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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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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Sant Feliu de Pallerols, Sant Marc and Puig Roig volcanoes. Natural Park route 22
Short itinerary that gives us the possibility of knowing the two volcanoes closest to Sant Feliu de Pallerols and at the same time further away from the central core of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa.
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Olot - Santa Pau. Natural Park route 3
This itinerary crosses the central area of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, passing through places such as Moixina wetlands, La Fageda d'en Jordà, and the banks of the volcanoes Croscat and Santa Margarida.
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Xenacs via volcano Racó and puig Rodó viewpoint. Route 1 Les Preses
The recreational area of Xenacs in Les Preses provides an atypical view of La Garrotxa and is one of the best places anywhere for getting a bird’seye view of Croscat and the other volcanoes in the area. As well, its height makes it an ideal place.
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The old trails of Batet. Route 1 Olot
Batet lies on a basalt plateau crowned by the volcano Pujalós. Batet is a wonderful place and provides exceptional views of the Pyrenees and the area around Olot.
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The charcoal makers and bac route. Route 3 Mieres
This route is an agreeable stroll through the shady woods of Clot Mal, a stream that runs down from the western side of the slopes around the church of Freixe.
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From l'hostal de la Vall del Bac to St. Andreu de Porreres by la Torre. Ruta 2 Vall dels Sentits
Itinerary that brings us to the zone of la Vall del Bac and Alta Garrotxa (Garrotxan Highlands), where we come across sites of great natural interest and wonderful landscapes.
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Sant Grau d'Entreperes to Sant Miquel de Monteia (from Sales)
This route will take you to two of the most emblematic Romanesque chapels in the Sierra de Entreperes, in the Alta Garrotxa.
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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.