Garrotxa: Santa Pau to Olot

From our second day hike from Olot, we rode the bus to Santa Pau and walked back to Olot. We made our own program by stringing together different park trails.

First, we had a tour of the medieval village of Santa Pau. It is well preserved and picturesque. Unlike other places, they allow car parking and driving in the historic center. It is incongruous having cars on stone pavement careening under "a room between two buildings."

Then, by way of Trail 4 we went by the Black Roca volcano to the Santa Margarida volcano, switching to Trail 1 to circumnavigate the circular crater.

We then continued on Trail 1 to the Croscat volcano. Switching to Trail 15, we had a closer look at the remains of the quarry. They are still in the process of improving the site.

Next we got back on Trail 1 to La Fageda d'en Jorda Nature Reserve, switching to Trail 2 to walk through the beech forest.

We then caught Trail 3 back to Olot.

All the numbered trails are super well designed and maintained. It's a little amazing we could add together the trails and have such a diverse day hike. Here's the GPS track of our 19.2 km walk.

Our first view of Santa Pau.

We see some public art. By the same artist of a similar statue in Olot?

Around the Old Town.

The Plaza.

We were startled when a car drove through this passage.

Off through the fields to the volcanoes.

Below is the GPS track of our walk from the Santa Margarida Volcano to the Croscat Volcano.

After an hour we were walking along the rim of Santa Margarida Volcano.

And 5 minutes later our first good look down to the small shurch at the bottom of the crater.

Walking down towards the church was very hot in the sun and there were several groups of school children having outings and lunch so we did not actually walk to the church.

We had lunch at the top edge of the crater, and after a longer than expected downhill with children racing down alongside us - which was kinda fun although there was at least one skinned knee; not ours - we arrived at the parking lot for the Sant Margarida and Croscat Volcanoes. And then this field of wildflowers on the lower slope of Croscat Volcano.

The old quarry site was immense and sculpted/landscaped/architected to be intriguing and fun.

Wheat fields in May are my beautiful enemy. Out comes the zyrtec antihistamine.








Short video.


Another short video.

Under the road and into the beech forest (Fageda d'en Jordà).

The beech forest was very cool and reminded us of our home in North Carolina where there are rocks of course, and groves of beech trees on many of the north-facing slopes.

Exiting the forest.

Finally, a long walk back to town with more than several volcanoes on the horizon. The small church on top of Volca Montsacopa is visible at center-right-ish.

Garrotxa: Olot

Olot, the capital of the greater Garrotxa area, is a natural base for us to explore the area. It's in the middle of Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. Ancient volcanoes and lava flows can be seen all over the place. John is particularly fascinated with lava flows that result in basalt columns. Olot is laid back and non-touristy. The highlight of the Old Town is the Modernismo buildings.

We passed through Castellfollit de la Roca on the short 45-minute bus ride from Besalu to Olot. Awesome! We'll definitely be back tomorrow to check out those basalt columns that seem to hold up the town.

Our apartment-hotel was located just outside the Old Town in a former industrial area, now mostly apartment blocks.

We came to hike the Volcanic Park. Many trails go right through town.

Hunting down Olot's Modernismo buildings was fun. First, Casa Pujador with its distinctive tower.


Second, Casa Gassiot.

Old town view.

The City Museum was open with a fashion show about to start in the courtyard. The Gigantes are housed here as well.

Public art.

Església de Sant Esteve was built in the last half of the 19th-century and has an unimaginative interior.

Can Trincheria is a house museum, built in the 18th-century, worth a visit. Especially cool was the "bench" around the kitchen fire, and the monster Nativity scene.

More Modernismo architecture along Passeig de l'Escultor Miquel Blay. The highlights are Casa Solà Morales and a sculpture by Miguel Blay "The Reading".