Cardona Castle

What you will find

The passage of time has left its mark on every nook and cranny of Cardona Castle: the keep where the castle of the counts still survives, the church that bears witness to the canonry, the Gothic courtyard of the palaces of the dukes of Cardona, the walls from the War of the Spanish Succession or the parador, the military quarters converted into a hotel.

Cardona Castle came into being to consolidate dominion over the lands conquered from Al-Andalus. The importance of its strategic position can be seen from the top of the tower, with its sweeping views of the Cardener valley and the salt flats.

It was the profits from the salt exploitation that made the lords of Cardona one of the most influential dynasties in the politics of the kingdom of Aragón and then the Spanish monarchy.

With time the castle lost its residential function, but took on strategic importance at the time of the conflicts with France. From the 17th century it was strengthened by a crown of bastions that ringed the whole hill. The most emblematic episode in the history of the fortress was acted out by the troops of Felipe V during the War of the Spanish Succession; it became the last Catalan stronghold to surrender on 18 September 1714.

The outstanding element of the complex, however, is the church of Sant Vicenç, built in the 10th century to house a community of canons under the patronage of the lords of Cardona. The unity of the construction has made it one of the jewels of Catalan Romanesque.

Guide visit english

Guía de visita castellano

Guide of visit English

Guide de visite Français

Guia visita aranès

Route 1714 english

Itineraries english

Dossier educatiu

Distintiu de Qualitat Ambiental

Plan your visit

Standard: €5,00
Concession: €3,00

Entitled to concessionary admission charge:

People aged 65 and over.
Pensioners.
Carnet Jove holders.
International Student Identity Card holders.
Large or single-parent family book holders.
Groups of ten or more people who are not tourists with a prior booking.
Members of Carnet Artesà upon presentation of proof of their status.
Members of Associació Catalana de Crítics d'Art upon presentation of proof of their status.
Members of CRAC. Conservadors-Restauradors Associats de Catalunya upon presentation of proof of their status.

Entitled to free admission:

Children aged under 16.
Unemployed people upon presentation of proof of their status.
Accredited members of the ICOM (International Council of Museums) or ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments).
Accredited members of the Associació de Museòlegs de Catalunya.
Accredited professional tourist guides upon presentation of proof of their status.
Official education teachers, accredited by the management of the educational centre. Only valid teaching staff cards will be accepted.
Accredited members of the press visiting in the couse of their duties who have provided prior notification of their visit in writing.
Disabled people upon presentation of a certificate confirming their disabled status. The accompanying person will also have free admission.
Foster families upon presentation of proof of their status.
School parties (pupils in the general education system: infants, primary and compulsory secondary education, students in middle-level vocational training and teaching staff) with a prior booking.
Teachers who work in the Consorci per a la Normalitzación Lingüística upon presentation of proof of their status.

Special cases:

Free admission on the last Tuesday of every month between 1 October and 30 June
Groups that book through travel a tourism-related agency, operator or similar company will benefit from a 25% reduction on the applicable admission rate. The authorised guide or person accompanying the group will be given free admission.

These times are now the ones in use. Please ignore any others published earlier on this or any other website or in informative leaflets and triptychs.

Last admission 30 minutes before closing time.

From Tuesday to Sunday, including public holidays.

From 16 December to 28 February: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On December 24 and 31: from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.
From 1 October to 31 May: from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
- EASTER OPENING TIMES (Last admission 30 minutes before clossing time)
- Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Monday from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
From 1 June to 30 September: from 10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

SCHEDULES OF NON-GUIDED VISITS

Morning: 10.30 a.m., 11.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m.
Evening:

From 1 June to 30 September: 3.30 p.m., 4.30 p.m., 5.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m.
From 1 October to 31 May: 3.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m..

Closed on Mondays except public holidays, 25 and 26 December and 1 and 6 January.

Guided tours
Tel. information and bookings: 938692475, www.cardonaturisme.cat or informacio@cardonaturisme.cat

Lenght of the visit: one and a half hours
Charges guided tours: Standard €8 - Pensioners and children (beetwen the ages of 12 and 16) €6

Purchase tickets online at http://entrades.cardonaturisme.cat/

(recommended option) or 30 minuts befores each visit at the same Cardona Castle

Group visits
Tel. rinformation on prices and bookings: 938692475, www.cardonaturisme.cat o informacio@cardonaturisme.cat Guided tours from Tuesday to Sunday by prior arrangement (25 people minimum)

Cardona Turism

City Hall of Cardona

Pets are not allowed inside the monument.

The facilities are equipped for people with disabilities and the blind.

W here to sleep

Where to eat