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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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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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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Sant Grau d'Entreperes to Sant Miquel de Monteia (from Sadernes)
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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Romanesque hermitages of la Garrotxa
Although some structures from the 11th century do still stand, most of the surviving medieval buildings in La Garrotxa date from the 12th and 13th centuries.
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Sant Feliu de Pallerols - Les Planes d'Hostoles. Natural park route 21
Very simple route between Sant Feliu de Pallerols and Les Planes d'Hostoles following the old royal road.
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Fageda Fosca route. Route 5 Santa Pau
Hiking excursion to a beech tree hidden in the shadow of the Finestres mountain range.
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The balcony of Mieres. Route 1 Mieres
This route runs from Mieres towards Collet de la Devesa and Coll de Palomera. It was used by local people to go to the annual festivities up on Serra de Finestres.
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Sadernes - Sant Aniol d'Aguja. Route 1 Consorci Alta Garrotxa
Classic hiking trail to the hermitage of Sant Aniol d'Aguja. Keep in mind that the route goes through an abrupt and wooded area without any type of services, sources, or mobile coverage.
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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.