Moat

The moat was dug directly into the rock (opened into the living rock) and surrounds the castle on two-thirds of its perimeter. It should be pointed out that it was a dry moat, since any rainwater that fell was collected in the cistern of the covered way.

Its main function was to serve as an additional barrier for attackers of the fortress. They would have to descend into it and then attempt to scale the opposite wall to gain access to the interior of the fortified enclosure. The Hostalric moat, excavated directly into the rock, features a significant difference in elevation between its upper and lower parts.