Gallery of the town hall, Lonjas and Jail of Monroyo
Images of the town hall, the "lonjas" (porticoed halls), the pointed arches of Gothic origin and the cells.
Town hall, Lonjas and Jail of Monroyo
Renaissance work of 1588 built over Gothic remains, with a "lonja", cells and municipal offices distributed across three floors.
A Renaissance work of 1588
The town hall (casa consistorial) of Monroyo is a Renaissance work dating from 1588, although six years later, in 1594, an extension was carried out that added a new building. This construction stands on the remains of earlier Gothic buildings, as evidenced by the pointed arches that are still preserved in the building. The history of the town hall includes moments of destruction and restoration. During the War of the Spanish Succession in 1705, the troops of Felipe V set fire to the building, which was subsequently restored in 1781.
More recently, in 1981, the municipal corporation undertook a major renovation to adapt the building to its functions as a local administration and to create cultural spaces.
Layout of the building
The town hall of Monroyo is spread over three floors. The upper floor, accessible from the upper street, houses the Medical Clinic and the Library, previously used as the School and the Teacher's House. The middle floor contains the Town Hall offices and, with an entrance from the side street, provides spaces for exhibitions. The ground floor has a "lonja" consisting of three openings and a double bay, as well as the old jail. Also worth mentioning is the presence of a popular medieval "lonja" located in the building opposite the town hall.
Did you know when the jail of Monroyo's town hall fell out of use?
On the ground floor, in addition to the "lonja", stands the old jail. It consists of three cells and was used from the 16th century until the mid-20th century, when it fell into disuse with the change of the prison system.
Practical information
Access to the jail is free and at street level. The town hall continues to carry out municipal administration functions and houses cultural spaces and the Library, making it possible to combine a heritage visit with the daily life of the village.
The jail
The jail is located on the ground floor of the town hall of Monroyo.
This jail is structured in three interconnected spaces or rooms: from the first room one passes to the second through a simple door with a very low round arch, and the second communicates with the third through a similar opening. The first room is identified as the jailer's dwelling and the other two were used as cells (dungeons).
It is accessed through a simple door with a low round arch, set into the rear wall of the "lonja", next to the entrance door to the Town Hall. The first room has a small window connecting it to the outside, protected by a robust grille. The three spaces have vaulted ceilings: a slightly pointed barrel vault. The floor is of earth.
It has now been prepared for tourist visits as part of the Cárceles del Mezquín-Matarraña route.
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