Cardona, Medieval fortress town in Bages region, Spain.
Cardona is a town perched on a hilltop in the Bages region of central Catalonia, sitting at about 507 meters elevation. The Cardener River winds around the settlement, shaping the local landscape.
The Castle of Cardona was founded in 886 by Wilfred the Hairy and became a fortress controlled by powerful dukes across Aragonese territories. The stronghold shaped regional power dynamics during the medieval period.
The Church of Sant Vicenç displays Romanesque design with historical wall paintings now displayed in Barcelona's National Art Museum. The town's medieval character remains visible in its stone buildings and narrow streets.
You can reach Cardona by driving northwest from Barcelona in about an hour, with regular bus services available throughout the day. The best time to explore is in cooler mornings or late afternoons, especially outside summer months.
The Muntanya de Sal is a salt mountain mined since Roman times, where local artisans transform the mineral deposits into decorative objects and sculptures. This geological feature gave the town a distinct economic identity throughout its history.
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