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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Sadernes to Sant Julià de Ribelles route (from Sadernes)
Walking route through the central area of Alta Garrotxa through wild and delightful landscapes.
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Summits of La Garrotxa
Discover some of the nest natural viewpoints in La Garrotxa and all provide incredible panoramas.
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RCR Arquitectes Route
A team of architects, RCR, has placed La Garrotxa at the forefront of architecture. Their unique skill of marrying the landscape and architecture has been rewarded by many different awards, including the prestigious Pritzker Prize (2017).
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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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Castellfollit de la Roca cliff. Natural Park route 13
This itinerary passes near a spectacular basaltic cliff, not only for its height, but also for the houses built right on its edge.
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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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Capelleta route. Route 4 Sant Jaume de Llierca
The Ruta de la Capelleta takes you to the remains of this small church (or chapel) that was once a popular place of worship for local people. Today, it is semi-derelict.
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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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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.