The Viscountcy of Cabrera was structured through a network of castles and fortified houses, which served as the seats of political and military power for the nobility during the Middle Ages. This defensive system was complemented by a number of walled towns and watchtowers.
Hostalric is first mentioned in documents dating from 1106 under the names Ostalrico and Quota. However, it is not known whether the town was already surrounded by walls at that time. In the following century, King Jaume I el Conqueridor granted Viscount Guerau V de Cabrera permission to hold a market in the town, and Hostalric was granted its town charter between 1242 and 1243. The defensive structure that can still be seen today therefore most likely originated between the 13th and 14th centuries. Six hundred metres of fortified walls and eight towers survive. Other preserved structures include the portal de les Hortes, the only gateway in the walls to remain in its original state; the reconstructed Portal de Barcelona; and, outside the walls, the Torre dels Frares and the Torre del Convent.
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Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan – Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU
Local Development and Employment Officer (AODL) within the new tourism management model for La Selva. Initiative subsidised by the Public Employment Service of Catalonia as part of the Local Development Support Programmes.
