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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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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The Romanesque churches of La Vall de Bianya
The traces of the history of La Vall de Bianya can be followed in this itinerary that visits the 15 Romanesque churches that decorate this peaceful corner of La Garrotxa.
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La Moixina - Les Preses. Natural Park route 9
A family walk between Olot and Les Preses passing by the Racó volcano.
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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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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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Route Ribelles and Sant Aniol (from Hostal de la Muga)
The church of Sant Julià de Ribelles is Romanesque and was consecrated in 947. Sant Aniol d’Aguja dates from the High Middle Ages and was a Benedictine monastery before being transformed into a parish church and sanctuary.
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Monars route
The pond of Bassa de Monars and its lush green surroundings is a welcoming place to stop. Monars is part of Montagut i Oix and according to the 2007 census, eight people live in this hamlet. The first documentary records for Sant Sebastià date from 1064.
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Sant Feliu de Pallerols - Coll de Condreu. Natural Park route 20
The itinerary begins at the old Sant Feliu de Pallerols train station (currently the Tourism Office). It is worth starting with the climb to Coll de Condreu due to the steep slope we find from La Salut.
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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.