Cardona: Salt Culture, Castle and Historic Old Town

The former site of the Mina Nieves is now the Parc Cultural de la Muntanya de Sal in Cardona. It showcases Cardona’s natural and cultural heritage, as well as geology, mineralogy, botany and the history of salt mining. The Vall Salina covers 100 hectares and is included in the Catalan Pla d’Espais d’Interès Natural. The Muntanya de Sal is a natural phenomenon that continues to grow as a result of rain erosion.

The Parc Cultural includes a museographic area, the Alberto and Maria Teresa mine shafts, and the machinery from one of these shafts.

Culture

Since 1992, the historic centre of Cardona has been classified as a Bé Cultural d’Interès Nacional in the “historic ensemble” category. Its origins date back to the first half of the 11th century, when a small burgus, or suburb, developed around the market at the foot of the castle hill. The Centre Cardona Medieval was established in 2005 as an interpretive centre and explains the origins and development of the town. It offers various activities, a guided tour of the historic centre and the audiovisual presentation “Els Cardona, senyors de la Sal”.

The Castell de Cardona preserves a keep containing the former count’s castle, the canonical church, a Gothic courtyard of the palace of the Dukes of Cardona, walls from the War of the Spanish Succession and former military buildings that have been converted into a Parador. From the tower of the Castell de Cardona, the view extends across the Cardener Valley and the saltworks. The Church of Sant Vicenç was built in the 10th century to house a community of canons and is considered one of the gems of early Catalan Romanesque architecture. The Church of Sant Miquel in Cardona dates from the 14th century. The 14th-century Portal de Graells is the only surviving gate from Cardona’s former town walls.

The Nans del Barri Mercat, Minga and Agneta are Cardona’s oldest dwarf figures; they are believed to date from between 1750 and 1800. The Casa dels Gegants is a museum house with festival figures, clothing and objects representing Cardona’s centuries-old celebrations and traditions, such as the Festa Major, Corpus Christi and Capvuitada.

Salt and Festivals

The Museu de la Sal Josep Arnau presents Cardona’s local tradition of artisanal salt processing through the work of the craftsman Josep Arnau and features an educational exhibition. Together with Rio Maior, Cardona participates in the European Route of Salt Heritage. This is a cooperative initiative connecting areas associated with salt culture.

The Festa de la Sal developed from the former Fira de Pentecosta, a multi-sector fair that began in 1947. It rests on four pillars: street culture, trade and crafts, gastronomy, and cultural heritage. The Festa Major de Cardona has been regarded as the town’s most important festive heritage since 1674; its civic programme includes a corre de bou in the Plaça de la Fira. The traditional Fira de la Llenega i el bosc de tardor is a mushroom market or mushroom fair in Cardona.

Routes and Activities

La via salària is a 42.45 km-long nature route for mountain biking or hiking through the Cardona area. It follows an old livestock trail along which shepherds bought salt for their herds, has an elevation gain of 850 metres and is of medium to high difficulty.

The Camí de la Sal is a long-distance stage route along the former salt transport route between Cardona and Manresa. The Ruta Verda is just under 4 km long and connects an urban path with forest trails and some uphill sections.

The Joc de les Fonts de Cardona is an orienteering game in Cardona’s old town that can, on request, be extended to include fountains outside the town. The Joc dels Tresors de Cardona is a clue-based orienteering game set in 1711 that introduces participants to the town’s history. It leads through the town and takes participants to Cardona’s historic corners.

The Aula rural Cal Tuta offers activities and workshops on agricultural, livestock and forestry work. Oli Migjorn offers a tasting and a gastronomic pairing with extra virgin olive oil; during the activity, visitors learn how to taste oils and pair them gastronomically.

Getting There

Cardona is just over an hour from Barcelona by road; the approximately 90 km journey follows the C-55 and C-16 towards Manresa-Solsona. Cardona is served by a regular bus route between Barcelona and Andorra and has no railway station. Nearby Manresa has rail connections and buses to Cardona.

Other destinations: Alella, Montcada, Collsuspina, La Pobla De Claramunt, Muntanyola, El Bruc, Sitges, Sant Andreu De La Barca

To the overview of the wider travel area: Barcelona.