Hostalric facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hostalric
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Municipality
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Hostalric
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 Hostalric
Location in Province of Girona
Hostalric
Location in Spain
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Community |  Catalonia |
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| Province | .svg){kind=small} Girona |
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| Comarca | Selva | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3.4 km2 (1.3 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 4,139 | ||
| • Density | 1,217/km2 (3,150/sq mi) | ||
Hostalric is a charming village located in the province of Girona, in Catalonia, Spain. It's a small place, covering about 3.4 square kilometers. In 2014, around 4,010 people lived there.
Contents
Exploring Hostalric's History
Hostalric is famous for its long history and important buildings. It has a strong connection to the past, especially because of its old church and impressive castle.
The Parish Church of Santa Maria
The Church of Santa Maria stands at the foot of the castle hill. People first mentioned this church way back in 1217. The original church is no longer there. It was made bigger in the 1300s and 1400s.
The church you see today was built between the late 1500s and early 1600s. It still looks a bit like a Gothic building. It has one main hall and a special rounded area called a chancel. There are also small chapels between the strong walls.
Outside, you can see beautiful Renaissance and Baroque decorations on the front. The bell tower is square and was built around 1620 by a master builder named Bernat N. de Mataró. Sadly, the church was damaged twice. It was burned in 1809 during the Independence War and again in 1936 at the start of the Spanish Civil War.
The Castle of Hostalric
The Castle of Hostalric is built on a strong basalt hill. Records show it existed as early as the 1100s. This castle became very important because of its perfect location. It controlled the main road, called the Royal Way, between Barcelona and Girona. Hostalric also became the main town for the area known as the viscountcy of Cabrera.
The castle saw many battles during the Middle Ages. The old castle was almost completely destroyed over time. The design for the modern fortress was created by Francisco de Santa Cruz, a military engineer. He worked for Archduke Charles.
Work on the castle we see today finished between 1794 and 1795. It became a key place for fighting against Napoleon's army during the Peninsular War (1810-1814). In 1929, the soldiers left the castle. After that, Hostalric was no longer important for military reasons. In 1963, the castle, town walls, and towers were declared a Cultural Site of National Interest. This means they are very important historical places.
See also
In Spanish: Hostalrich para niños
