{{Short description|Ancient path encircling the island of Menorca, Spain}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb|Route of the path 'Camí de Cavalls' The '''Camí de Cavalls''' is an ancient path, {{convert|abbr=in|186|km|mi}} in length,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.menorca.info/menorca_info/v4_1_2/index.php?tsx=noticia&idnx=1126437 |title=Tres cuartas partes del Camí de Cavalls ya están señalizadas |accessdate=2009-09-19 |publisher=Menorca.info |language=Spanish |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825204331/http://www.menorca.info/menorca_info/v4_1_2/index.php?tsx=noticia# |archive-date=2009-08-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> that encircles the island of Menorca, Spain. This long-distance walking route is the '''GR 223''' of the Senderos de Gran Recorrido network in Spain that connects some of the most inaccessible beaches of Menorca.
== History == thumb|200px|Camí de Cavalls: section from Es Talaier to Cala en Turqueta
It is widely accepted that the Camí de Cavalls was built in order to connect the watchtowers, fortresses and cannons distributed along the coast of the island and to make the transport of troops and artillery easier. However, the date of its origin is not so clear. The most accepted theory attributes it to the French invaders during the different periods they lived in the island, but according to some studies, it could have been created in the 14th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitmenorca.com/default.asp?idcat=737&idprod=896&idsub=738&lang=EN |title=Camí de Cavalls |accessdate=2008-03-23 |publisher=VisitMenorca.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717220355/http://www.visitmenorca.com/default.asp?idcat=737&idprod=896&idsub=738&lang=EN |archive-date=2011-07-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Since its original function was the defence and the control of the island, it was patrolled by soldiers mounted on Menorquin horses, hence the word ''cavalls'' (meaning "horses" in Catalan) in the name of the path.{{fact|date=April 2022}}
== Restoration == During decades part of the path belonged to private properties and could not be used by everybody. However, after an agreement between the island's government and the landlords, the path became public. Then, the Government started the restoration of the whole path, spending €934,977.37 in a first stage and €800,159 in a second stage completed in May 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.menorca.info/menorca/445026/gobierno/central/concluye/segunda/fase/obras/cami/cavalls |title=El Gobierno central concluye la segunda fase de las obras del Camí de Cavalls |accessdate=2011-05-21 |publisher=Menorca.info |language=Spanish |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625231547/http://www.menorca.info/menorca/445026/gobierno/central/concluye/segunda/fase/obras/cami/cavalls# |archive-date=2011-06-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Stages == The path is divided in 20 different stages, each of them between 5 and 14 km. All the start and arrival points can be gained access to by road traffic, making possible to cover only one or some stages of the path at a time. {|class="sortable wikitable" width="600px" style="margin:1em auto; font-size: 95%;" !scope="col"|Stage !scope="col"|Start !scope="col"|Finish !scope="col"|Duration !scope="col"|Distance !scope="col"|Difficulty |- |align="center"|1 |align="center"|Mahón |align="center"|Es Grau |align="center"|3 h 30 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|10.0|km|mi}} |align="center"|Medium |- |align="center"|2 |align="center"|Es Grau |align="center"|Favàritx |align="center"|3 h 30 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|8.6|km|mi}} |align="center"|Medium |- |align="center"|3 |align="center"|Favàritx |align="center"|Arenal d'en Castell |align="center"|5 h |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|13.6|km|mi}} |align="center"|Medium |- |align="center"|4 |align="center"|Arenal d'en Castell |align="center"|Cala Tirant |align="center"|4 h |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|10.8|km|mi}} |align="center"|Easy |- |align="center"|5 |align="center"|Cala Tirant |align="center"|Binimel·là |align="center"|4 h |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|9.6|km|mi}} |align="center"|Medium |- |align="center"|6 |align="center"|Binimel·là |align="center"|Els Alocs |align="center"|5 h |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|8.9|km|mi}} |align="center"|Difficult |- |align="center"|7 |align="center"|Els Alocs |align="center"|Algaiarens |align="center"|4 h 30 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|9.7|km|mi}} |align="center"|Middle |- |align="center"|8 |align="center"|Algaiarens |align="center"|Cala Morell |align="center"|2 h 10 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|5.4|km|mi}} |align="center"|Middle |- |align="center"|9 |align="center"|Cala Morell |align="center"|Punta Nati |align="center"|3 h |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|7.0|km|mi}} |align="center"|Easy |- |align="center"|10 |align="center"|Punta Nati |align="center"|Ciutadella |align="center"|4 h |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|10.5|km|mi}} |align="center"|Easy |- |align="center"|11 |align="center"|Ciutadella |align="center"|Cap d’Artrutx |align="center"|5 h |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|13.2|km|mi}} |align="center"|Easy |- |align="center"|12 |align="center"|Cap d'Artrutx |align="center"|Cala en Turqueta |align="center"|5 h |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|13.3|km|mi}} |align="center"|Medium |- |align="center"|13 |align="center"|Cala en Turqueta |align="center"|Cala Galdana |align="center"|2 h 30 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|6.4|km|mi}} |align="center"|Easy |- |align="center"|14 |align="center"|Cala Galdana |align="center"|Sant Tomàs |align="center"|4 h 30 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|10.8|km|mi}} |align="center"|Medium |- |align="center"|15 |align="center"|Sant Tomàs |align="center"|Son Bou |align="center"|2 h 30 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|6.4|km|mi}} |align="center"|Easy |- |align="center"|16 |align="center"|Son Bou |align="center"|Cala en Porter |align="center"|3 h 30 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|8.0|km|mi}} |align="center"|Medium |- |align="center"|17 |align="center"|Cala en Porter |align="center"|Binisafúller |align="center"|4 h 30 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|11.8|km|mi}} |align="center"|Easy |- |align="center"|18 |align="center"|Binisafúller |align="center"|Punta Prima |align="center"|3 h 30 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|8.1|km|mi}} |align="center"|Easy |- |align="center"|19 |align="center"|Punta Prima |align="center"|Cala de Sant Esteve |align="center"|2 h 40 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|7.3|km|mi}} |align="center"|Easy |- |align="center"|20 |align="center"|Cala de Sant Esteve |align="center"|Mahón |align="center"|2 h 20 min |align="center"|{{convert|abbr=in|sortable=on|6.0|km|mi}} |align="center"|Easy |} <gallery> File:Indicación del Camí de Cavalls (31 de julio de 2015, Maó) 03.jpg|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 1, Carrer d'Isabel II, Mahón. File:Indicación del Camí de Cavalls (31 de julio de 2015, Maó) 01.jpg|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 1, Costa de ses Voltes, Mahón. File:Pasos en sa Mesquida.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 1, near Cala Mesquida. File:Cala Binillautí 1.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 1, Macar de Binillautí. File:Camí de Cavalls 2—Cala de sa Torreta 2.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 2, Cala de Sa Torreta. File:Camí de Cavalls 2—Signpost on the Way to Cala des Tamarells del Sud.jpg|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 2, on the way to Cala des Tamarells del Sud. File:Salinas de Mongofre cerca Addaia.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 3. Ses Salines de Mongofre File:Indicación del Camí de Cavalls (26 de julio de 2017, es Mercadal) 02.jpg|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 4, Boscos de s'Albufera des Compte File:Indicación del Camí de Cavalls (4 de agosto de 2015, Platges de Fornells).jpg|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 4, Platges de Fornells, close to Cala Tirant. File:Indicación del Camí de Cavalls en platges de Cavalleria (3 de agosto de 2014, Menorca).jpg|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 5, Platges de Cavalleria. File:Cala Mica (3 de agosto de 2014, Es Mercader) 06.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 5, Cala Mica. File:Cala Morts + Cala Pregonda.Es Mercadal.Menorca.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 6, near Cala Pregonda. File:Camidecavallnorp.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 7, near Els Alocs File:Camino a pilar.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 7, on the way to Cala Pilar File:Camí de cavalls Pilar.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 7, Cala Pilar File:Camino de caballos hacia Pla de Mar.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 7, near Pla de Mar. File:En Ses Fontanelles.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 8, lookout in Ses Fontanelles. File:Camí de Cavalls 9—Water Well & Troughs 001.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 9, well and troughs near Punta Nati File:SON SAURA 15.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 12, Son Saura. File:Cami de Cavalls - Es Talaier Cala en Turqueta.JPG|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 12, Es Talaier. File:Camí de Cavals Turqueta.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 12, access to Cala Turqueta File:Path to Cala Macarelleta (30097433536).jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 13, path to Macarella. File:Indicación del Camí de Cavalls en el barranco de Macarella (4 de agosto de 2014, Menorca) 02.jpg|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 13, Macarella. File:Camino de Cala Escorxada.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 14, near Cala Escorxada. File:Llegando a Binigaus 2.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 14, near Binigaus. File:Barranc de Son Boter o de sa Vall (30 de julio de 2015, Alaior) 13.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 15, Barranc de Son Boter o de sa Vall. File:Indicación del Camí de Cavalls en el extremo este de la platja de Sant Tomàs (2 de agosto de 2015, es Migjorn Gran) 02.jpg|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 15, Sant Tomàs. File:Cala Llucalari (7347780586) (2).jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 16, Cala Llucalari. File:Camí de Llucalari (1 de agosto de 2015, Alaior).jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 16, Llucalari. File:Barranc de Cala en Porter (29 de julio de 2017, Alaior) 07.jpg|Camí de Cavalls. Stage 16, Barranc de Cala en Porter. File:Tramo 17 del camí de Cavalls (29 de julio de 2017, Alaior) 04.jpg|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 17, near Cales Coves. File:Indicación del Camí de Cavalls (3 de agosto de 2015, Binibèquer).jpg|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 18, Binibèquer. File:Pieu de balisage du Camí de Cavalls entre Punta Prima et Cala de Sant Esteve.JPG|Camí de Cavalls sign. Stage 19. </gallery>
== Events == Since the whole path is restored, activities and events around it are arising. Between April 28, 2012 and May 1, 2012, the world champion in adventure racing Arnau Julià went in 82 h 30 min three times around the path, one running, one in mountain-bike and the last one in kayak, covering in total more than {{convert|abbr=in|500|km|mi}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.camidecavalls360.com/es/reto360x3 |title=El reto 360ºx3, la triple vuelta a Menorca de Arnau Julià |accessdate=2012-05-19 |publisher=Camí de Cavalles 360 |language=Spanish |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527062122/http://www.camidecavalls360.com/es/reto360x3# |archive-date=2012-05-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls was held for the first time between 18 and 20 May 2012 and 140 participants took part in the five different races of this event: Trail Cami de Cavalls 185.3 km, Trail Costa Nord – 94.2 km (North coast only), Trail Costa Sud – 91 km (south coast only), Trekking Costa Nord – 46.6 km and Trekking Costa Sud – 43.5 km.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trailmenorca.com/|title=Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls Website |accessdate=2012-05-19 }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * [http://www.camidecavalls.com Official website ''Camí de Cavalls''] Consell Insular de Menorca * [https://menorca.es/Documents/Documents/9449doc4.pdf Official map ''Camí de Cavalls''] Fundació Foment del Turisme de Menorca * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100125120152/http://www.cime.es/ca/cami_de_cavalls/index_pe_camidecavalls.html Official resources ''Camí de Cavalls''] Consell Insular de Menorca * [http://www.gr223.info Web ''Track''] Editorial Alpina, update june 2014
{{Authority control}} {{Coord|39|55|35|N|3|54|33|E|source:kolossus-cawiki|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cami de Cavalls}} Category:Geography of Menorca