Dry-stone walls and terraces – the marges – are part of Mallorca's landscape. They are built without mortar, with each stone fitted by hand, and have held up farming terraces for centuries.
Recognised heritage
- In 2018 UNESCO inscribed the "Art of dry stone walling" on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, following a joint nomination by several countries, including Spain.
- The Serra de Tramuntana has been a World Heritage Site since 2011 as a cultural landscape, and its marges are an essential part of that landscape.
Why do walls collapse?
- Heavy rain and storms that push the soil outwards.
- Roots working their way between the stones.
- Lack of drainage behind the wall.
- Animals or vehicles knocking the base.
A small collapse left unrepaired usually gets bigger with the next storm. Repairing it early is far cheaper.
Repairing versus building new
Balearic planning law treats the repair or rebuilding of existing dry-stone walls more simply. A new wall, or one built with mortar or concrete, may well require a licence. Always check with your town hall.
Grants for restoring marges
The Consorci Serra de Tramuntana (part of the Consell de Mallorca, the island council) publishes annual calls for grants that include the restoration of marges and dry-stone walls on rural land within the Serra. The 2026 call was published in the BOIB (the Balearic Official Gazette) in July. If your finca is in the Tramuntana, it's worth keeping an eye out for the next one.
Basic maintenance
- Inspect walls after every storm.
- Remove vegetation whose roots are pushing the stones out.
- Keep drainage clear.
- Replace any stones that fall from the top course straight away.
At RUST & CO we repair and build stone walls and pillars. Send us a photo of your wall and we'll tell you what we see.
Have a project in mind?
Send us a WhatsApp with a few photos and your idea. We reply quickly and, if it suits you, we come to see it and send you a detailed written quote in English.
