Cardó Massif
Encyclopedia
The Cardó Massif also known as Cardó-Boix Massif, is a mountain massif in the Baix Ebre
comarca, in Catalonia
, Spain
. This massif is composed of a number of mountain ranges located on the left side of the Ebro
river near Tortosa
. The massive calcareous cliffs of the Serra de Cardó form the eastern side of the spectacular gorges through which the Ebro River winds its way in the final stage of its course, separating the Ebro Valley from the Mediterranean coastal area
.
The ranges cover an area of over 340 km2, extending from Rasquera
in the north, to Benifallet
in the south and eastwards through El Perelló
until reaching the Mediterranean Sea
between L'Ampolla
and L'Ametlla de Mar
. Highway N-340 crosses the eastern side of the massif and Autopista AP-7
skirts the easternmost foothills by the seashore.
All the ranges are part of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range
. The main peak is Xàquera, also known as La Creu de Santos (942 m) in the Serra de Cardó, another important summit is Buinaca
(764 m), located in the Serra del Boix.
Balma de Cabrafeixet is a prehistoric site below the Morral de Cabrafeixet
escarpment (753 m) with cave painting
s. The entrance to the cave
has been closed with an iron bar door to prevent vandalism. Another cave, Cova de la Mallada is located nearby
There are many wind turbine
s located in different ridges of the massif, the Parc Eòlic de les Colladetes and the Parc Eòlic de les Calobres.
in 1835 during Isabella II of Spain
's rule. The Desamortización caused the exclaustration of the place and brought monastic life in the monastery, and the many hermitages
surrounding it, to an end. The monastery can be reached by a paved road from Rasquera.
In the late 19th century the monastery was transformed into a spa
, which became a very successful place among the Catalan elite until the Spanish Civil War
. By mid 20th century, only a water bottling plant
was functional in the area.
Recently there was a project to transform the ruined former monastery and spa premises into a luxury resort, but the current financial crisis in Spain
thwarted the plans. Access is not allowed to the grounds of the former spa, but abandoned construction equipment can be seen from a distance among the half-ruined buildings.
The small abandoned hermitages scattered about the area close to the former monastery, some of them perching atop karstic rock needles, are popular with hikers.
Baix Ebre
Baix Ebre is a comarca , on the coast in southern Catalonia, Spain.- Municipalities :Populations are for 2001.* L'Aldea - pop. 3590* Aldover - pop. 814* Alfara de Carles - pop. 377* L'Ametlla de Mar - pop. 5835* L'Ampolla - pop. 2133...
comarca, in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. This massif is composed of a number of mountain ranges located on the left side of the Ebro
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
river near Tortosa
Tortosa
-External links:* *** * * *...
. The massive calcareous cliffs of the Serra de Cardó form the eastern side of the spectacular gorges through which the Ebro River winds its way in the final stage of its course, separating the Ebro Valley from the Mediterranean coastal area
Catalan Coastal Depression
The Catalan Coastal Depression, , is a natural depression between the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range and the Mediterranean Sea. It is part of the Catalan Mediterranean System....
.
The ranges cover an area of over 340 km2, extending from Rasquera
Rasquera
Rasquera is a municipality in the comarca of Ribera d'Ebre in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. It is located at the feet of the Serra de Cardó, close to Highway C-12.The town is renowned for its pottery.-References:...
in the north, to Benifallet
Benifallet
Benifallet is a municipality in the comarca of Baix Ebre, in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain.This town is located by the Ebro River, below the Cardó Massif. It is popular among kayakers who make trips down the final Ebro Gorges....
in the south and eastwards through El Perelló
El Perelló
El Perelló is a municipality in the comarca of the Baix Ebre in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the north of the comarca, below the Boix and Cabrafeixet ranges....
until reaching the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
between L'Ampolla
L'Ampolla
L'Ampolla is a municipality in the comarca of the Baix Ebre in Catalonia, Spain. It was created in 1990 by the division of the municipality of el Perelló....
and L'Ametlla de Mar
L'Ametlla de Mar
L'Ametlla de Mar , also called la Cala , is a municipality within the comarca of Baix Ebre, situated in the coastal region between the "Cap de Terme" and the "barranc de l'Àliga"...
. Highway N-340 crosses the eastern side of the massif and Autopista AP-7
Autopista AP-7
The Autopista AP-7 is a Spanish autopista . It is a toll motorway that runs along the Mediterranean coast of Spain.AP-7 has two different sections :...
skirts the easternmost foothills by the seashore.
All the ranges are part of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range
Catalan Pre-Coastal Range
The Catalan Pre-Coastal Range is a system of mountain ranges running parallel to the Mediterranean Sea coast in Catalonia. It is part of the Catalan Mediterranean System. Its main axis runs between the Catalan Transversal Range and the Serra de l'Espina, which connects with the Ports de...
. The main peak is Xàquera, also known as La Creu de Santos (942 m) in the Serra de Cardó, another important summit is Buinaca
Buinaca
Buinaca or Punta de la Buinaca, also spelt Boinaca, is one of the highest mountains of the Cardó Massif, Catalan Pre-Coastal Range, Catalonia, Spain. This mountain has an altitude of 764 metres above sea level....
(764 m), located in the Serra del Boix.
Balma de Cabrafeixet is a prehistoric site below the Morral de Cabrafeixet
Morral de Cabrafeixet
Morral de Cabrafeixet is one of the highest mountains of the Cardó Massif, Catalan Pre-Coastal Range, Catalonia, Spain. Its NW side has an impressive escarpment visible from Highway N-340 approaching El Perelló from the north...
escarpment (753 m) with cave painting
Cave painting
Cave paintings are paintings on cave walls and ceilings, and the term is used especially for those dating to prehistoric times. The earliest European cave paintings date to the Aurignacian, some 32,000 years ago. The purpose of the paleolithic cave paintings is not known...
s. The entrance to the cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
has been closed with an iron bar door to prevent vandalism. Another cave, Cova de la Mallada is located nearby
There are many wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
s located in different ridges of the massif, the Parc Eòlic de les Colladetes and the Parc Eòlic de les Calobres.
Ranges
The main ranges of the massif are:- Serra de Cardó, the westernmost range and also the highest. It is often covered with snow in the winter. The eastern slopes are covered with low Mediterranean shrub, while its western side, below the jagged peaks, is forested. Autovia C-12Autovia C-12The C-12 is a highway in Catalonia, Spain, that connects Lleida with Tortosa and the Ebre river delta. For much of its length it runs along the lower Ebre valley. North of Lleida the road follows the Noguera valley before joining the C-13....
cuts across the westernmost end of the range, above the Ebro Gorges. The mineral waterMineral waterMineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
coming from springs near the ancient monastery located at the heart of the range was one of the first waters to be bottled in Spain. - Serra del Boix, highest point Buinaca 764 m. The slopes are covered with low bush, among which BuxusBuxusBuxus is a genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood ....
predominates. This range occupies a central position in the massif and in some geographical works gives its name to the whole massif. The particular high rocky area with original rock formations where the highest peaks are located is known as "Les Moles". There are wind turbineWind turbineA wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
s atop the main eastern ridge. - Serra de Gaviots, highest point 603 m. This largely deforested range also occupies a central position, but has smoother and less rocky crests than the ones above. There is also a very large wind farmWind farmA wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
along the ridge. Like the Serra del Boix, the higher altitudes often have snow in the winter. - Montaspre, highest point 527 m, the southwestern foothills of the Serra de Cardó range, rising near Bítem.
- Serra de Collredó, highest point Creu de Collredó 380 m, rounded hills covered by oliveOliveThe olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
trees and Mediterranean forestForestA forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
where many small country cottages have been recently developed. - Serra de les Veles, highest point Coll de l'Àliga 94 m, is formed by the low southernmost foothills of the massif. This small range is crossed by highways and has been gutted by sand and gravel extraction, where the pits are used as landfills. These lower ranges very rarely have snow, even in cold winters.
Monastery
The Cardó Monastery, also known as Sant Hilari de Cardó or Desert de Cardó, was a large monastery located in the Cardó Valley (Vall de Cardó), a deep valley in these mountains. It was closed down due to the Ecclesiastical Confiscations of MendizábalEcclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal
The Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizabal, more often referred to simply as La Desamortización, encompasses a set of decrees from 1835-1837 that resulted in the expropriation, and privatization, of monastic properties in Spain....
in 1835 during Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
's rule. The Desamortización caused the exclaustration of the place and brought monastic life in the monastery, and the many hermitages
Hermitage (religious retreat)
Although today's meaning is usually a place where a hermit lives in seclusion from the world, hermitage was more commonly used to mean a settlement where a person or a group of people lived religiously, in seclusion.-Western Christian Tradition:...
surrounding it, to an end. The monastery can be reached by a paved road from Rasquera.
In the late 19th century the monastery was transformed into a spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
, which became a very successful place among the Catalan elite until the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. By mid 20th century, only a water bottling plant
Bottled water
Bottled water is drinking water packaged in plastic or glass water bottles. Bottled water may be carbonated or not...
was functional in the area.
Recently there was a project to transform the ruined former monastery and spa premises into a luxury resort, but the current financial crisis in Spain
2008–2009 Spanish financial crisis
The 2008–2011 Spanish financial crisis is part of the world Late-2000s financial crisis. In Spain, the crisis was generated by long term loans , the building market crash which included the bankruptcy of major companies, and a particularly severe increase in unemployment, which rose to 21.4% in...
thwarted the plans. Access is not allowed to the grounds of the former spa, but abandoned construction equipment can be seen from a distance among the half-ruined buildings.
The small abandoned hermitages scattered about the area close to the former monastery, some of them perching atop karstic rock needles, are popular with hikers.