In this short post, we've shared everything you need to know to visit this beautiful old quarry and cultural space in Menorca
A few hours at a quarry isn't the typical sort of thing you might think of when designing your route on this island - but there aren't many quarries like Líthica, Pedreres de s'Hostal.
Situated just a few kilometres outside of Ciutadella, its marés stone provided the raw building blocks for much of western Menorca - churches, fortresses, palaces, towns - but the site itself could easily be dismissed as a deep wound on the landscape.
Something be filled up and forgotten once exhausted, picked dry of its stone fruit. A sealed-off testament to the toxic interplay of man and nature; we take, we consume, we cover our tracks, we forget that we took from beneath to build above.
When production ceased in 1994, that's what was mooted.
Instead, Laetitia Sauleau Lara and a non-profit private foundation stepped in and campaigned to avoid the easy route. In the hollowed out depths created by the ever-deeper carving, cutting, cubing of man then machine, they saw potential as well as an important part of the island’s heritage.
A quarry reconceptualised as a type of unintentional architecture; in taking from here to build elsewhere, the stonecutter's had actually built something here.
A unique cultural and artistic space for future generations of Menorcans and tourists alike.
A new creation of hard stone and space, where culture could echo off walls scarred by sharp, steel chisels.
Come summertime, there are balmy late-night concerts and art installations. Theatres, orchestras, and an occasional film festival. A botanical garden sees more trees planted and nature interweave itself with the surrounds. Each year, more tourists arrive than the last.
The mineral maze, within which Andrew is getting lost in these pictures, sums up the philosophy quite nicely. Built as something for people to enjoy and interact with, it was also the representation of the artistic concept of returning stones to the quarry; reversing the stonecutter's work and process of man only taking things from nature, never giving back.
Lithica Essentials
// Disused quarry that has been repurposed for art and culture
// Just outside Ciutadella
// Hosts live music in summer months
// Also has large botanical garden
// Open all year round (reduced hours in winter)
How To Visit Lithica, Pedreres de s'Hostal
This is one of the most unusual things to do in Menorca, and aesthetically very pleasing; we've never visited anywhere quite like it and highly recommend it.
If you're based in Ciutadella, or exploring this part of the island with your hire car, then it's certainly worthwhile to drop in for an hour or two.
A quick point to avoid confusion: Líthica is the name of the private foundation responsible for the site, whilst Pedreres de s'Hostal is the name of the quarry. Many visitors use them interchangeably or combine them!
// Where
On the west of Menorca, you can find the quarry here on the map. Unfortunately there are no bus connections that we’re aware of, but please let us know if this changes.
With your own car, it's an easy 10-minute drive from Ciutadella and, if driving from elsewhere in Menorca, the quarry is clearly signposted off the Me-1 road at the roundabout. There's a small, free, dusty car park for visitors and toilets on site.
For more advice on renting a car, check out this post: 7 Things To Know Before You Hire A Car In Menorca
// Entry
€6 for adults, €3 for 65+, free for children under 12 years old. These can purchased by card or cash at the small entry / gift shop.
// Opening Hours
Open daily from 9.30 am – 2. 30 pm, then 4.30 pm until sunset in high season (April - October).
On Sunday and from November - March, the quarry is only open in the morning / early afternoon slot.
Note that the closing time will change during the seasons, so it’s always worth double-checking times on the quarry website before your own visit. We recommend having at least 90 minutes for a visit, so don’t leave your arrival too close to sunset as your time will be limited.
Important things to know before visiting
| One slight negative is that the detailed information boards about the history of the quarry and the craft of stonemasonry are only in Catalan and Spanish. Fine if you can understand either language, but not so good for English speakers and others. Hopefully this will be improved in future.
| There are colourful symbols in operation to guide you around the gardens and the quarry site; the main thing to note is that the 'red hand' symbol means pay attention and don't go beyond that point. It's also forbidden to climb on or over any walls of the maze or part of the quarry.
| Drone photography is expressly forbidden inside and outside the site - please respect this rule (and your fellow visitors) at all times. Heavy fines are given in the event of breaches.
| The maze is very manageable, but a fun experience for kids and adults.
| To capture the best photos of someone in it, one person should stay up at the various viewing points by the entrance. Due to the depth of the quarry and changing time of sunrise/set, the time of day you visit makes quite a difference to the photography options available to you. For example, golden hour provides the best light, the maze itself requires the sun to be high in the sky to become illuminated.
| Don't pick any flowers, leaves, or fruits.
| The Pedreres de s'Hostal quarry and gardens are also a venue for summer events and live performances (dance, music, theatre), which make the most of the unique acoustics and setting. It’s definitely worth taking a look at their website for your dates to see if tickets are available for something interesting. For example, in July and August 2021, there was live music every Wednesday evening at 8 pm.
