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).
Olot School
Routes and excursions TOP
-
Sant Miquel de Coma-de-Roure route
In a small pass between the Borró valley and the Espinau valley, stands the small church Sant Miquel de Coma-de-Roure, located on top of the mountain of the same name with magnificent views.
-
El Mont. Route 4 Consorci Alta Garrotxa
Demanding route through the summits that surround the Mare de Déu del Mont, with panoramic views of much of the Garrotxa and the Alt Empordà.
-
Jewish Besalú
The Jewish quarter of Besalú stood next to the river Fluvià for over 500 years and its history lives on in the rich heritage it has left behind.
-
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.
-
Sant Sepulcre de Palera route. Route 8 Beuda
This route will take us to one of the most remarkable buildings among the witnesses of Romanesque art and an exceptional pilgrimage center in the Besalú county, Sant Sepulcre de Palera.
-
Garrell route. Route 2 Argelaguer
Garrell’s art takes advantage of its surroundings and recycled material and creates spaces and installations in between the hills, a stream and the river Fluvià.
-
La Miana route itinerary. Route 1 Sant Ferriol
This is a very long circular route that allows you to reach La Miana and return via a different path. If we want to do shorter sections to Sagrat Cor, Sant Silvestre el Mor, Sant Fructós, etc... you can do a round trip route.
-
Sant Feliu de Pallerols, Sant Pere Sacosta, el Far. Natural Park route 25
Long itinerary to El Far, one of the most important viewpoints of La Garrotxa, which, despite the great unevenness, is done smoothly and without much effort.
-
Olot and its volcanoes
Rediscover nature in the heart of the city. The urban layout of Olot is set around one of the most famous volcanoes: Montsacopa.
-
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.