Words by Joan McFadden
If Puerto Pollensa is the ultimate family resort in north Majorca, then Bellresguard is undoubtedly the jewel in its crown. Over the last twenty years this beautifully landscaped complex has peacefully come into its own as the ideal luxury destination. Gated and private, it is just five minutes stroll from the end of the famed Pine Walk, yet its lush surroundings and inviting swimming pools ensure all you need is at hand.
The Balearics have been a celebrity destination since before the term was coined, with Agatha Christie and Robert Graves finding it as appealing as did film stars Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor. Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier III spent some of their honeymoon here, alighting from the yacht Aristotle Onassis gave them as a wedding present.
Princess Diana was a regular visitor, as is the Spanish royal family, while pop royalty Robbie Williams and Bon Jon Jovi are equally at home here. Michelle Obama, Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt often enjoy a Majorcan welcome and this summer, some of America’s wealthiest people holidayed together in Majorca.
Jeff Bezos, Karlie Kloss, David Geffen, Joshua Kushner, and Lloyd Blankfein, shared images on social media while on Majorca. And of course, Rafa Nadal, one of Majorca’s favourite sons, has followed in the footsteps of Real Madrid star Gareth Bale by having his wedding to Xisca Perelló in Puerto Pollensa.
This influx of high profile visitors is a subtle reflection of how Majorca is returning to its traditional reputation of exclusivity. Over the last few decades as it became more accessible too many raucous outings started to spoil the image of this peaceful paradise.
That changed two years ago when new tourism rules were stringently upheld – with huge fines for non-compliance – aiming to restrict holiday rentals and essentially restore Majorca’s image as a classic year-round holiday destination, with the emphasis on elegance rather than excess and buying rather than renting.
Puerto Pollensa has never been one of the party destinations, though the typical owners of property in Bellresguard applaud the exclusivity implicit in buying into this development. These busy, focused people know exactly what they want and it seems entirely fitting that each building is named after a Greek god or goddess, such as Diana, Venus or Atlas.
This highly sought-after development offers an appealing mix of architect designed apartments and villas, each area having its own infinity type community pool and beautifully manicured gardens with streams and ponds. In stark and stunning contrast to this peaceful, tranquil location is the dramatic backdrop of the Tramuntana mountain range just metres away, with the nerve-wracking Formentor road winding its way ever upwards.
Bellresguard has been built by Riusech, a local, family business with a history of over 100 years of creating beautiful buildings in the area. Riusech is responsible for some of Majorca’s most prestigious buildings, including the Puerto Pollensa Church, the Yacht Club and the Pollensa Golf Club, as well as completing exclusive promotions and commissions for third parties.
Now into its fourth generation, the company has an unrivalled reputation and Riusech’s collection extends from luxury apartments and elegant villas to fine penthouses and country homes.
Its latest development in Bellresguard comprises the Ares and Cronos buildings, located just 200 metres from the sea. In a development already renowned for quality and meticulous attention to detail, these apartments can still take your breath away. Each building has nine spacious 3 and 4 bedroom apartments with extensive terraces.
The penthouses have private roof terraces and the ground floor apartments private gardens, with every apartment enjoying travertine marble floors, high ceilings, electrically powered blinds, air conditioning and heating and beautifully fitted open plan kitchens.
These homes instantly strike you as full of light and air, built for families yet recognising that while two or three generations might revel in each other’s company, at times they need privacy and space.
Hence considerable planning has gone into the layout of the extremely generous private and living areas, with room for children to play unchecked, relaxed members of the family to enjoy a peaceful snooze or for those still keeping an eye on business to be assured a quiet area and the confidence that work and phone calls won’t be disturbed. The community area includes private parking, extensive beautifully designed gardens with lovely water ponds and a large swimming pool.
The show apartments are so impressively furnished by a local interiors company that customers will often simply buy everything in situ, delighted with the opportunity to walk into a property already designed to suit them. Others use the same company to furnish and style their new home to specific requirements, with quality at the top of the list.
Riusech staff are used to the decisive and well researched approach of these focused clients and are well experienced in helping them find, purchase and organise their new homes with minimal fuss.
Transfer time from Palma airport to Bellresguard is under an hour by road and all practical requirements, from car hire to large supermarkets, are easily available. Many residents keep boats and swimming, snorkelling, canoeing, scuba diving, kitesurfing and windsurfing are all available nearby, as are tennis, golf, sailing, cycling, horse riding and hill-walking. Pollensa Golf Club is also about 5 miles from the apartment and is open to the public.
Northern Majorca is still delightfully unspoiled, with spectacular scenery and sheltered sandy beaches and Puerto Pollensa has managed to retain its traditional charm whilst offering the most up to date and excellent facilities.
During summer, many families will stay in Bellresguard for up to three months, bringing childcare and grandparents, while parents commute back and forth to Europe and get the work/life balance working perfectly for them. Flights to and from Palma are now so regular and plentiful that even a swift weekend here is an easy option, so apartments are in use year-round.
The bustling centre of Puerto Pollensa is a short walk away along the shady, traffic-free Pine Walk, bordered by beaches and lovely villas and further in, by restaurants and cafes. The square is always hugely popular, again with a wide range of eating places and a weekly market, as is the lively front.
As dusk falls, small boys cluster on the beach united only by the universal language of football, joined by irrepressible small girls, eager to join in and play their part. They’re watched over indulgently by parents sharing a final coffee as they cradle already sleeping babies, reluctant to move until it really is too dark to see the ball.
Meanwhile teenagers are finding their social feet in Puerto Pollensa’s only nightclub, just off the square, which like everything else here is very family focused, so don’t expect a riot. There’s the occasional karaoke and some great friendly bars and the atmosphere deliberately engendered here goes a long way to explain the town’s appeal.
This resort is all about families, from tiny babies to grandparents, and Bellresguard has been developed around this concept. Luxury, not price, is the watchword here, as Majorca reclaims the reputation of being a class act with the clientele to match.
For more details please visit riusech.com/cronos
