In the second half of the XIX century, Catalan landscape painting acquired an importance and personality previously unknown to this genre. Among the landscape artists of the moment were Josep Armet and Josep Berga, however it was Joaquim Vayreda who became the foremost Catalan landscape painter. In his work, the landscape took centre stage.
Vayreda was the founder of the Olot School of countryside painting, a movement characterised by the taste for painting from nature and directly inspired by the works of the French artists of Barbizon School. Their canvases, which enjoyed wide exposure and considerable success, influenced numerous Catalan landscape painters.
The Museu de la Garrotxa has an extensive collection of paintings by the Olot School, and the Museu dels Sants has a collection centred on one of Olot's traditional industries: religious imagery. And it is Olot's saints' workshops that make virtually all the religious sculptures that are found around the world. The museum shows the whole process of making these pieces and allows you to see, first hand, the inside of a workshop (on week days).
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Olot School
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Experiences TOP
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The weir route. Ruta 3 Sant Jaume de Llierca
This route is known as the Camí de la Central because in the past there was a small electrical generating station here. On the way back from the weir you pass through a well-preserved section of riparian woodland with interesting associated flora.
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Across the Collsacabra plateau. Route 4 Garrotxa
This route follows part of the old ‘Royal Road’, a medieval trail joining these two cities that was probably paved to be able to transport timber to Barcelona to construct a fleet for the king.
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The Carrilet cycle lane
The Carrilet is for walkers and cyclists only and follows the route of the narrow gauge railway that once linked Olot and Girona.
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Can Poeti bathing pool. Route 2 Les Planes d'Hostoles
Les Planes d’Hostoles is well known for its natural bathing pools that have been used in numerous films and adverts. This is one of four suggestions.
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Molí dels Murris bathing pool. Route 4 Les Planes d'Hostoles
Les Planes d’Hostoles is well known for its natural bathing pools that have been used in numerous films and adverts. This is one of four suggestions.
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Natural spring route. Route 4 Santa Pau
This route takes you to three natural springs that the people from Santa Pau have cared for and tended for many years.This walk also links to the route that visits some of the local bathing pools.
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Volcanic region MTB Tour
This set of routes will let you explore the most characteristic spots in the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone such as volcanos, lava f lows, the beech forest of Jordà (La Fageda d’en Jordà), and the most important towns around.
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The best viewpoints in La Garrotxa
Another way to discover La Garrotxa is to climb up high for a bird’s-eye view over the comarca.
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Vayreda’s Alta Garrotxa. Route 8 Garrotxa
Marian Vayreda’s novel La Punyalada provides one of the best ways of discovering the Alta Garrotxa. The places depicted by this 19th century author in the scenes from his famous novel have been joined in a discovery route.
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Garrotxa Cultour
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Olot and its volcanoes
The city of Olot spreads out around the base of one of La Garrotxa’s best known volcanoes –Montsacopa– and climbing its slopes is a perfect way to rediscover nature without actually leaving the city.
