'Esqueredo' - front center - sits on the historic fortified wall of the village.
Location: Fornalutx, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, Europe (Palma & Palma Int. Airport [PMI] 25 to 30 minutes drive) View Map
Accommodations: House, 2 Bedrooms + Detached Unit, 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 5-7)
Keywords: Village House
'ESQUEREDO' is a delightful house for 4/5 persons - located on the castle wall of the ancient fortified farmstead in the historic village of Fornalutx - with stunning, uninterrupted views of the Puig Major, the highest point in the Tramuntana mountains. (House is seen here bottom center with the 6 dark green windows.) The village side of the house is wrapped around a picturesque and secluded cul-de-sac, offering complete privacy.
FORNALUTX - known as "the village of a thousand years" - was built around the 10th century Moorish tower and fortified farmstead, seen to the left of Esqueredo. The village is an oasis of tranquillity, with historic houses built in mellow, caramel-coloured stone, lining cobbled mule steps rising from above a charming town plaza.
Adjacent to the larger house 'ESQUEREDO' is the wonderfully friendly and inviting guest house, casita 'LA CASA DOS' - a romantic get-away for couples any time of the year. Although completely separate, 'La Casa Dos' can add a double bedroom and bathroom as both houses can be rented on a nightly basis (minimum 5 nights). Again, it is situated right in the most picturesque and ancient part of this enchanting village.
'ESQUEREDO' has Master queen-size bedroom, ceiling fan and spacious en suite bathroom with shower. Second Bedroom with either king-size bed or two singles. Bathroom with large bathtub and shower. Cook's kitchen equipped with gas hob, electric oven, dishwasher, and refrigerator. Utility room with freezer, second refrigerator, washing machine, and storage space. Breakfast room, Dining area. Large split level Lounge/sitting-room with second couch converting into extra double-bed.
Outside: the house is situated in a secluded cul-de-sac, with breakfast/dinner patio adjacent to kitchen and sun terrace adjacent to sitting room on the top floor. 'Esqueredo' - high on the edge of the village and with windows on all four sides - receives gentle micro-breezes even in the hottest, stillest of summers. The thick walls, some over 400 years old, and new roofs provide insulation. All of the plumbing and electrical supply has been newly installed (220v/50Hz.).
'LA CASA DOS' is a charming and intimate traditional casita (fully restored) with queen-size bedroom, Bathroom with shower, Kitchen, with gas hob and oven, refrigerator, and washing machine, Entrada also used as dining area, Sitting-room with VCR, DVD & CD Stereo - and secluded terrace with full sun awning.
FORNALUTX sits nestled in the most spectacular vale within the 'Serra de Tramuntana' - the Valley of Sóller (pronounced Sól-yer). From its Moorish towers and ancient walls, Fornalutx commands fabulous views of orange groves and olive terraces climbing high into the backdrop.
Staying in this historic 'Aldea Mil Años' pueblo, one can almost experience the spirit of the early settlers. The Venetian traders cutting through the high passes in search of olive oil, the then currency of the Mediterranean. The Roman soldiers milling Saharan wheat in the water mills powered by the valley’s abundant springs. The Moors, with their understanding of all things created in stone, ceramic, and terra-cotta.
The very name Fornalutx is the subject of debate. Some say it derives from 'horno' and 'lutz' - describing the men’s view of the carbon burning oven lights as they came down in the evening from harvesting the terraces. Others say that it originates from the glow of the smithy’s forge or 'forja.' Your choice. The smithy is still there, hand crafting beautiful railings and village lamp-posts.
As Fornalutx offers a true oasis of tranquillity in the daytime, scented by citrus trees and almond blossoms - so the imposing peaks of the Tramuntanas fall steeply into the sea, creating coves so sheltered as to be almost invisible. These in turn give way to lush green valleys and, in the winter, rushing 'torrentes.' Many of these areas can be explored from the village by taking the local twisting mountain roads, revealing a different panoramic vista at each turn.
However, it is always a joy to return in the evening to Fornalutx - three times awarded the "Most Beautiful Village in Spain"- to enjoy its five excellent restaurants, three bars, and convivial evening ambiance. The village has been written up in 'Bon Appétit', 'National Geographic Traveler', 'Town & Country' and the 'Los Angeles Times'.
For more information, or if your preferred dates are booked, please see out other house C'AN MORENO in Fornalutx (VRBO #276206)
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer : (7 kilo / 1,000 rpm spin-dry)
- Linens Provided : All linens are commercially laundered & pressed (Nominal charge per person p.w.) Please provide your own Beach Towels
- Off Street Parking : (New, extensive parking available with entrance onto Carrer de la Tramuntana just above the house - see google map)
- Wood Fireplace
- Wood Stove
- Beds
- King Bed
- Queen Bed
- Twin/Single Bed
- Convertible Bed : (Double bed size)
- Crib
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV : (Sky basic BBC/CNN - or bring your own Sky card)
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library : (100 Academy & BAFTA screeners)
- CD Player
- Music Library
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator : (and separate Deep Freeze)
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio (2)
- View/Location
- Mountain View : Uninterrupted views of the Puig Major, the Tramuntanas National Park and the Sóller Valley.
- Communications
- Telephone : (By arrangement)
- Broadband Internet : (Ethernet connection)
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Oil-filled Radiators in every room, Sky Card reader, Dual standard (PAL/NTSC) DVD-VCR, CD/MP3 Players, NOTE: Due to their position 83 steps above the village square, the houses are not suitable for those with walking difficulties, Beach 5km (10 min, ) to Port de Soller with its pleasant sandy covered bay; inexpensive beachside restaurants, Late/last minute bookings welcomed, No change-over day or booking by week policy, Minimum rental 4 days, All cleaning and laundry charges included, Rentals 10days+ include mid-stay clean and linen change
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly : (Dogs need to be 'walked out' - Cat litterbox must be provided.)
- Kid Friendly : (Special conditions for children 10 and younger may apply)
- Smoking Not Allowed : (Smoking allowed on patios/terraces and in the private cul-de-sac.)
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Fishing
- Horseback Riding
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Restaurants
- Museums
- Other Activities
- HIKING: The abundant footpaths through the terraces are suitable for all levels of fitness. Close by Fornalutx is the 'Baranque' - one of the hundred wonders of the world. These stone steps were cut through the mountains perhaps 2500 years ago by the Carthaginians, as they expanded their oil trading routes. To this day, nobody knows whether the great stones of the ancient olive tree terraces perched precariously on the mountainside, were rolled up the hill, or drawn down. The valley, part of the TRAMUNTANA NATIONAL PARK, is famed for its walking paths, from easy strolls to advanced hiking, climbing and overnight camping.
Rate Details (In € - Euros)
ESQUEREDO: July-October €750/wk-€110/night; Nov-April €650/wk-€95/night.
LA CASA DOS: May-October €550/wk-€80/night; Nov-April €490/wk-€70/night.
Christmas, New Year & Easter weeks: Esqueredo €750/wk; La Casa Dos €550/wk.
Base rate above 2 persons. Add €70 per week/€10 per night for ech adtl. person.
Nov-March: 2 per/4 weeks+ ESQUEREDO €500/wk CASA DOS €390/wk (Holidays pro-rated)
Clean & Utilities Incl. Commercial Laundry €10 pp pw. 4 NIGHT MIN excl. Holidays
US guests: $+3% Personal check for deposit/€IBAN transfer for balance.
UK: €IBAN or £+2% to NatWest. Euro-zone: SWIFT/IBAN.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Historic, Restored House in the Fabled Village of Fornalutx
Year Purchased: 1977
Why the Owner Chose Fornalutx
Note that the road "Ma-10" to the left, also known as the "American Road," has been voted as one of the 10 most beautiful vista roads in EUROPE! It was built by - yes - the Americans to access the top of the Puig Major mountain (1,445m) and the road goes to nearly 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) high.
I have been involved with the village of Fornalutx since buying my first house LA CASA DOS in 1970
The Unique Benefits at this House
The fact that Fornalutx is still a local village, lived in by locals, run by locals and enjoyed by locals; the families having familial links that go back 1,000 years (The Aldea Mil Años = the Village of a Thousand Years.) Our houses are one of the original Alquerías (farmsteads) of the village.
Owner's Map of Fornalutx
Tiffer is an actor, producer, director. He is the 4th generation of an established British theatrical family including Sir Gerald du Maurier, Daphne du Maurier and Diana Beaumont. He trained and worked as an actor in London during his youth. Returning to acting in 2008, he has achieved a number of credits in Oregon.
His first love is long-form dramatic production - on both sides of the camera. Most recently he played the Gangster Clown in TARTS, FOOLS AND THE G-MEN and Bosworth in THE SAMPLE. He was Producer/UPM on WHITE AIR, starring Riley Smith, Dominique Swain and Tom Sizemore. he produced the TNT movie DIANA: THE PEOPLE’S PRINCESS, in which he also performed the BBC Anchorman, documenting the troubled last year of the iconic Princess. It was shot entirely on the island of Mallorca, including Fornalutx.
Christopher second love is music programming. He has just received a 2010 EMMY™ nomination for Best Entertainment Special/Live, producing GERSHWIN AT ONE SYMPHONY PLACE in Nashville, September 2008. He was garnered a 2008 EMMY™ for Outstanding Event/Live, producing ONE SYMPHONY PLACE in September 2007, both live for PBS and as live Hi-Def broadcasts worldwide.
Christopher was line producer and played Himself on the reality series THE REAL ROSEANNE SHOW with Roseanne Barr for ABC. In 2003 he returned to being a globe-trotting documentarian as the US producer of THE MYSTERIES OF THE PARTHENON for the BBC/Discovery Channels and producer of OPERATION SETHOS: HIGH TECH IN THE TOMB OF PHAROAH SETI for NBC/ZDF, the first material to be shot in Hi-Def in Egypt’s Upper Nile region.
He was senior associate producer/special effects director on the CBS series BEAUTY AND THE BEAST starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman; Showtime’s NIGHTMARE CLASSICS with Laura Dern, Amy Irving and Meg Tilly; and Turner Network Television’s DINNER AT EIGHT with Lauren Bacall and John Mahoney.
Property Photos
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- 'Esqueredo' - front center - sits on the historic fortified wall of the village. - Mallorca/Fornalutx, Balearic Islands, Spain Travel Accommodations - Historic, Restored House in the Fabled Village!
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- 'Esqueredo' - Upper terrace overlooking the Castile del Munt, with mountain view - Mallorca/Fornalutx, Balearic Islands, Spain Travel Accommodations - Historic, Restored House in the Fabled Village!
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- 'Esqueredo' - The sitting-room leading to the 2nd bedroom - Mallorca/Fornalutx, Balearic Islands, Spain Travel Accommodations - Historic, Restored House in the Fabled Village!
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- Comfortable Master Bedroom with en-suite bathroom (note Wi-Fi)
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- Main Bathroom with full-size bath and large shower
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- Master Bedroom en-suite bathroom with spacious shower.
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- Kitchen and Entrada leads onto sunny breakfast patio with built-in Bar-B-Q
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- The steps down from 'Esqueredo' & 'La Casa Dos' pass by the Castile del Munt
Traveler Reviews (39)
A great place to stay in Mallorca
Guest: Happy Cyclist
(Berkeley, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/20/11
Review Submitted: 01/04/12
We rented both the two bedroom house (Esqueredo) and the adjacent one bedroom house (Casa Dos) over Christmas and New Years. The combination housed me, my wife, my parents, and my brother. We have stayed in these houses before and found them ideal (as long as you handle stairs well), and that was true once again. The Great Room at the top of the larger house is a perfect place for a family to hang out during down time. The kitchen is well equipped, and if it is warm there is a great patio with a grill. The town, Fornalutx, has two excellent Mallorcan restaurants that we are regulars at during out stays. It also has a very adequate grocery store, pharmacy, and a few bars. In the high season there are other open restaurants as well, but we don't know much about them. The center of the town is just a 1 minute walk down some stairs from the apartment. It also has great holiday celebrations, including one on New Years Eve, and another on Three Kings day (which we will miss this year). We enjoyed great Mallorcan winter weather (highs 55-65F, sunny most days) and rode hundreds of miles in the Mountains surrounding the town. Any ride from Fornalutx is demanding even for an experience cyclist, requiring at least a 20 minute climb in one direction or another, and often much, much more. But the scenery is beautiful, and the roads are in perfect condition. I highly recommend this house.
Owner response:Oh! Thank you, Rob, Molly, Brother of Rob and your Parents who resided in the smaller guest house La Casa Dos. We are honoured by your delightful review.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, romantic getaway.
Love at First Sight
Guest: Carole and Colin
(Canning)
Date of Stay: 10/29/11
Review Submitted: 11/01/11
We arrived in this most spectacular mountain village on Saturday night, entered the house and immediately fell in love with this charming cozy and absolutely beautifully designed, renovated and decorated home. The attention to detail, the sense of being enveloped in a warm snuggly blanket, the great kitchen and especially the outdoor barbecue grilling room. We ve only been here a couple of days and already want to come back. For a longer stay. Christopher has been incredibly helpful with answering questions and requests and he and Bunny s information packet is truly impressive. Oh yes, and the hiking trails! well, that is something to look forward to in the next three weeks! Thank you again, Christopher and Bunny We will write more at the end of our stay.
Owner response:Wow! Thank you, Carole. We will welcome you back for a stay of any length at any time!
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.
Amazing week in Fornalutx!!!
Guest: Helga&Grant
(Australia)
Date of Stay: 06/28/10
Review Submitted: 01/25/11
We have just got back from an amazing week in Fornalutx!!! The house Esqueredo is beautiful..we really appreciated staying there! Toby had the top room which he was very impressed with. The weather was amazing too - We spent a lot of time at the beach and tried out a number of different places. Toby’s favourite was Puerto Pollenca, Grant and I loved Formentor. Every evening after tea (which we generally cooked in your fantastic kitchen) we wandered down to the square for a beer, or a lemon sorbet, at the Cafe Sa Plaza.
Owner response:Thank you, Helga, Grant and Lil' Toby. Yes, those places you mentioned are reached from the beautiful drives through the Las Tramuntanas mountain range - one of the most beautiful drives in Europe.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway.
Wonderful time in Esqueredo!
Guest: GermaineW.
(Los Angeles, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/16/10
Review Submitted: 05/29/10
We had such a lovely time at Esqueredo. Beautiful place and location. We spent leisurely mornings, then made excursions to different magical places daily. Had drinks on the upper terrace every evening. I took advantage of your excellent selection of cook books and made homemade sangria and an orange flan along with a great recipe for grilled Catalan chicken. We actually ate at home 3 nights during our stay. Thanks for providing such a warm and welcoming location for a vacation.
Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.
What you advertised is what we got!
Guest: Alan & Sonja
(Houston, Tx., USA)
Date of Stay: 03/27/10
Review Submitted: 04/23/10
We really enjoyed staying in your house and using all the good advise you provided. Esqueredo was great, as was the little town of Fornalux and the surrounding areas. Particularly valuable was the information that the new upper car park allowed us to transit on steps downwards with our bags, yet when we departed we could also haul them easily down the 83 steps, not up! All your suggestions about the local restaurants were great and Catalina in the market speaking English was really helpful. We could not have been more pleased that what you advertised is, in fact, what we got. Your rental is truly one of the best we have ever used. (Texas, USA)
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway.
Guest: Ardie and Mary
(Moss Beach, California)
Date of Stay: 11/21/09
Review Submitted: 11/21/09
We enjoyed our week at Esqueredo very much. After our time in Fornalutx, we certainly understand why people just never forget the magic of that village and your house! It was great - and the new parking lot with connecting path off the top terrace cuts a few steps off the access, a welcome development when one is toting luggage or groceries!
Recommended for:
Guest: Marty and Caroline
(Oxford, UK)
Date of Stay: 09/28/09
Review Submitted: 09/28/09
I'm feeling rested and refreshed due to the great holiday we had in Mallorca. Everything went smoothly, we got to places like Porto Cristo, Lluc for Sunday mass, Inca, Port Soller. Esqueredo was a fantastic accommodation and was larger than we expected. We enjoyed relaxing on the top terrace and the wonderful view and surprising quiet. We also enjoyed the lizards that scurried around the kitchen (How did you ever house break them?) I hope you realize how blessed you are to own a home that others are so happy to have rented if only for a week. Thanks again, it was a wonderful and memorable holiday. We will certainly recommend it to friends and business acquaintances.
Recommended for:
Guest: Sprat
(Manasquan, NJ USA)
Date of Stay: 07/29/09
Review Submitted: 07/29/09
We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in your great house in the wonderful village of Fornalutx. What contributed to our enjojment was your hospitality as shown by the wine, water and local olive oil we found upon arrival. Meeting Neil at Cafe Med and his wife Petra at her Pasta and Pizza restaurant made us feel like local as we enjoyed thier dining and sharing company. We also had enjoyable dining at Santa Marta with a very nice young Inn Keeper and his wife. The food was great and the view of the lower valley was outstanding. Weagree with you that Es Turo was special. The housekeeper Pedro's "meet and greet" service was great. All in all we had a wonderful time.
Recommended for:
Guest: yogadawn
(Santa Barbara, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/19/09
Review Submitted: 06/19/09
We had a wonderful time at Esqueredo! Your directions and instructions were impeccable. The descriptions and pictures do not do the house justice. It was a wonderful family time for us.
Recommended for:
Guest: AndrewE
(london, UK)
Date of Stay: 11/09/08
Review Submitted: 11/09/08
We are late in providing our feedback on our holiday in early October. What we experienced was a wonderful house set in a wonderful village. The whole experience from booking to flying home was great and as long as you can cope with steps the quality of the house, the charm of the village, and the setting of the mountains make this a great place to have holiday in.
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #15228
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