Fury in Majorca as tourists turn picture postcard village into 'gridlock nightmare'

By John Varga, World News Reporter

Huge traffic jams form following a power outrage in Spain. (Image: Getty)

Local residents in a picture-postcard mountain village in Majorca were left incandescent with rage after tourists swarmed to their commune, causing horrendous traffic jams. Cloudy weather on Tuesday prompted an exodus from the beaches, as tourists made a beeline for the mountain hotspot of Valldemossa.

Surrounded by olive and almond groves and framed by the Tramuntana hills, the village has become a popular place for day visits. However, the streets of the mountain retreat became gridlocked with rental cars, leaving local residents furious. Queues of cars stretched for up to three kilometres on the main road from Palma, as frustrated drivers inched their way forward.

Valldemossa is a beautiful mountain village (Image: Google Maps)

There was barely any parking space available, with motorists hunting high and low for a free spot.

The village pavements and pathways soon began to overflow with tourists, who preferred a cheap sandwich to a sit-down meal in the local restaurants.

Many bars and cafés were empty at lunchtime as visitors chose to queue outside bakeries for a quick and inexpensive bite to eat.

Locals complained the crush had turned their home into a no-go zone, with traffic at a standstill and pavements overflowing with confused tourists. One resident branded it “an August nightmare we’re forced to endure every year.”

Many Majorcan residents sympathised with Valldemossa locals, and shared some of their own experiences of coping with the tourist hordes.

One local from Santanyi wrote: "The masses descend (here) by car and bus. The standard of driving is much to be desired, as they hire these 4x4 'tonka' toys and endeavour to drive and park them, one wonders if they ever passed a test. The restaurants are running at 50%, yes the 'all inclusive' is killing the island's hospitality sector."

Valldemossa is characterised by its quaint, narrow streets, which lead to cobbled squares and charming little cafes.

One of the village's major historical sites is the old Carthusian monastery, which was originally a palace for the King of Aragon.

The famous Polish composer Friedrich Chopin spent a whole winter at the monastery with his lover, Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin.