Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Parador de Cardona, Cardona in Catalonia
Facts in brief
Official star rating 4
Location The hotel is in Cardona, about 90-minutes' drive northwest of Barcelona.
Annual opening All year
Closest airport Barcelona Airport
Distance from airport The hotel is about 90-minutes' drive from Barcelona Airport
Hotel facilities and services
Restaurant, Cafe, Bar, Sauna, Fitness Centre, Room Service, Laundry, Luggage Storage, Safety Deposit Box, Free WiFi.
Complimentary
WiFi, Public Parking.
Out and about nearby
Montana del Sal Cultural Park in Cardona. Barcelona, Seu de Urgell and Vic all day trips away.
Sports nearby
Hiking, Cycling Trails.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 3 nights
From about
£850 low season
£1,050 high season
Holiday Code EXH1569
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Parador de Cardona, Cardona in Catalonia
The four-star Parador de Cardona occupies an ancient castle which is a commanding sight above the Catalonian town of Cardona, a construction of sheer fortifications and Romanesque details in its hilltop home. Mediaeval through-and-through, the sober facade holds an undeniable sense of drama thanks to a history which spans back to the 9th century. A 2nd century Minyona Tower is evident at its heart. Not surprisingly, the hotel offers the best views of the town, the neighbouring salt mine, the Catalonian countryside and River Cardoner, particularly from the Romanesque church within the fort's walls. Noticeboards can be found throughout the castle which highlight historical facts, allowing guests to take part in a self-guided tour. Elsewhere, al fresco terraces welcome guests to enjoy their surroundings accompanied by light bites and refreshments from the cafe. From charming courtyards with little water wells to cloisters and shady arcades, the scale of the building does not deny the hotel a sense of intimacy. This can also be seen inside, where there is an unexpected freshness in the style and decoration, which sits alongside original features such as ancient, exposed brickwork and bowed arches. This is best seen in the two dining rooms - one large, one small - where an outstanding menu of Catalan cuisine is served. Simple dishes from the Mediterranean, the plain and the mountains harness rustic ingredients such as meat and game and fresh vegetables, including a variety of mushrooms. Other public spaces either embrace the castle's ancient features or a more contemporary air, from the bar to the lobby and the lounge areas. The 54 guestrooms are decorated to suit each room's individual dimensions. A Mediterranean feel is gained by four poster beds, terracotta floor tiles and shuttered windows which view remarkable aspects of the charming town below. The Parador de Cardona is an interesting hotel with a great sense of history, making a great stopover as part of a longer touring holiday in Catalonia.
Room descriptions
Parador de Cardona has 54 rooms and suites.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 3 nights
From about
£850 low season
£1,050 high season
Holiday Code EXH1569
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Parador de Cardona, Cardona in Catalonia
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to the Parador de Cardona, Cardona, Expressions Holidays includes scheduled flights with British Airways from London to Barcelona. Flights may be available from other UK airports with Easyjet, Jet2 and TUI for example. If you are combining this hotel with stays elsewhere, you may want to consider flying into one airport and out of another. We can arrange this for you. The hotel is about 1 hour 30 minutes’ drive from the airport and we recommend that we book for you either a private car transfer or a hire-car, depending on the itinerary.
Additional information
Children: Children are welcome and those under 2 years stay for free. For children under 13 years there are special rates when sharing a room with 2 parents.
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 3 nights
From about
£850 low season
£1,050 high season
Holiday Code EXH1569
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Parador de Cardona, Cardona in Catalonia
About Catalonia and Eastern Spain
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to eastern Spain feature some of the best four and five star hotels in Catalonia and Valencia, including luxury beach resorts on the Costa Brava, mountain retreats in the Catalan Pyrenees and city hotels in Barcelona and Valencia. Eastern Spain is a diverse area with buzzing cities and mediaeval towns, rugged coastline and sandy beaches, soaring mountains and lush river deltas. There is a great wealth of historical and cultural sights throughout Catalonia and the Valencian community, both within the main cities and hidden away in the countryside. Although Barcelona is the main draw for visitors to eastern Spain, the rest of the region is well worth visiting and offers tremendous diversity. During a holiday in eastern Spain, visitors can trek or partake in mountain sports, relax on the beach and visit historic towns and cities all within the space of a few days. Catalonia itself is a unique region which provided inspiration for a number of famous artists such as Dali and Picasso, and retains a strong regional identity which is evident in its language, distinctive cuisine and lively local festivals. In the north is Catalonia, whose capital is the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Barcelona. With unique architecture and a rich culture, gourmet restaurants and lively bars, golden beaches and tranquil parks, it is not surprising that Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Europe. Away from the city there is an abundance of cultural and historical attractions as well as areas of stunning natural beauty. The entire region retains a strong regional identity, with its own commonly used language, distinctive cuisine and lively local festivals. Towns and cities including Girona, Tarragona, Vic and Lleida are home to a variety of highlights including mediaeval castles, cobbled old towns, ancient Roman ruins and modernist architecture. Stretching north towards the French border are the pretty coves, jagged cliffs and golden beaches of the Costa Brava, where you can still find wild and untouched stretches of coastline in between busy coastal towns. Meanwhile, inland are the snow-capped Pyrenees, a towering mountain range which forms the border with France and is dotted with remove villages, an ideal setting for trekking and partaking in mountain sports. Past the vineyards and rice fields of southern Catalonia is the Valencian Community, whose capital is Spain's third-largest city. Valencia has reinvented itself in recent years with futuristic architecture and a sophisticated port area which contrast with the historic buildings of the atmospheric old town. Further south are the sprawling beach resorts of the Costa Blanca, but if you head away from the Valencian coastline you will find craggy mountains, peaceful nature reserves, colourful citrus groves, traditional villages and ancient fortresses.
Highlights of Catalonia and Eastern Spain
Barcelona's Gothic quarter, a maze of narrow streets and plazas which is home to historic buildings including La Seu Cathedral. Modernist architecture throughout the region, particularly in Barcelona where Gaudí designed works including the Sagrada Familia church and Park Guell. Green spaces within Barcelona such as Montjuic, a fortress-topped hill, and Parc de la Ciutatella, a popular park with a zoo and several museums. The City of Arts and Sciences and the Fine Arts Museum in Valencia. Historic monuments within Valencia including a 15th century silk exchange and a Cathedral, home to a Holy Chalice which is said to be the Holy Grail. The Monastery of Montserrat, a religious complex in a spectacular setting atop craggy mountains with chapels, hermits' caves and numerous nature trails. Wineries in towns such as Sant Sadurní d'Anoia and Vilafranca del Penedès. Tarragona, a port city with fascinating Roman remains. The ancient walled city of Girona. Vic, a quintessentially Catalan town with an outstanding market. Cardona, a picturesque town with an impressive fortress. The renowned Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. Charming towns along the Costa Brava such as Cadaques, as well as those further inland such as the colourful town of Begur. Pretty villages in the Pyrenees, where visitors can also hike and partake in mountain activities. Wildlife in the wetlands of the Albufera Natural Park.
Festivals in Catalonia and Eastern Spain
March: Las Fallas festival of fire (Valencia), 23 April: Celebration of Catalonia's patron saint, April: Barcelona April Fair, May: Girona flower fair, 23 June: Midsummer's Eve Festival, July: Valencia July Fair, July/August: Begur Music Festival, August: La Tomatina tomato throwing festival (Buñol), 11 September: National day of Catalonia, September: Celebration of Barcelona's patron saint, September/October: Human tower festivals (near Tarragona).
Gastronomy in Catalonia and Eastern Spain
Cuisine in eastern Spain takes inspiration from both nearby France and from central Spain whilst making use of local ingredients available including seafood, fresh vegetables, meat and game. Paella, the rice dish which is known the world over originated in Valencia. Barcelona is home to some of Spain's best restaurants, with gastronomic chefs creating innovative cuisine and over 20 boasting at least one Michelin star. Typical dishes include unusual ‘sea and mountain' combinations which use both meat and seafood, ‘Pa amb tomàquet' (bread with tomato, oil and garlic), ‘Fideuá' (a variant of Paella with pasta), ‘Zarzuela' (a seafood stew), ‘Escudella’ (a stew containing vegetables, meat, rice and pasta) and ‘Crema Catalana' (a Catalan version of a Crème Brûlée).
Climate in Catalonia and Eastern Spain
Eastern Spain enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, although mountainous areas are somewhat cooler. Late spring and early autumn are great times to visit coastal areas as the weather is warm with temperatures of around 20 degrees centigrade, although some rainfall can be expected. Summer in the cities can be unbearably hot, but the coastline is cooled by sea breezes. Winter is generally mild with occasional rain and average temperatures of 10 degrees, whilst temperatures regularly drop below freezing in the Pyrenees and snow often falls.
