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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Broad flat bottomed valley of les Prese (ancient lake), Racó volcano and Pedra Tosca laves circuit.
The arrival of the Croscat volcano lava flow about 11,000 years ago, altered the landscape of this place and its effects extended not only to a wide area but quite reach our age.
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GR 11 - Cross-Pyrenean trail
This route follows the southern flank of the Pyrenees from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean. Difficult high-altitude sections give way to peaks, valleys, villages, forests and ridges in a varied landscape of great visual beauty.
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In the footsteps of the Barons of Santa Pau. Ruta 1 Santa Pau
This walk takes you up to the magnificent summit of Finestres, one of the best viewpoints in La Garrotxa. Of great interest are the highly varied landscapes.
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Les Preses, the tradition of dry-stone
The need to cultivate the territory has been a transforming element of the landscape. The landscape of Les Preses stands out for its scenic attractions. Plains and mountains alternate harmoniously with croplands and forests.
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Fageda d'en Jordà - Volcano Santa Margarida - Volcano Croscat. Natural Park route 1
This route offers an alternative way of discovering three of the most-visited places in La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park.
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Sant Miquel del Mont, a viewpoint over la Vall de Bianya. Ruta 5 Vall dels sentits
A circular walk that provides spectacular views of L’Alta Garrotxa and the Pyrenees as it passes through woods of ancient oaks.
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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.
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Oix - Vall del Bac. Route 2 Consorci Alta Garrotxa
A tough and demanding route for some of the steepest places in Alta Garrotxa.
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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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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.