Es Castell

Es Castell is a town of almost 8,000 people (2024) at the mouth of the port of Maó in the east of Menorca. The town takes its name from the Castle of San Felipe, which was built to protect the island against attacks by the Turks in the 16th century.

The previous name Villacarlos is still sometimes used. Since 1985 the place has been called Es Castell or in Spanish El Castell.

The main town was founded in 1771 by the British as Georgetown in honour of King George III of England during the period when Menorca was under British rule. Due to its geographical location, it is the first town in Spain to see the sunrise.

• 🌍 Museu Militar, Plaça de s'Esplanada 19, Es Castell, ☏ +34 971 362100. Apr-Dec: W-F 10:00-14:00. Weaponry and armed forces of Menorca through conflicts old and new. Donation. (updated Jul 2025)
• 🌍 Castel Sant Felip (Fort St Philip), ☏ +34 626 054702. This was the original bastion guarding the harbour, built in 1554 over an earlier structure and rebuilt by the British in the 1760s. They were twice overthrown, and it was partly demolished after the assault of 1781. However it remained garrisoned: in 1852 a lighthouse was erected nearby, but right in the line of target practice by the castle artillery. You see it by guided tour arranged through Consorcio Militar de Menorca, no walk up visits. Adult €8, child €5. (updated Jul 2025)
• 🌍 Fort Marlborough, Cala de Sant Esteve, Es Castell, ☏ +34 971 360462. Daily 09:30-14:00. Built by the British in the 1720s to guard the harbour, the Spanish wrecked it in 1782 but it was re-built. Adult €3. (updated Jul 2025)

• Its patron saint festivities are in honour of the apostle Santiago or Saint James (in Catalan Sant Jaume), and are celebrated on July 24, 25 and 26. At these festivals, as in all Menorcan towns, the horse is the star. The riders or caixers, dressed in black and white, ride their decorated horses and perform jumps, raising their front legs in front of a large crowd. This tradition is called the jaleo. The typical drink at parties is pomada (gin with lemonade).

There are three large supermarkets in Es Castell:

• Supermercat Trebaluger Sl,Cí. Rafalet Nº 23.info
• Bella Vista, Street Victorí No. 40.info
• Suma, Ciutadella Street No. 1.info

Es Castell has a weekly market every Tuesday from 08:00 to 12:00 in the central square. In addition to supermarkets, there are several traditional bakeries and butchers, including fruit and vegetable shops direct from the farm.

As in the rest of Spain, it is customary to tip 5-10% of the bill in bars and restaurants.

• 🌍 Can Delio, Moll de Cales Fonts 38, ☏ +34 971 351 711. Mediterranean restaurant with primarily Spanish cuisine. Excellent views of the harbor. (updated Aug 2025)
• 🌍 Restaurante Trébol, Moll de Cales Fonts No. 43, ☏ +34 971 367097. Specialties: fish, grilled seafood, and Mediterranean dishes. The restaurant features a terrace overlooking the incoming and outgoing boats and ferries. Menorcan cuisine is purely Mediterranean, based on natural and fresh ingredients from both land and sea. (updated Aug 2025)

• 🌍 Barceló Hamilton, Santa Àgueda 6, ☏ +34 971 362050. Smart adults-only hotel on the coast 8 km east of city. B&B double €120. (updated Jul 2025)
• Seth Agamenon is at Agamenon 16.
• 🌍 Son Granot, Carretera de Sant Felip, ☏ +34 691 758934. Charming country hotel with good dining. B&B double €150. (updated Jul 2025)

• Maó — directly to the northwest
• Sant Lluís — inland and to the southwest