Discover the sandstone of Menorca when buying a house on the island

On the amazing little Balearic island of Menorca, nature has provided so many amazing things to see that never fail to amaze both locals and visitors alike. In addition to the fine sandy beaches and virgin coves, the island is home to plenty of other fascinating places to discover. Whilst house hunting you will have noticed that sandstone has been used in the construction and embellishment of possibly all of the properties you have seen in one way or another and will no doubt be one of the special elements in the property you finally decide to buy. Whether you are an architect, artist, historian, geologist or just curious, there are numerous abandoned sandstone (marés) quarries to visit on Menorca that have significant ethnological value for the whole of society. The bio calcareous sandstone is mainly used for the construction of walls and vaults and dominates the traditional architecture of the Balearic Island. Read our blog to find out more about one of the larger quarries, the s'Hostal quarry, just 1 km outside of Ciutadella. You will look at many of the properties for sale in Menorca in a different light, really appreciating the skilled workmanship and beauty of the sandstone masonry. Book your viewings with the local experts Engel & Völkers Menorca.

Buy a property and connect with the islands history - visit the Pedrera de s'Hostal quarry

Once you have settled into your new home in Menorca, begin to discover the island's fascinating history. The limestone quarries were worked manually with pickaxes until the middle of the 20th Century at which time mechanical stone cutting took over until the quarries were finally closed in 1994. The disused quarries should have been partially filled and planted with trees, but instead, they disappeared below piles of rubbish causing contamination of the subsoil and corrosion to the stone landscapes of the quarries. It was the Lithica foundation that decided to clean up and restore the quarries.

The non-profit private foundation Líthica has brought the quarries alive once again offering guided tours and in the summer film screenings and live concerts. The central aim of the organisation is to preserve the limestone quarries, which were previously used for landfills. Since 1994, Líthica has cleaned up and restored the Pedrera de s'Hostal quarries. Today the quarries are a cultural and recreational area featuring a labyrinth and a botanical garden. Remember to check out these fascinating quarries once you have bought a house and settled in on the island. The many faces of sandstone and the interesting landscape has resulted in one of the most incredible ethnological places in Menorca.

S'Hostal quarries have two sections, created by different extraction techniques. One is characterised by passages and ravines carved manually by stonemasons. This has created sloping walls and a labyrinth of rocks and vegetation, which today is a popular destination for both tourists and Menorcans. The second section features cubic and linear shapes and high vertical walls, formed by mechanical mining. Today, these areas are perfect amphitheatres; other activities include stone carving and Tai Chi courses. In 1997, the s'Hostal quarries were declared a cultural monument because of their heritage value.

If you are thinking of buying a property near Ciutadella, the following villa near the s'Hostal quarries for sale with estate agents Engel & Völkers Menorca could be just what you are looking for. A house near a quarry sounds a nightmare but come along and check out this now very peaceful venue.

High quality properties for sale in Menorca

There are a superb selection of excellent properties for sale in Menorca with property agents Engel & Völkers. If you are looking to buy a property, this villa near the quarries of Pedrera de s'Hostal is an excellent option. The 400 m² villa was built in the 18th century and is located in the heart of the Menorcan countryside not far from Ciutadella. The property has 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, living room and dining room as well as partially renovated stables. The spacious terraces and verandas are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the mild temperatures in summer. Buy this villa with the help of our experienced real estate team at Engel & Völkers Menorca and enjoy stylish living close to the fascinating quarries of Pedrera de s'Hostal.

Contact Engel & Völkers estate agents now to buy the villa near Ciutadella featured in this article or any other property in Menorca. After the successful purchase of your dream villa, you can explore the imposing quarries of s'Hostal and thus get to know a significant part of Menorca's ethnology.