European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Sets file the grounds of the Alhambra in Granada houses Spain s most popular Paradox the Paradox san Francisco. Room in Spanish Castle like trip into the past by Stanley Meisler los Angeles times tlit1 Little mining town of Cardona with its towering Castle and sweeping vistas is so deep within the Catalonia Region of Spain that some people look a Little puzzled when they hear a question in Spanish. They understand of course but sometimes reply in the language in which they feel most comfortable a catalan Cardona is loss than two hours drive from Barcelona a 35 Miles beyond the sacred catalan Mountain and monastery of Montserrat a but in spirit it is As far into the heartland of Catalonia As anyone can go. The catalans dwell there alongside two mountains a one noted for its Salt tie other for its wondrous Castle which now houses a historic 65-room Paradox. The town founded in the 101 h Century As a fortress against the arabs was once the Seal of a province ruled try the Dukes of Cardona who lived atop one Mountain in a Castle that enveloped a simple romanesque Church. The Golden Brown Castle embellished Over centuries with fortifications and a Tower has been restored and transformed into one of the most spectacular in All of Spain known As the Dukes of Cardona Paradox. The Castle Complex with its additions and rebuilding from Many centuries is so picturesque that it seems to crop out of a fantasy. Perhaps that is Why some visitors once they have driven up the Mountain to the Paradox feel no need to leave it at All during their stay in Cardona it includes portions of a gothic cloister a Ducal Patio an old Cistern the Church of san Vicente and the lower where according to legend the daughter of the Viscount of Cardona was imprisoned by her Brothers because she had fallen in love with a Moor. As the Story goes she died there within a year. Within the Paradox there Are a number of salons a bar a cellar Bodega and dining room with beamed ceilings and heraldic tapestries. And in fact the vistas from the Castle Are remarkable one sees the Salt Mountain that was once the source of Cardona s wealth the Idle potassium mines the Devil s Bridge actually an arc like Structure built Over the Gardener River in the 15lh Century so pilgrims could make their Way to Montserrat the Long agricultural Plain leading toward Distant craggy mountains and directly below the crowded old town of perhaps 7,000. Moreover the Castle itself demands several hours of exploration. Its Church of san Vicente built in 1040, retains a grand simplicity with its procession of romanesque Arches. Some of the Early Dukes of Cardona were buried there but marauding armies either destroyed or carted away most of the sculpted tombs in Long ago wars. Its frescoes have been stripped some wore discovered during the restoration of the Paradox in 1956 and sent to the museum of catalan romanesque Art in Barcelona. But a Lovely 14th Century Patio leads from the Church to the Paradox that is part of the old Ducal apartments of the room services in Spanish there Are two words for inn a Posada a place for the animals of ancient travellers to be stabled and Paradox the lodging offered to the More respected guests. The Spanish government has taken that second word and expanded its meaning creating a system of 86 luxurious accommodations that spread from the shores of the Costa Del sol to the isolated countrysides that once were the Domain of the country s Feudal lords. The government has built some modern hotels in tourist havens such As Malaga Torr Molinos and in Toledo on the site where Al Greco is said to have painted his v7ew of Toledo. But the Charm of the Paradore remains in the ancient monasteries mansions and castles like the Jarandillo de la Vera near the Border with Portugal where guests can sleep in the same room where King Carlos v is said to have slumbered. The government run Paradore Are designed to reflect the character of their various regions. The most luxurious is said to be the five Star hotel los Reyes Catolico in Santiago de Compostella a town on the Northwestern most tip of Spain. The building was founded As a Royal Hospital in 1499 by Ferdinand and Isabella. More than 600 paintings decorate the 157 hotel rooms and the galleries and the Royal Chapel serves As an auditorium for concerts. A double room runs about $200 per night including Buffet breakfast. The most popular is the Paradox san Francisco located in the enclosure of the Alhambra in Granada. The san Francisco was built in the 14th Century by Yusuf i As part of a moslem Complex for the franciscan Community. Some of the Best views of the Alhambra s gardens Are said to be offered by this Paradox and for that reason visitors unable to stay in one of the hotel s 39 rooms which Book up months in Advance May want to have lunch or dinner in the Paradox restaurant rooms Cost about $200 a night. The least expensive Paradox is the modern three Star Paradox de Manzanares in Ciudad real the heart of the Region of Don Quixote. It has 50 rooms balconies and a swimming Pool and rooms Are $90, Paradore Are priced for three different seasons with the most expensive being March 23 to april 1 and july 1 to oct. 1. The second season is from nov. 1 to dec. 31 and april 1 to june 30. The least expensive season runs from Jan 1 to March 22. The Spanish tourism Bureau has several brochures describing the different Paradore and the regions in which they Are located. The Bureau also offers free Road maps of Spain indicating the location of Paradore for tourists interested in Castle hopping by car. For More information write Paradox Central reservation apart do de Correos 50043, Madrid Spain 28001. Tourists can also Call one of four numbers in Madrid where reservation agents speak English. The phone numbers Are 1-435-9700, -9744, -9768 or -9814 if calling from outside Spain add the proper country code. A new Day. S4s file the Interior of a Paradox mixes an old traditional environment with modern conveniences. 10 stripes Magazine Tober 24, 1991
