메노르카‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪20‬개의 천연기념물

From a distance, it could be mistaken for a typical wayside cross, like the small sacred monuments found in many places. The name "General Chanzy" could indicate a military background, i.e., a memorial for soldiers. But upon closer inspection, the true meaning of this memorial, which draws the viewer's gaze to the Mediterranean, becomes clear: to commemorate the many victims claimed by a shipping disaster at the beginning of the 20th century. 'Ein Fisch namens Wander' and 'Torsten E' have already documented details of this in their articles.

Carla Pregonda is a beautiful bay, with a few rocks along the edge where you can sit, but also with sand and rocks in the water, a rock that's a bit far away for swimming, with a small sandy beach.

heavenly

Located 10 kilometres north of Es Mercadal, between Platja de Binimel·là and Cap de s’Alairó, Cala Pregonda is one of the most recommended coves by the inhabitants of Menorca, one of the most charming and least frequented in the steep northern area. It is made unique by its red rocks, an unspoiled surrounding landscape and crystalline water. In front of the shore you can see the islet and rocks of Pregonda (Illot and Esculls de Pregonda), habitat of the rare Audouin's gull. This almost virgin beach, quiet and with little influx of local bathers and tourists, is the result of a cove that, reaching the mainland, originates a U-shaped slope, which includes an interesting dune system in the rear area. These dunes were formed parallel to the orientation of the dominant wind in this area. A hill to the east and several cliffs to the west, belonging to a Natural Area of Special Interest, form the ends of the beach. Access by land is permitted by following the path delimited by Platja de Binimel·là (20 min).

To the northwest of the island and just 6 kilometres by car from Ciutadella, you will come to the Punta Nati lighthouse, built in the middle of an arid, enveloping and almost magical place. In this island full of contrasts that is Menorca, Punta Nati is another exceptional attraction. It can be reached by a narrow road with a cycle path flanked on both sides by stone walls, called "paret seca" (dry wall) by the island's inhabitants. It is a recommended visit for all history lovers, for those who want to admire nature in its purest state, for people looking for a quiet place or for those who long for a unique refuge from where they can watch the sunset. Approaching the Punta Nati lighthouse at night to admire the stars is another activity not to be missed. Punta Nati, with the island of Mallorca on the horizon, is one of the most affected extremes of the coast due to the constant sea currents, the influence of the north winds and the formation of impressive "Bufadors": incredible waves that during stormy days, infiltrate between the cavities of the rocks of the cliff and that, pushed upwards, jump out of the ground near the lighthouse, taking the form of incredible columns of water. The continuous shipwrecks that occurred at the beginning of the 20th century, in particular that of the French steamship Général Chanzy, were the main reason for its construction in 1912. The lighthouse was inaugurated on September 1, 1913, and is still there, with its fenced perimeter, its 11.5 meters of height, and its flashing light distinguishable from 26 miles away. The landscape that surrounds Punta Nati is arid, has very little vegetation and the flat relief of the land ends in an impervious cliff. The particular characteristics of the dry wall outline numerous accesses and paths in the area, among which it is possible to glimpse stone houses where livestock were usually sheltered in case of bad weather.

Unique place

The lighthouse stands on one of the most impressive and steepest cliffs in Menorca. Located in the far north, it owes its construction in 1913 to a sad story made famous by the only person rescued from a shipping accident.      On February 10, 1910, the French steamer Général Chanzy sank off the coast of Punta Natí during a storm. Marcel Baudez, the only survivor of the 157 people on board, was able to report on the tragic event. The French government then pushed for the construction of this lighthouse on Menorca as a guide for ships crossing the Mediterranean from north to south.    So since the beginning of the 20th century, the Punta Nati lighthouse has stood on a 42-meter-high cliff and warns of the nearby coast on dark nights.

The northern tip of Menorca with a beautiful lighthouse and a nice bar invites you to take a little break while hiking along the beautiful cliffs of Menorca.