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
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Routes and excursions TOP
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From the lava flows to the medieval heritage of Sant Joan les Fonts
Located to the north of the Natural Park, Sant Joan les Fonts has a combination of nature and culture that makes it a very unique village. It is home to a large number of points of interest, from spectacular basalt formations to Romanesque buildings.
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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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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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Circular tour of Cós. Route 3 Montagut i Oix
The circular tour of Cós invites you to climb the mountain of Cós, where you will find the castle and the hermitage, and will give you exceptional views of the Montagut plain, the Fluvià path and on clear days also the Empordà plain to the sea.
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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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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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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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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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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.