How to visit the Parador de Cardona Castle: schedules, prices

When we consider a trip to discover landscapes and places of the interior of the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, the truth is that only the image of the Castle of Cardona It was attractive enough to do so.

Its location on top of a hill next to the town of Cardona, In Osona region, and its great fortification, makes it understandable that it is a castle that throughout history has been impregnable.

But above all the Castle of Cardona, due to its historical location in border territory that was not occupied by Muslims, has been a prominent place linked to the history of Catalonia.

Now, you have to know that in reality history of Cardona and its castle is marked by the great mountain of salt of which they were owners gentlemen of Cardona, which has now become a prominent tourist attraction in the area.

For that reason the Dukes of Cardona They became known as The Lords of the Salt Mountain.

Curiosities and history of Cardona Castle

La history of Cardona Castle part of a defense tower from the 9th century, of which you can still see stones from that time at its base, although its current structure is from a later time.

Between the 13th and 14th centuries, a palace for military use was added to that location, of which you can now see the Ducal Courtyard through which you access both the building of the national hostel like that of the Collegiate Church of San Vicente.

The walls then They were between 4 and 5 meters high.

During the 15th century the Dukes of Cardona They had a very important position in the Crown of Aragon, and in fact they became known as Kings without crown.

Precisely a key moment in the history of Cardona Castle It was when he suffered the great siege of army of the Bourbon king Philip V in the War of the Spanish Succession against those who defended reign of the Austrians.

This siege lasted for 35 days, and finally the castle resisted.

While the War of succession It ended on September 11, 1711, it was not until 1714 when the Cardona resisters decided to capitulate and finally abandon the castle.

Given its special location, the Castle of Cardona It was occupied by the army and its facilities, previously used as a palatial residence, were used as barracks until 1903.

This military use also affected the church after the expulsion of the canons in 1794.

During the 17th and 18th centuries it was refortified so that its medieval castle structure was transformed into a modern fortress, with the current image of great robustness and impregnability.

In the 1931 Generalitat of Catalonia took charge of the church, and some time later, in 1969, it was decided to use the military palace grounds to install the current national hostel, which was inaugurated in 1975.

How to visit and what to see at Cardona Castle

Nowadays, when you travel to Cardona, the best way to get to know the castle is, on the one hand, to sign up for one of the guided tours that are carried out in it.

And on the other hand, if you stay in the national parador Duques de Cardona You can also feel its history, for example, in its old dining room. cabinet of the collegiate church.

Our advice is that before your visit, just like we did, you look for places to see panoramic views of the castle.

A good way is to go up by car to the upper area of ​​the town of Cardona where is there any gazebo from where you can see the majesty of the fortification and its spectacular location.

To visit it, once you have left the car in the parking lot, when you enter the castle grounds you will be in the Ducal Courtyard, where the entrance to the national hostel and tourist office where visits are contracted.

You can walk through the walled enclosure, passing through the area of ​​the old cloister.

Minyona Tower in Cardona Castle

You will also go up to the Minyona Tower, the original site of the 9th century defensive tower and, most importantly, you will access the church of the Collegiate Church of San Vicente.

Romanesque church of Cardona castle

It is a surprising and enormous building. Lombard Romanesque style from the year 1019 whose interior in some way can remind you of the Seu Vella of Lleida.

Already in the porch you will see the reproduction of a painting whose originals are in the National Museum of Barcelona.

When you enter the church, you will see that it has a large basilica plan with three naves, 50 meters long and almost 19 meters high, with a spectacular barrel vault.

You will see that it is completely devoid of decoration as I remind you that for centuries the church was used as a military barracks.

As happened with the aforementioned Seu Vella of Lleida, the interior was divided into three floors, which were dedicated to a hospital, warehouse and dining room.

Of course, it will catch your attention to see two tombs, a large one, and the reason for its permanence is that they are attached to the stone wall.

In his time in Cardona castle church there were 21 tombs and 17 chapels.

Cardona Castle visit schedules

Here you can consult the information about the Cardona Castle visiting hours that take place on weekends.

El price of the visit to Cardona castle es, adults, 8 euros, retirees, 6 euros, and children from 7 to 11 years, 4 euros.

Legends in the Parador Castle of Cardona

Now, the Cardona castle It is also a point of reference for those passionate about paranormal phenomena, as there is a legend about the existence of a ghost in the Room 712.

The truth is that, knowing this legend, during our visit we wanted to contrast with the employees of the national inn some of the myths that exist about the existence of this ghost...and I will tell you that they are not true.

For example, the cleaners do not require going together to tidy the room, and it is not true that they only give access to said room to clients who request it, but rather they distribute it like the rest of their rooms according to needs.

What's more, after renovations carried out a few years ago, number 712 was assigned to a different room.

Furthermore, said ghost is linked to the legend of the maiden of the Minyona Tower, which dates back to the beginning of the 11th century.

La legend of Cardona castle refers to the youngest daughter of the nine children of the Lord of Cardona, Adales, who fell in love with a Muslim prince, after which her father locked her in the aforementioned tower.

He finally died without Prince Abdullah could rescue her and without her father's forgiveness.

It is assumed that ghost of room 712 It is the one with the maiden, but no one has seen her...

Although they have confirmed to us that some foreign client, not at all aware of the legend, has demanded a change of room due to the unbearable noises during the night.

Map: how to get to Cardona Castle

El Cardona castle It is located at 95 kilometers Barcelona, inwards passing through Manresa, and you will arrive there by car in just an hour and a quarter.