Menorca

Although more travellers are discovering Menorca today, the island remains unspoilt. Here, there are very few large seaside resorts and XXL hotels like in Palma de Mallorca, but instead charming hotels and fincas (farmhouses) transformed into more or less chic holiday cottages, with agrotourism that respects the landscape and traditions; no nightclubs and crazy techno parties like in Ibiza, but inns and restaurants where you can sample the local specialities. But don't think you'll get bored on a trip to Menorca! 

People come here to enjoy its authentic atmosphere, where "slow tourism" is practiced and you can discover unspoilt Mediterranean landscapes. More than half of the island has been classified as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. 

Tracing a line from east to west, the main road divides the island in two, with gentle hills (the highest point reaching 353 m) dotted with olive trees and fields enclosed by low drystone walls where cows and sheep graze. To the north, the wild coastline is reminiscent of Brittany, but with Mediterranean sunshine and the song of the cicadas! You will discover secluded coves for swimming and tiny harbours like Fornells with its smart venues. 

Beyond the landscapes, Menorca is enhanced with whitewashed villages and fortified farmhouses. Not forgetting the two main towns.  In the south-east, Mahon (population 25,000) developed when the English arrived in the 18th century - seduced by its harbour - and made it their capital. They left behind the Victorian houses that blend harmoniously with Spanish culture. To the west, Ciutadella shows Arab influences. It has retained its medina layout but also features Baroque and Renaissance churches. Nourished by so many influences, proud of its values and welcoming, the island is bound to capture your heart.…

There are two Balearic destinations from Montpellier: Menorca and Palma de Mallorca. Book your direct flight now!  

• Church of San Maria (in Mahon) - the city's largest church, which hosts concerts of religious music
• La Mola fortress - a building made up of bastions and ramparts, which closes off the port of Mahon
• Tour d'En Galmes - inland, in the south of the island, the ruins of a village from the Talayotic period (Bronze Age), crowned by a talayot (a type of tower)
• Fornells - in the north of the island, a lobster fishing port with pretty white houses 
• Ciutadella - a lovely town to explore for its old cobbled streets and whitewashed houses
• Cathedral of Menorca (in Ciutadella) - 14th-century Gothic cathedral, built on the ruins of a mosque
• Ca'n Olivar (in Ciutadella) - a 17th-century private palace open to visitors
• Ciutadella market and its wrought-iron fish market dating from the 19th century
• Naveta des Tudos - on the road from Ciutadella to Mahon, a Bronze Age funerary monument shaped like an upturned boat

• Tapas - finger food (ham, meat, anchovies, cheese... to share with friends
• Sobrasada - a sausage made with minced pork and chilli peppers
• Asado de lechona - delicious roast suckling pig
• Escaldum - duck and potato stew
• Lomo con col - steak with cabbage, for cooler evenings!
• Empanadas - puff pastry filled with vegetables
• Menorcan style stuffed squid
• A wide variety of fish: scorpion fish, staple fish, swordfish, sea bream...

Desserts

• Queso de Mao - cheese rubbed with olive oil and crushed chilli pepper
• Ensaimada - flaky brioche sprinkled with sugar
• Robiol - sweet cake filled with cream
• Pastisset - star-shaped pastry
• Carquinyol - a dry cake made from almonds 
• Tortada de merengue - meringue pie

Drinks

• Balearic wine* is excellent, with two local appellations: Pia i Lievant and Binissalem
• Horchata de chufa - a sweet non-alcoholic drink made from tiger nut (papyrus family)
• Palo* - a type of vermouth to be enjoyed as an aperitif, made from cinchona peel and gentian
• Hierbas* - a digestive made from aromatic plants including aniseed and rosemary
• Gin* - inherited from the English, gin is very popular on Menorca, with a distillery in Mahon.

*alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation