Es Mercadal

The municipality extends in a strip from the centre of the island to the northern coastline. The village of Es Mercadal sits at the foot of the elevation of El Toro, at the historic crossroads between Maó and Ciutadella, and retains an old town of whitewashed houses, narrow streets, and a character more of a working village than a showcase. It is known for its bakeries and traditional pastries.

To the north, the landscape changes completely: the Menorcan Tramuntana, with its dark rock and jagged profile, features the great bay of Fornells, the cape of Cavalleria —the northernmost point of the island, with its lighthouse— and a coastline that is much more rugged and exposed to the wind than that of the south. This dual nature, agricultural inland and northern coast, best defines the municipality. The current municipality of Es Migjorn Gran was segregated from Es Mercadal at the end of the 20th century, taking with it the southern coastal access.

The village of Es Mercadal is the centre of permanent life: services, commerce, school, and a stable population that does not depend on summer. It is the option for those who wish to reside year-round in the inland area, well connected to both cities.

On the coast, Fornells is the settlement with the most identity: a village of low, white houses lined up facing the bay, with a fishing and sports port, well known for its seafood cuisine. It has its own life outside of the season, albeit reduced. Surrounding it is the development of Platges de Fornells, featuring tiered villas with views, and to the east are Son Parc, the only development on the island with a golf course and a wide beach, Arenal d'en Castell, with a closed bay and a more touristy profile, and Coves Noves, residential and tranquil.

The choice is clear: village, with year-round living and no sea; or northern coast, with sea and a very quiet low season. These are not two similar markets.

The village covers everyday needs well: local shops, a market, a health centre, a pharmacy, and a school. Its central position is a real advantage —Maó and Ciutadella are a similar and moderate distance via the main road— making access to hospitals, secondary schools, administration, and large retail outlets convenient in either direction.

On the coast, the situation is different. Fornells maintains basic services year-round, but the developments of Son Parc, Arenal d'en Castell, and Coves Noves are markedly seasonal: in summer they operate at full capacity, while in winter they become very empty, with most restaurants and shops closed. To reside there year-round, one must rely on a car for almost everything.

The bay of Fornells is one of the major nautical spaces in the Balearics: a long, protected sea inlet, with sailing and windsurfing schools and a maritime tradition that supports the village's gastronomic fame, with lobster stew as the signature dish. At its entrance stands the preserved defensive tower that once guarded the mouth.

To the west, the peninsula of Cavalleria features the lighthouse, reddish sandy beaches, cliffs, and the remains of a Roman settlement near the natural port of Sanitja: it is one of the most characteristic landscapes in the north of the island. To the east, Son Parc and Arenal d'en Castell offer wide, easily accessible beaches, and Son Parc also has the only golf course in Menorca.

In the centre, the ascent to El Toro is the classic walk of the municipality: from the sanctuary, one can see the entire island. The Camí de Cavalls runs along the entire coastline of the municipality, with some of its stretches being more open.

The main road of the island passes through the village, making Es Mercadal the best-located point in Menorca in terms of average distance to everything. From there, roads lead to Fornells and the settlements in the northeast, short but narrow routes; access to Cavalleria and some calas ends in tracks.

The airport and the port are near Maó, at a reasonable distance. The bus connects the village with both cities and, in season, with the coast; outside of summer, frequencies to the coastal settlements are scarce. A car is necessary, especially if living on the coast.

In the village, terraced houses of one or two floors, whitewashed, with a patio or yard, and some recent multi-family housing; this is the product for year-round living and the most affordable in the municipality. In Fornells, there are fishing village houses —highly sought after and in very limited supply— and apartments.

In the coastal developments, villas and semi-detached houses from the 1970s onwards, many with sea or bay views and a significant portion in need of updating; in Son Parc and Arenal d'en Castell, there are also blocks of apartments for tourist use. New builds are limited to plots within already defined settlements; in rustic land, construction is heavily restricted and it is advisable to verify what the regulations allow before purchasing land or a finca.

There are two markets within the same municipality. The village market is local, for permanent residents, with more reasonable prices than those on the coast and a constant but quiet demand. The northern coast market is for second homes, with national and international components, and is governed by three factors: the view, the distance to the water, and the state of conservation. Fornells is an exception: its old town is small, rarely comes up for sale, and has its own demand.

As in the rest of Menorca, the published volume is low and the turnover slow; a lack of visible supply does not indicate a lack of interest. Long-term residential rentals are scarce, and on the coast, they compete directly with seasonal use. Tourist rentals are subject to regulations that have changed several times and it is advisable to confirm for the specific property, with differences depending on whether it is a single-family home or an apartment.

It suits those who want to live year-round in Menorca with both cities at hand and prefer the inland area —there the village is hard to beat in terms of position—, and those seeking a second home on a northern coast of bays, wind, and open landscape, with genuine nautical activities in Fornells. Son Parc adds the appeal of golf, which has no alternative on this island.

It is important to consider the contrast between summer and winter in the developments, the dependence on a car outside the village, the exposure to the northern wind —which is part of the charm and also a burden—, the age of much of the coastal housing stock and the cost of renovating it, and the building restrictions in rustic areas. This is a municipality that requires one to first decide what kind of Menorca they want, as it has two very distinct options within it.