Castle of Cardona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle of Cardona |
|
|---|---|
|
Castell de Cardona
|
|
The Castle of Cardona viewed from the air
|
|
| Alternative names | Parador de Cardona |
| Hotel chain | Paradores |
| General information | |
| Location | Cardona (Barcelona), Spain |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 23 January 1992 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0005236 |
The Castle of Cardona (called Castell de Cardona in Catalan) is an old fortress in Catalonia, Spain. It sits on a hill, looking over the Cardener river and the town of Cardona. This castle was first built way back in 886 by a person named Wilfred the Hairy. Today, it's not just a ruin; it's a cool hotel that's part of the Paradores group!
A Look Back in Time
In the 1300s, the people who owned the Castle of Cardona were known as the dukes of Cardona. They were a very important family, almost as powerful as the royal family of the Crown of Aragon itself! People even called them "kings without crowns" because they owned huge areas of land in Catalonia, Aragon, and Valencia. They also had family connections with royal families in Castile, Portugal, Sicily, and Naples. This made the castle even more important.
In 1714, the castle faced a big attack. Even after a long siege by the Bourbon army, which destroyed many of its walls, the soldiers defending the castle were among the very last to give up. They were fighting for Philip V.
Castle Design and Features
The Castle of Cardona shows off two main building styles: Romanesque and Gothic. When you visit, you can see special rooms like the Sala Dorada (which means 'golden room') and the Sala dels Entresols (the 'mezzanine room').
The most amazing part of the castle is the Torre de la Minyona, or 'maiden's tower'. This tower was built in the 1000s. It stands about 15 meters (50 feet) tall and is 10 meters (33 feet) wide.
Right next to the castle is the Church of Sant Vicenç de Cardona. This church is built in a style called Lombard Romanesque.
The entrance area of the Church of St. Vincenç in Cardona used to be covered with beautiful paintings on the walls. Some pieces of these "painted vaults" were carefully fixed in 1960. Now, you can see them displayed at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Cardona para niños
