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.