La Garrotxa is an area of exceptional beauty, with 40 extinct volcano cones and beech, oak and holm oak woodland. It is a protected area that includes the la Garrotxa Volcanic Area Natural Park, the best example of a volcanic landscape in the Iberian peninsula.

A land rich in traditions and history, with Romanesque architecture, medieval villages and a traditional yet innovative cuisine –volcanic cuisine.

Volcanoes

  • El Croscat and Santa Margarida volcanoes (10-15km).
  • Montsacopa volcano. In the center of Olot, with grat views of the city and volcanoes nearby. Guided tours. (10-15km).
  • Pedra Tosca Park, internationally renowned for the preservation of the natural environment, recovering old crops, architecture and its study of volcanoes. Guided tours
  • The Sant Joan les Fonts and Castellfollit de la Roca Basalt Flow Route. Unique in Europe due to its geological importance (15 km).
  • Olot Volcano Museum. Natural Sciences Section of the District Museum. Set within beautiful botanical gardens in the city of Olot itself. Earthquake simulator (5 km)

Enjoy the countryside

  • La Vall d’en Bas: Hostalets d’en Bas, Sant Privat, el Mallol. Picturesque villages with a charm all their own (can be visited by foot, bike or car).
  • Volcano viewpoint. Interactive wood at the Xenacs recreation centre (5 km).
  • La Fageda d’en Jordà beech wood. Waymarked paths and horse & carriage rides. Tours of La Fageda Yoghurt Cooperative (15 km.)
  • Puigsacalm. Provides breathtaking panoramas of la Garrotxa and neighbouring districts (1,513m). Car access to Coll de Bracons pass (15 mins) and then 4 hours by foot (there and back)
  • Alta Garrotxa.A protected area at the foot of the Pyrenees, notable for its large number of Romanesque hermitages and natural beauty (20 km).
  • Sant Roc springs in Olot. Can be reached by foot, car or by bike from the Via Verda bike route (5 km).
  • La Moixina i la Déu wetlands.A beautiful stroll (5 km)

History and culture

  • Besalú. Ancient county town with Jewish quarter (call), declared a National Heritage Site (30 km).
  • Santa Pau. Fortified medieval village, declared a National Heritage Site. (15 km)
  • The city of Olot. Abundant neoclassic and modernista architecture (5 km)
  • La Garrotxa District Museum in Olot.19th and 20th century art and history, with the painters of the Olot school, modernisme and noucentisme (5 km)
  • Estada juvinyà Romanesque monastery and castle, at Sant Joan les Fonts (5 km)

Fairs, markets and gastronomy

  • Fairs and markets.These take place almost year-rounds in different towns and throughout la Garrotxa: Sant Lluc and Cured Sausage Fairs in Olot; Medieval Fair in Sant Nicolau and the Scythe Fair in la Vall d’en Bas; witchcraft competition in Sant Joan les Fonts; White Bean Fair in Santa Pau, Fira Medieval in Fair Besalú, etc.
  • Volcanic cuisine.You simply can’t leave without enjoying traditional Garrotxa cuisine!
  • Verntallat Botiga agro-turística (500 metres)
  • Restaurants offering traditional and "volcanic" cuisine
  • Michelin-starred restaurants (three restaurants)
  • La Fageda yoghurt cooperative (15 km)

Also close at hand ...

  • The city of Girona with its monuments (50 km)
  • Banyoles lake (60km)
  • Capsacosta roman road (the Via Annia from la Garrotxa to el Ripollès) (15km).
  • La Vall de Núria: winter and summer tourist complex in this beautiful Pyrenean valley. (55 km to Ribes de Freser. Then take the rack-and-pinion railway that goes to the valley)
  • Ripoll Monastery. A jewel of Catalan Romanesque architecture (40 km)