Hostalric history
Hostalric is located on top of an old volcano between the Roman Road and the Tordera river gorge. The strategic location of the village and the fact that it is situated in a transit area gives you the impression that people have been settling there for centuries. The geographical configuration is identical to that of the Iberian populations, and also, a fork of the Via Augusta passed through here during the Roman period.
It seems that the name “Hostalric” can be traced back to a hostel that already existed in the 11th century, although the earliest mention of the town’s name dates from 1106 and the earliest reference to the castle is from 1145.
In 1242 James I the Conqueror granted a licence to the Viscount of Cabrera to hold a weekly market in the town. One year later, the town obtained a letter of settlement aimed at encouraging the creation of a stable population centre around the castle.
Bernat I of Cabrera ordered the building of the town’s first walled enclosure and, together with his descendants, was responsible for turning Hostalric into the administrative capital of the viscounty’s extensive lands.
Hostalric was affected by the feudal battles of this period. In 1462, the War of the Remences (a peasant revolt) left its mark when Hostalric’s inhabitants refused to open the town gates to the troops of the Council of the Principality, who cut down vines, destroyed corn fields and threatened to enter the walled enclosure.
It was consequently decided to modernise the town’s fortifications and the first field fortifications were completed during the Reapers’ War. Earth ramparts and brushwood defences were installed to protect the castle and medieval walls.
The War of the Spanish Succession triggered the building of permanent fortifications designed to make Hostalric Castle – Fortress a key defence element of the troops of Archduke Charles of Austria in Catalonia. Despite the surrender to Felipe V’s troops in 1731, important renovation works took place during the 18th century, converting this stronghold into the military fortress of the present day.
The town was sacked and set ablaze on 7 November 1809 by an army of 4,000 men. The French razed the entire town to the ground and its inhabitants were forced to flee to neighbouring towns. In January 1810 the French took the town and the long siege of the castle began. Four months and over 4,000 bombs later, Colonel Estrada and the surviving members of the garrison tried to save themselves by fleeing the fortress and fighting their way through the enemy. The fortress was taken by the French the next day.
The Captain General of Catalonia awarded a gold medal to the garrison officers and a silver one to the troops. The inscription read: "Constant bravery and loyalty, Hostalric 12 May 1810".
Other important events that occurred in the 19th century were the expropriation of the Convent of the Minims in 1835 as a result of the ecclesiastical confiscations of Mendizábal, the arrival of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity, who took over the running of the old hospital and a girls’ school in 1856, the arrival of the steam train in 1860, the literary festival in honour of Frederic Soler Pitarra in 1887, the installation of electricity in 1895 and the construction of the Llensa cork factory.
The parish church was burned down at the start of the Spanish Civil War but the town was not bombed. During this period, the castle served as a fuel and munitions store for the Republicans. After the war it functioned as a shelter and accommodation for many people passing through. In 1939, the local council ordered all the signs written in Catalan to be changed. Joan Guitart i Roca, nicknamed “Sanxo”, served as mayor of the town from 1937 to 1939, when he was called up to fight. In July of the same year he was shot by Francoists in Girona.
In 1949 the Spanish government sold the abandoned castle to Hostalric Town Council for 18,500 pesetas. Restoration works began in 1967 in order to turn it into a restaurant.
In 1963, Hostalric was declared a National Heritage Site and from then on, the slow but continuous recovery, conservation and exposure of its architectural heritage began.
Nature
Hostalric is located in a privileged natural environment with magnificent views of the Montseny and the Montnegre, and a rich and productive agricultural environment in the area of the vegetable gardens.…
Heritage
Listed as an Asset of National Interest, Hostalric is one of the major monumental sites of medieval Catalonia, and is presided over by an imposin 18th century military fortress.…
Gastronomy
Heritage and gastronomy, history and good food. The restaurants and bars of the town and the "Hostalric product ric" label are representatives of local cuisine.…
Domus Can Llensa - The building
Domus Can Llensa - Activities and services
