Cardona: a film set

Since 1992, the historic centre of Cardona has been declared a Cultural Good of National Interest in the category of historic complex. Its origins can be traced back to the mid-11th century, when a small village was formed around the market, which was held at the foot of the castle mountain.

The Castle of Cardona, an imposing medieval fortress, the Salt Mountain, the medieval village and its spectacular natural surroundings have attracted not only curious tourists, but also filmmakers from all over the world, including Orson Welles, who filmed Chimes at Midnight in the Collegiate Church of Sant Vicenç, recognised as a Treasure of European Film Culture.

It's noteworthy that the castle and basilica have also been featured in several films, including Ferroni's "Long Live Robin Hood" (1971) and Jordi Frades' "Cathedral of the Sea" (2016). On the other hand, Sergi Vizcaíno's "XP3D" (2011) featuring Jordi Bransuela was filmed on the Salt Mountain, as well as Ruiz Caldera and Guillermo Del Toro's "Valley of the Dead" (2020), starring Miki Esparbé. More recently, Paula Ortiz's "Teresa" (2023) has also been filmed there.

On the other hand, the famous actor Daniel Craig (James Bond) has also visited the historic centre of Cardona, when he starred in an advertisement for a well-known beer brand.

All these ties to the silver screen demonstrate Cardona's long tradition with the film industry which, today, has been consolidated with the creation of the Cardona Film Office, an organisation born to attract more film shoots to the municipality.

The Castle of Cardona, built over 2,500 years ago, was the residence of the lords of Cardona during the Middle Ages. The importance of its strategic position becomes apparent from the top of the Minyona Tower, from where the Cardener Valley and the salt mine can be seen. It was the exploitation of the potassium salt mines that made the lords of Cardona one of the most influential families in the politics of the Crown of Aragon and, later, also in the Spanish monarchy. Over time, it lost its residential value, but retained its strategic importance. Undoubtedly, this fortress's most iconic moment was the immense resistance put up against the troops of Philip V during the War of the Spanish Succession. The city of Barcelona fell on 11 September 1714, while Cardona held out for seven more days, until 18 September.

Moreover, this fortress, which has witnessed centuries of history, houses the exceptional Collegiate Church of Sant Vicenç, a shining example of Catalan Lombard Romanesque architecture. It is for all these reasons and more that we encourage you to discover its stories of sieges and battles through guided and dramatised tours or the VisitEScape app for an immersive experience.

A different and fun way to explore the Castle of Cardona is by solving the "Kidnapping of the Duchess of Cardona", through the tests of a very well designed escape room.

All you will know is that, one night, a nervous woman shows up at the mayor's house. She says she has borne one of the most important secrets in Cardona's history for a very long time, but is still afraid to share it. This treasure, which was thought to be lost, is the reason behind a serious death threat, but... Who is this lady? What great treasure is she hiding? To find out the truth, you will have to become an investigator and explore the Castle of Cardona and its historic centre. This escape room is an adventure into the past filled with tension, ghosts and many surprising and nostalgic moments. We invite you to be a detective for a day and have a great time.

Occupying the space that, years ago, belonged to the old Crestó butcher's shop in Santa Eulàlia square, today we find the Josep Arnau Salt Museum. This unique initiative was created with the intention of raising awareness of the local traditional craftsmanship using one of the elements Cardona is most known for: salt. With a detailed museographic discourse, the project takes wing through the works of master craftsman Josep Arnau, a Cardona native who highlighted the value of art and our territory through educational exhibitions.