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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Falgars Castle route. Route 3 Beuda
Through this route we will climb to an ancient Roman castle that was of great strategic importance for the control of the territory.
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On the trail of the Remences
The revolt of the Remences – a peasant uprising against their lords and the abusive mals usos (feudal obligations) - took place in La Garrotxa during the second half of the 15th century.
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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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From l'Hostalnou to Sta. Margarida de Bianya by la Torre de St. Pere. Ruta 4 Vall dels Sentits
Itinerary that takes us to the Romanesque church of Santa Margarida de Bianya, leaving from the small hamlet of Hostalnou de Bianya. Along the hike there are wonderful views of the Bianya valley.
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Villages and landscapes of Vall d'en Bas
To the south-west of the district in a large agricultural valley: Vall d'en Bas.
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The two castles route. Route 6 Santa Pau
anta Pau Castle stands in the middle of the village of Santa Pau, which was once enclosed by a series of walls and fortifications. In the fifteenth century, a ‘new’ quarter was built at the entrance to the gate that provides access to the arched squares.
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Sant Feliu de Pallerols centre. Natural Park route 18
Urban itinerary that allows to know the medieval structure of the town, as it evolved from the houses of la Sagrera and the Romanesque church to the walled Cellera and the current town, and the most relevant elements of the historic centre.
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Third carlinada route. Route 3 Argelaguer
In summer 1873 the Carlines besieged Argelaguer and killed the local councillor Sebastià Costa. This route will take you to the sites of some of the episodes of the final Carline War.
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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.