:med-cardona

Essential visit in the centre of Cardona. With the help of the enthusiastic guides, you will relive the 1000 years of history, legends, anecdotes, and curiosities that are embedded in the stones of this fabulous castle.

The complex of the Castle and the chapel of San Vincente has been built during 2,500 years of human occupation of the mountain. From a height of 585 m above sea level, the Castle enjoys a visual dominance over the Carderner river basin and the salt that occurs in Cardona; made the mountain a unique place to protect access to the salt and its trade salt through the valleys of Cardener.

Built in 886 by order of Wilfred the Pilós, it is an excellent combination of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Since 1976 it functions as a Parador, but you can still visit the walled entrance and wander through to the canonical San Vincente, an outstanding example of Romanesque architecture in Catalonia that was consecrated in 1040 and has been declared a National Monument.

This national monument is a true compendium of military fortifications. The salt mining in each era has left its mark on the Castle. It has been home to one of the most influential noble lineages of the country: the Viscounts, Earls and, finally, Dukes of Cardona, "the rich Gentlemen of the Salt" who were related to the major European royal houses. The Castle has proved impervious to attack - it was defended heroically in the War of Succession (1711-1714) established as the last hold out during the Austracist conflict, hence its name "last bastion of Catalan freedom.