Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Cardona

This has been a fortified place already since pre-Roman times, as salt was mined in the valley since around 300BC. A fort was built here by Wilfred the Hairy in 886. In a document from the year 986, Cordona is mentioned in connection with the salt deposits in the municipal area. At that time, the population not only received the mining rights for "Vall Salina", but the place also received market and city rights. Since salt was of great importance as a food preservative, unusual measures were taken to militarily protect the area and the salt mines, and the fortress of Castell de Cardona was expanded. Since the 10th century, when the noble family Folc de Gardona established their residence in the castle of Cardona, the counts have been of great importance for the further development of the city of salt. The population grew significantly. This era lasted until the 16th century, when the Compte family settled in Barcelona and Arbeca, as well as in Seville. After that, the castle became a barracks and the town lost its importance. Today the castle has been completely renovated and houses a fantastic hotel paradores.es/en/parador-de-cardona The Collegiate church of Sant Vicenç, erected 1020-1040, is a great example of the Lombardic/Catalan architecture. To quote Marcel Durliat this is "most important structure of the ’Premier art roman méridional’ in Catalonia". During the renovation work in 1958, some large murals were discovered under the plaster. They date from the middle of the 12th century.

This has been a fortified place already since pre-Roman times, as salt was mined in the valley since around 300BC. A fort was built here by Wilfred the Hairy in 886. In a document from the year 986, Cordona is mentioned in connection with the salt deposits in the municipal area. At that time, the population not only received the mining rights for "Vall Salina", but the place also received market and city rights. Since salt was of great importance as a food preservative, unusual measures were taken to militarily protect the area and the salt mines, and the fortress of Castell de Cardona was expanded. Since the 10th century, when the noble family Folc de Gardona established their residence in the castle of Cardona, the counts have been of great importance for the further development of the city of salt. The population grew significantly. This era lasted until the 16th century, when the Compte family settled in Barcelona and Arbeca, as well as in Seville. After that, the castle became a barracks and the town lost its importance. Today the castle has been completely renovated and houses a fantastic hotel paradores.es/en/parador-de-cardona The Collegiate church of Sant Vicenç, erected 1020-1040, is a great example of the Lombardic/Catalan architecture. To quote Marcel Durliat this is "most important structure of the ’Premier art roman méridional’ in Catalonia".

This has been a fortified place already since pre-Roman times, as salt was mined in the valley since around 300BC. A fort was built here by Wilfred the Hairy in 886. In a document from the year 986, Cordona is mentioned in connection with the salt deposits in the municipal area. At that time, the population not only received the mining rights for "Vall Salina", but the place also received market and city rights. Since salt was of great importance as a food preservative, unusual measures were taken to militarily protect the area and the salt mines, and the fortress of Castell de Cardona was expanded. Since the 10th century, when the noble family Folc de Gardona established their residence in the castle of Cardona, the counts have been of great importance for the further development of the city of salt. The population grew significantly. This era lasted until the 16th century, when the Compte family settled in Barcelona and Arbeca, as well as in Seville. After that, the castle became a barracks and the town lost its importance. Today the castle has been completely renovated and houses a fantastic hotel paradores.es/en/parador-de-cardona The Collegiate church of Sant Vicenç, erected 1020-1040, is a great example of the Lombardic/Catalan architecture. To quote Marcel Durliat this is "most important structure of the ’Premier art roman méridional’ in Catalonia". The church was the burial place of the Cardona dynasty. 23 members of the family have been buried here between the 13th and the 16th century. The tomb of Ferran I Joan Ramon Folc de Cardona (1469 - 1543) and his wife Isabel d'Agustí. On the right side of the tomb is this figure of St. Jerome and his lion.

This has been a fortified place already since pre-Roman times, as salt was mined in the valley since around 300BC. A fort was built here by Wilfred the Hairy in 886. In a document from the year 986, Cordona is mentioned in connection with the salt deposits in the municipal area. At that time, the population not only received the mining rights for "Vall Salina", but the place also received market and city rights. Since salt was of great importance as a food preservative, unusual measures were taken to militarily protect the area and the salt mines, and the fortress of Castell de Cardona was expanded. Since the 10th century, when the noble family Folc de Gardona established their residence in the castle of Cardona, the counts have been of great importance for the further development of the city of salt. The population grew significantly. This era lasted until the 16th century, when the Compte family settled in Barcelona and Arbeca, as well as in Seville. After that, the castle became a barracks and the town lost its importance. Today the castle has been completely renovated and houses a fantastic hotel paradores.es/en/parador-de-cardona The Collegiate church of Sant Vicenç, erected 1020-1040, is a great example of the Lombardic/Catalan architecture. To quote Marcel Durliat this is "most important structure of the ’Premier art roman méridional’ in Catalonia". The church was the burial place of the Cardona dynasty. 23 members of the family have been buried here between the 13th and the 16th century. The tomb of Ferran I Joan Ramon Folc de Cardona (1469 - 1543) and his wife Isabel d'Agustí.

This has been a fortified place already since pre-Roman times, as salt was mined in the valley since around 300BC. A fort was built here by Wilfred the Hairy in 886. In a document from the year 986, Cordona is mentioned in connection with the salt deposits in the municipal area. At that time, the population not only received the mining rights for "Vall Salina", but the place also received market and city rights. Since salt was of great importance as a food preservative, unusual measures were taken to militarily protect the area and the salt mines, and the fortress of Castell de Cardona was expanded. Since the 10th century, when the noble family Folc de Gardona established their residence in the castle of Cardona, the counts have been of great importance for the further development of the city of salt. The population grew significantly. This era lasted until the 16th century, when the Compte family settled in Barcelona and Arbeca, as well as in Seville. After that, the castle became a barracks and the town lost its importance. Today the castle has been completely renovated and houses a fantastic hotel paradores.es/en/parador-de-cardona The Collegiate church of Sant Vicenç, erected 1020-1040, is a great example of the Lombardic/Catalan architecture. To quote Marcel Durliat this is "most important structure of the ’Premier art roman méridional’ in Catalonia".

This has been a fortified place already since pre-Roman times, as salt was mined in the valley since around 300BC. A fort was built here by Wilfred the Hairy in 886. In a document from the year 986, Cordona is mentioned in connection with the salt deposits in the municipal area. At that time, the population not only received the mining rights for "Vall Salina", but the place also received market and city rights. Since salt was of great importance as a food preservative, unusual measures were taken to militarily protect the area and the salt mines, and the fortress of Castell de Cardona was expanded. Since the 10th century, when the noble family Folc de Gardona established their residence in the castle of Cardona, the counts have been of great importance for the further development of the city of salt. The population grew significantly. This era lasted until the 16th century, when the Compte family settled in Barcelona and Arbeca, as well as in Seville. After that, the castle became a barracks and the town lost its importance. Today the castle has been completely renovated and houses a fantastic hotel paradores.es/en/parador-de-cardona The Collegiate church of Sant Vicenç, erected 1020-1040, is a great example of the Lombardic/Catalan architecture. To quote Marcel Durliat this is "most important structure of the ’Premier art roman méridional’ in Catalonia".

This has been a fortified place already since pre-Roman times, as salt was mined in the valley since around 300BC. A fort was built here by Wilfred the Hairy in 886. In a document from the year 986, Cordona is mentioned in connection with the salt deposits in the municipal area. At that time, the population not only received the mining rights for "Vall Salina", but the place also received market and city rights. Since salt was of great importance as a food preservative, unusual measures were taken to militarily protect the area and the salt mines, and the fortress of Castell de Cardona was expanded. Since the 10th century, when the noble family Folc de Gardona established their residence in the castle of Cardona, the counts have been of great importance for the further development of the city of salt. The population grew significantly. This era lasted until the 16th century, when the Compte family settled in Barcelona and Arbeca, as well as in Seville. After that, the castle became a barracks and the town lost its importance. Today the castle has been completely renovated and houses a fantastic hotel paradores.es/en/parador-de-cardona The Collegiate church of Sant Vicenç, erected 1020-1040, is a great example of the Lombardic/Catalan architecture. To quote Marcel Durliat this is "most important structure of the ’Premier art roman méridional’ in Catalonia". Between the "palas" and the Collegiate church are the remains of the gothic cloister.

This has been a fortified place already since pre-Roman times, as salt was mined in the valley since around 300BC. A fort was built here by Wilfred the Hairy in 886. In a document from the year 986, Cordona is mentioned in connection with the salt deposits in the municipal area. At that time, the population not only received the mining rights for "Vall Salina", but the place also received market and city rights. Since salt was of great importance as a food preservative, unusual measures were taken to militarily protect the area and the salt mines, and the fortress of Castell de Cardona was expanded. Since the 10th century, when the noble family Folc de Gardona established their residence in the castle of Cardona, the counts have been of great importance for the further development of the city of salt. The population grew significantly. This era lasted until the 16th century, when the Compte family settled in Barcelona and Arbeca, as well as in Seville. After that, the castle became a barracks and the town lost its importance, but mining is still going on.

This has been a fortified place already since pre-Roman times, as salt was mined in the valley since around 300BC. A fort was built here by Wilfred the Hairy in 886. In a document from the year 986, Cordona is mentioned in connection with the salt deposits in the municipal area. At that time, the population not only received the mining rights for "Vall Salina", but the place also received market and city rights. Since salt was of great importance as a food preservative, unusual measures were taken to militarily protect the area and the salt mines, and the fortress of Castell de Cardona was expanded. Since the 10th century, when the noble family Folc de Gardona established their residence in the castle of Cardona, the counts have been of great importance for the further development of the city of salt. The population grew significantly. This era lasted until the 16th century, when the Compte family settled in Barcelona and Arbeca, as well as in Seville. After that, the castle became a barracks and the town lost its importance. Today the castle has been completely renovated and houses a fantastic hotel paradores.es/en/parador-de-cardona

This has been a fortified place already since pre-Roman times, as salt was mined in the valley since around 300BC. Most of the fortress, towering over the town of Cardona today, goes back to Wilfred the Hairy (aka Guifré el Pilós), who had a fort erected here in 886. Over centuries this was an invulnerable fortress and the Counts of Cardona reached high ranks in the iberian nobility, but at the end of the Spanish Sucession War it was besieged, seriously damaged by French troops in 1714. Since 1976 this is a "parador", a state-run luxury hotel. It was just a bit over our budget. We would have liked to stay here. If you want to make a reservation, just follow this link: paradores.es/en/parador-de-cardona Seen to the left is the church of Sant Vicenç, erected 1020-1040, another great example of the Lombardic/Catalan architecture. To quote Marcel Durliat this is the "most important structure of the ’Premier art roman méridional’ in Catalonia".