On the road to Cardona

We set off in reasonably bright sunshine, though the wind was blowing fiercely. But the day rapidly deteriorated and by the time we were in Languedoc the rain was lashing down. However, traffic was light and we made good time down to the Spanish border - passing many of the places we had visited in a more leisurely way during our Canal du Midi cruise last summer.

We took one pit-stop along the road, during a break in the weather, but there was no respite for our planned picnic lunch, so we kept on going all the way to Cardona. We turned off the main Barcelona motorway after Girona and passed through what was probably fairly spectacular scenery - but the clouds were low, cloaking the hill and mountain tops, so no photographs, I’m afraid.

This is where there should be a dramatic photo of the castle looming above us on a steep rock - but the blog software is playing up and I cannot upload photos for the moment. So you’ll have to take our word for it. If I can figure out the problem, I’ll add the photos later. The road up was very steep and winding, but the castle, which contains the parador, was worth the climb.

Outside it was cold and wet, inside, warm and welcoming - and my Spanish proved serviceable. Lorna had kindly arranged a very superior room for us, and alsoa welcoming bottle of wine that we will broach this evening. So we repaired to the bar for an interim glass or two and some raciones to build up our strength for the sightseeing tour. Actually that was well worth it too. The castle dates back to the 8th or 9th century, and was particularly important because of the wealth provided by the prolific salt mines just across the valley - still in production today.

Work on the church apparently started in 1019. It has a variety of styles, but is considered a prototype of early Catalan Romanesque. Our final visit was to the tower, originally twice its current height, but even so it provides splendid views of the town and the surrounding country - obviously good farmland - and, of course, the salt mines.

LATER

Inspired by a excellent red wine, we have found out how to post some pix: so here are a few. Not all, only the ones I took. I haven’t managed to capture the ones on Diana’s phone yet.

This is the view of the cloister from the corridor outside our room.

And here from ground level.

Here is one of many views from the ramparts.

And here the inside of the church

In the top left of this picture you may just make out the saltmines.