We landed at Barcelona airport and drove to Cardona, a small town located in the Spanish region of Catalonia, in the province of Barcelona. Cardona has a population of around 5000 heads and one supermarket only. I wasn’t prepared for the 1-degree Celsius temperatures on the hill though. But, we made it.
We stayed at Castell de Cardona (one of the two tourist attractions there) and explored it the day we arrived. The next day we went into town and leisurely walked towards the Salt Mountain, the other tourist attraction in Cardona. Boy! Were we glad we took that leisure walk!
Around 40 million years ago, due to land movements, the sea in central Catalonia turned into an inland sea. Over time, due to high temperatures, the sea water evaporated and these salts mineralized (they became extractable minerals), and formed a salt diapir. This salt mountain, located miles away from the coast, is made up of rock salt or red rock salt (salty taste), potassium salt (spicy taste) and magnesium salt (spicy with a bitter after-taste) along with some grey clay material in between the salts.
The water from the Earth’s surface drips into the mountain continuously and is extremely salty. When this salt water crystalizes on the ceiling, it forms stalactites. Remember what those are? The water that falls on the ground crystalizes and forms stalagmites. When it rains, this process is faster, so, the stalactites and stalagmites tend to join and form salt columns. Due to this natural phenomenon that has been happening for centuries, this stunning salt mountain in Spain is referred to as the mountain that grows with rain and is one of the largest in the world.
The Sistine Chapel inside this unique geological formation is beautiful due to its stunning range of colours formed by the various salts. This area was blasted with dynamite sticks for carrying out major mining activities but is now used for cultural activities and concerts.
Saint Barbara was the patron saint of the miners. And, you will see her statue still there in the corner of the mining area.
This huge mountain of pure salt has been exploited since the Neolithic age. Salt was an important commodity because it was used to preserve food. These mines were the most famous in Catalonia since then. This situation changed in 1912 when an engineer discovered potassium salts in the Catalan salt basin. Potassium salts were used in various industries (fertilizers), therefore, in 1923, these mines were sold for a very huge amount and the new company began a new project in 1925. They built two shafts called Maria Teresa and Alberto for various mining activities. The potash mines operated from 1929 to 1990. They closed due to various reasons like exploitation and death of the mine workers, ventilation issues, the salt layers were no longer vertical at the depth they had reached (due to temperatures higher than 50 degrees Celsius) but horizontal, etc. Mining activities in Cardona were no longer viable after that. Until then 37 million tonnes of mineral had already been extracted from the salt mountain.
Now, this salt mountain is a cultural park, so, if you’d like to visit, you can book your tickets here. I felt like it was Christmas inside the mountain. The stalactites gave me the feeling of snow and the stalagmites all over the place looked like candle wax.
Smartly located on the hill above the mist, Castell de Cardona was built to protect the salt mines. It was fortified in 886 and used to be the house of the Lords of Cardona back in the day. Inside the castle, there is a Romanesque church called Canònica de Sant Vicenç. We are free to go visit or pray there.
The town centre was built in 986. On Sunday morning, the town was buzzing with activities. There was a farmer’s market, people heading to Church, buyers flocking to all the stalls there, etc. But when we got out of the restaurant after lunch (after 1 pm), the whole area was dead again; like nothing happened during the morning, no Farmer’s market existed there, even the Church closed its doors. Again, the streets were empty. We bought local chocolates from the confectionery in the town and returned to the hotel.
We decided that three nights were too much to explore in such a tiny town. Two nights, specifically Saturday and Sunday, would have been enough to explore Cardona. We could visit the castle and the mountain on Saturday while we could go to Church, purchase products from the farmer’s market, etc. on Sunday morning. Yes, it is a very small town, and very well maintained and pretty but the salt mountain is a must-visit if you ever land in Cardona!
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Mads’ Cookhouse.
27 Comments
I’ve only seen these in movies and pictures, and id love to visit them. these look so pretty, salt water solidifies so interestingly… i find nature has the most beautiful designs.
I love how you make these interesting short trips – what fun!
I’ve started liking your travel posts Cindy. Cardona seema to be a great place. Love the pictures
Wow!! Learnt about stalactites and stalagmites in school. I have been only to Barcelona in Spain and now Cardona is on my bucket list. The pictures are amazing and you look gorgeous and happy. Stay Blessed
Thank you, Harjeet!
A slight digression ma’am. Are you travelling with your husband? If yes, please ask them to share some tips on how to maintain this spectacular beard with us.
Nonetheless, your posts are always a perfect blend of information and inciting jealousy. This one is no different.
Thank you, Raghav! About the beard, contact me on WhatsApp.
Salt mountain read it in school time after that I forgot. But it really fascinating. The history and geographical conditions intresting. Thank you for the virtual tour with information.
This felt like reading a fantasy tale so there is a mountain made of salt but it so looks like woven cloth. Beautiful cindy thank you for letting us know about the place through your post.
I am quite enjoying your travel posts with their unique takes, Cindy. Loved the pics. Such breathtaking beauty of nature. I have read all about stalagmites and stalactites from back in school but never had a chance to view them in person.
Thank you for specifying how many days are enough. I love to explore small towns but tend to get bored if the stay is stretched. So I guess two days would be ideal and I’d love to visit Cardona to check out the salt mountain. Your pics have me enticed enough 😍
I loved that you included the history about the place. Even after extensive mining, the mountain still looks magnificent. I would love to visit this stunning salt mountain in Cardona.
Cindy the very first pic of yours in this post dragged my attention towards you from the post. Say why? Look at your face what a vibrant smile with so much happiness and love reflecting on your face. It’s enough for a reader like me to start the day with positive vibes. Now coming to the salt mountain, as I proceed with the travelogue of yours, I noticed that both of you are wearing the protection helmet. Now my question is ” is this place accident prone zone” is there any chances that landslide can happen within leading to some accidents. If what I predict is correct in this case then what sort of protection the management is taking to keep accident chances low. Look at the path they are so well maintaned and clean… seriously we can’t expect such things and cleanliness in India . All I can say the place is picture perfect and there is lot to learn by exploring such places besides enjoying the natural views. Thanks for the wonderful post, Cindy.
No landslides yet. The helmet is to protect us from the several stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Nature is unpredictable, so it’s better to follow the rules, say your prayers and enter the mountain carefully.
Ohhhh… this is the place with the 5k population…hmmm pretty!
So all those things hanging from the walls are crystallized salt water and not regular ice?… Wow!!! They look amazing! It must have been a wonderful experience and I can imagine y u got the ‘Christmasy’ feel in there😊
Yup, all crystalized salt water!
Cindy, you know what! last week I was just making plans of vacationing in Spain . This place looks so magical. The Salt Mountain sounds fascinating! I will save up and take a trip here, for sure!
Stunning! To think of having a church there is a brilliant idea. loved the pics. Looks like you guys had a great time! Have heard of stalactites and stalagmites but never seen.
That seems an amazing visit you guys had. Now your posts made me all curious to visit. Kids would love it too.
Wow Cindy, what a stunning mountain! I would so love to see this and the small town. I am a sucker for geological sites and this one is developed as well, making it easy for visitors. On my bucket list!
What an enchanting adventure you’ve shared from your visit to Cardona! From the quaint town with its charming population to the breathtaking wonder of the Salt Mountain, your description paints a vivid picture of Catalonia’s hidden gem. The geological marvel offers a glimpse into the Earth’s ancient history and the ingenuity of human exploration. Learning about the town’s rich mining heritage adds another layer of fascination to the experience.
Thank you for taking us on this captivating journey through your words!
Your Spain travel posts are a real treat Cindy. This place is totally new to me, but it’s definitely going on my list of must-visit spots. The photos you’ve clicked are absolutely stunning. It’s truly amazing to witness how nature has shaped such a captivating landscape over the years. It’s pretty amazing to know that there’s a Romanesque church, inside the castle.
Wow.. Nature surprises us all the time. I would love to visit this place. Your Spain trip has been wonderful and educational too. What we had read in textbooks when you see them in real it makes all the sense.
What sets this piece apart is not just the recounting of a visit to an unusual tourist destination but the way you have weaved together the geological with the cultural, the historical with the personal. Your detailed description of the Salt Mountain, from its formation 40 million years ago to its present status as a cultural park, provides a rich tapestry of information that is as educational as it is fascinating.
I am enjoying your series on Spain visit . I have never been there and did not even know about these before you shared this post.It was very informative right from the history to the geology. I was thinking just like around the sea the sea air feels different, how it must have felt inside the mines?
Yeah, I wonder, too!
Very nice… Thanks for informing us something new. Keep writing
Your dedication to your readers is admirable.