisine

tourism

The majority of tourists come from Germany and Great Britain . The coastal towns of Cala Rajada and Cala Millor are practically a symbol of German mass tourism . The main source of income for the Llevant is the tourism service sector with 75 percent , followed by the construction industry with around 8 percent. The agricultural areas only contribute 3.5 percent to the gross national product, but provide around 11 percent of jobs.

Fomento del Turismo de Mallorca (Tourism Promotion in Mallorca) was founded in 1905 as the oldest institution of its kind in all of Spain, with the aim of helping tourists and promoting the island's main source of income.

The end of the Second World War in Europe paved the way for the phenomenon of tourism all over the world and especially on Mallorca. Around this time, the Formento's public relations work was very important, from which the “Honeymoon to Mallorca” advertising campaign stood out. In the 1960s and 1970s there was a great deal of audiovisual presentation through advertising films, the distribution of the Miró painting Sol de Mallorca and the organization of the international festival “Musical Mallorca”.

The tourist office has recently carried out ambitious projects such as the “Un inverno en Mallorca” (A Winter in Mallorca) program and the restoration of the old windmills in Llevant, followed by numerous environmental protection projects.

media

Newspapers

All the major German and European newspapers, magazines and magazines are represented in the holiday regions. Two German-language weekly newspapers have also been published on Mallorca, for around 20 years the “Mallorca Magazin”, which is produced in Palma, and the “Mallorca-Zeitung”. Furthermore, four daily newspapers appear in the Castilian language (total circulation around 150,000) and 50 regional newspapers in Mallorquin, the individual circulations of which vary between 50 and 5000. The oldest regional paper "Sóller" has existed for more than 100 years.

Radio and TV stations

The following radio stations can be received in the Llevant zone with terrestrial transmission .

  • Ultima Hora Radio 98.8 FM (Català, Español)
  • 95.8 FM, Mallorca Das Inselradio (German)
  • 101.0 FM, Radio Balear (Español)
  • 105.5 FM Cope Baleares (Español)

Each community in the Llevant has its own TV station that broadcasts information about its community, live broadcasts and advertising in terrestrial transmission for a limited time . (Mallorqui)

  • TVE a Balears (Català, Español) Kanal 5 24 hours nationwide

Cable television is not yet available in the Llevant area.

Attractions

  • The prehistoric settlement of Hospitalet Vell on the Manacor-Cales de Mallorca road, (1800–1500 BC) a talayotic settlement . Particularly noteworthy is the talayot, a kind of tower with a square floor plan, of which the Mediterranean column and the roof made of large stone slabs as well as a rectangular enclosure have been preserved.
  • The Torre dels Enagistes tower on the Ctra. Manacor-Cales de Mallorca , shelter and mansion from the 14th century (after the Catalan conquest in 1229 ). Today the building is the seat of the Manacor Museum with an exhibition of Manacor's archeology and ethnology. The most notable exhibits are the tomb mosaic of Balèria, one of the mosaics of the early Christian church of Son Peretó and the miniature furniture. Graffiti from the 15th to 18th centuries can be seen on the first floor .
  • Molí en Polit windmill on Modest Codina road in Manacor. It is a 19th century windmill .
  • Church Nostra Senyora dels Dolors place Rector Rubi in Manacor. The parish church was built towards the end of the 19th century in the Gothic historicism style. It stands in the same place where other churches used to be. The oldest was documented as early as 1232 and was probably built over an Arab mosque (an Arab grave inscription found that is now in the Museu Diocesà in Palma). Both structural elements and works of art by local artists have been preserved in the new building. The bell tower is known as Torre Rubí in memory of the builder of the church. It is attached to the apse where the previous church had the main portal. It is the tallest building in the city, a neo-Gothic work by the architect G. Bennassar Moner.
  • Torre de Canyamel on the road from Capdepera to Son Servera. (In the building next to the Torre there is a restaurant in which only lechona (German: suckling pig) are served on a spit.)
  • Sanctuary of Sant Salvador (1832), surrounded by the dominant fortress walls, on the top of the city of Artà in the center.

literature

  • Author: Pedro Servera Bienvenido a Mallorca . REVISTA DE DISTRIBUCIÓN GRATUITA, location: Palma, year: Verano 2004, edition: 250,000

Web links

Commons : Llevant  - collection of images, videos and audio files