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
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A climb up to Santa Magdalena de Montpalau. Route 1 Sant Jaume de Llierca
An easy route for the whole family that will take us to know the old fortress of the Montpalau.
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Along the old monks’ paths. Route 2 Santa Pau
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Sant Feliu de Pallerols - Coll de Condreu. Natural Park route 20
The itinerary begins at the old Sant Feliu de Pallerols train station (currently the Tourism Office). It is worth starting with the climb to Coll de Condreu due to the steep slope we find from La Salut.
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Torre de Murrià route. Route 5 Les Preses
Torre de Murrià is a Roman watchtower that was converted into a signalling tower during the Carline Wars. It is reasonably well conserved and its moat and walls can still be seen.
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The Romanesque churches of La Vall de Bianya
The traces of the history of La Vall de Bianya can be followed in this itinerary that visits the 15 Romanesque churches that decorate this peaceful corner of La Garrotxa.
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Coll de Bas - Marboleny -Castell de Colltort - Fontpobra. Natural Park route 26
The route will take us along the watershed between the river basins Fluvià and Brugent, tributaries of the river Ter, and will take us to one of the great viewpoints of the Natural Park: the castle of Colltort.
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Medieval Route
Monasteries, medieval villages, churches and, above all, castles are today some of the most important reminders of the medieval past of La Garrotxa.
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The carline trail. Ruta 6 Garrotxa
This route is designed for one-way and you must provide for the return from Riudaura by public transport or car.
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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.
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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.