MILITARY ROUTE

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.

The Torre dels Frares is so called because the building opposite, where the Town Hall now stands, once housed the convent of the frares mínims de l’orde de Sant Francesc de Paula. The tower was built in the 13th century and, at thirty-three metres high, is the tallest defensive structure in the town of Hostalric. It has three storeys, and the original entrance was on the first floor, with no fixed staircase, to provide better defence. The upper part was crowned by a magnificent matacà corredor, of which traces still remain, although during the Guerra del Francès (1810), a large section of the upper part of the tower collapsed as a result of a bombardment. Today, all three floors are open to visitors and house a permanent exhibition on medieval Hostalric and the Guerra del Francès. A lift provides access to the viewpoint on the terrace.