Cardona Castle
5.6 million years ago the Mediterranean Sea was severed from the Atlantic Ocean, most of the water evaporated, it left behind a thick layer of salt which was then buried under layers of rock and clay. Over 3 million years later, tectonic activity pushed the layer of salt up to the surface at Cardona forming a mountain of almost pure salt. To this day the salt continues to be pushed upwards while simultaneously being eroded from the surface by rainwater.
The Cardona valley was first settled during the Neolithic period and by Roman times was an important town for trade and agriculture. Salt was mined from the surface of the mountain and transported throughout Europe from the nearby port of Barcelona. After the decline of the Roman Empire Cardona became a strategic frontier town between the Carolingian Empire to the north and al-Andalus to the south.
The area was sparsely populated and largely a no man’s land until 886 when a count by the name of Wilfred the Hairy (link) built the Cardona Castle that stands to this day. The fortress, built on a 490 ft (150 m) tall hill, is of Romanesque and Gothic styles.
In the 11th century a tower was built on top of the fortress, at that time it was 78 ft (24 m) tall tower with a base of 32 ft (10 m). The tower, called “Torre de la Minyona” (Tower of the Damsel) made the castle of great strategic value as a lookout point. In addition its fortifications and relative isolation made it ideal as a powder magazine and dungeon.
Here is an aerial video (not mine) you can watch:
In 1812, during The French War, (1808-1814) also known as the Spanish Campaign, the Spanish Independence War, or the Peninsular War, the top floor of the tower was lost and is now 49 ft (15 m) in height.
Today, the castle’s tower and its “Parador de Cardona” beautiful four star state-run hotel are its biggest attractions. The hotel’s rooms were converted from the original rooms of the castle, they have also been brought up to date offering electricity, phone, internet, running water and indoor plumbing without completely having lost the charm of a medieval castle.
The foyer, dining room and other rooms have the original exposed arched brick walls, every corner is very elegantly and tastefully decorated. There is also a patio with tables where one can dine that offers the most stunning of views for miles around. As a bonus, the castle is supposedly haunted. You can view pictures and learn more at TripAdvisor's website.
The Cardona Castle is one of the most well-preserved remnants of Spanish antiquity in all of Spain. A still-standing decree from centuries ago requires that citizens of Cardona take one day each year to work on the maintenance and preservation of the grand ruin, which may explain its remarkable present-day appearance.
At the foothills of the castle lies Cardona, a town of about 5,000 roughly 56 mi (90 km) northwest of Barcelona. The town area of Cardona, known as the historic centre, is in fact the ancient walled town that dates back to the Middle Ages. The town’s origins go back to the 10th century, originaly a marketplace that was developed at the foot of the castle and its mountain, an area which would become densely inhabited despite the small area it covers.
Learn more at Cardona’s tourism website >>
Legend of the "Minyona" (Damsel)
I’ve seen several slight variations of this legend, but this is the gist of the story;
Many centuries ago, Catalonia was being conquered by Muslim warriors. Cardona was a walled town with a stone and sand castle. The parties at the Castle were near and everyone made preparations. The Duke of Cardona invited the Muslim prince (Berber) Abdalà to go to the party and he accepted the invitation.
During the party, the Duke's daughter, Adalés, walked silently and discreetly through the castle gardens. Abdalà went for a walk, when he was surprised by the beauty of Adalés. They fell in love with each other, and swore eternal love. Soon they began to see themselves at night already hidden, because they knew that if they discovered their two villages they would go to war. Things were not easy at all and one day they were discovered. The Duke burst out of anger upon hearing the news, and as punishment he condemned his daughter, forever enclosing her in a round tower in the castle. To Abdalà, he was forbidden to re-enter his lands and declared war on him.
So that the maiden could never talk to anyone again, the servant who brought him some bread and water every day was blind and dumb. The maid remained locked up for a long time. One day her father, the duke, agreed to forgive her by listening to the advice of the nobles, but when he arrived in Cardona , the pages were waiting to tell him that his daughter was wrapped in blankets at the door of the tower. He had died of love and sorrow. During his sad stay there, he engraved a cross on the door with his nails. Thus he showed that his love had never made her renounce her faith.
Legend has it that at twelve o'clock at night you can see Abdalà roaming his horse through the tower, since then called “Tower of the 'Minyona”, he comes to find his beloved Adalés.