Olot is a town in central Catalonia of Spain, and is a stage in the Catalan Way of St. James.
Understand
[edit]Olot is popular with tourists for its volcano and rock landscapes, especially the fagus sylvatica forest of La Fageda d'en Jordà and the extinct volcanoes of the Garrotxa Natural Park.
Get in
[edit]There is no rail service at Olot, so the only way to get in is by bus or road.
There are 7 buses daily (5 on weekends) from Barcelona via two different routes (Amer or Banyoles), time travel 2 hr 30 min. Connections are more frequent from Girona, which run hourly on weekdays with some direct buses in just 1 hr travel time, others 1 hr 30 min. From Girona do NOT use the buses via Amer, they're way slower, about 2 hr 15 min!
By car, if coming from Barcelona the best route is using the C-17 autoroute up to Torelló and then diverting thru Bracons tunnel. From Girona, head towards Banyoles, then Besalú and finally Olot. As with the bus, avoid going via Anglès and Amer. From France, at Figueres head towards Besalú.
Finally, there's a cycling route all the way from Olot to Girona following the path of an ancient narrow gauge railway. It closely follows the Amer route.
Get around
[edit]
See
[edit]
- 1 Montsacopa Volcano Nature Reserve. It is the last volcano to emerge in the Olot plain. It erupted about 100,000 years ago. During the French occupation of 1812, the hermitage on the edge of the crater was walled in, and the two defence towers that are still preserved were built. The Viacrucis path, built in the 19th century, rises from the Olot cemetery and skirts the crater, following a circular path with birches and benches that is a magnificent 360° viewpoint of the city of Olot and its surroundings. The Montsacopa volcano had been completely deforested and cultivated. The bottom of its circular crater is occupied by fields and the southern flank has orchards, while on the northern flank the forest vegetation has recovered spontaneously.
- 2 Espai crater, Carrer Macarnau, 55, 17800 Olot. Oct-May: M-F 10:00-14:0, 15:00-18:00; Oct-May: Sa 10:00-14:00, 15:00-19:00; Oct-May: Su 10:00-14:00; Jun-Sep: daily 10:00-14:00, 16:00-20:00. A reference exhibition on volcanism. A fully interactive exhibition, with audiovisuals, immersive experiences, augmented reality, gamification and video mapping. The Espai Cràter allows you to learn about volcanoes from inside a volcano €7.5.
- 3 Museu de la Garrotxa, Carrer Hospici, 8, 17800 Olot. An art museum located in the city of Olot specializing in Catalan painting and more specifically in the members of the Olot school and their followers.
- 4 Santa Margarida Volcano (near Olot). With a chapel inside this is one of the volcanoes of the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, a natural park on an extinct Holocene volcanic field.. Free.
- 5 La Fageda d'en Jordà (near Olot). Fagus sylvatica forest natural park. Free.
- 6 Espai museístic del Volcà del Croscat. At the Croscat volcano a huge part has been cut out (accidental or intentionally) which allows you to take a look inside of a volcano. Basically a huge and steep quary made of volcano sand/rocks. But it is impressive and huge. Free.
- 7 Bisaroques tower (Torre de les Bisaroques). At the top of the Bisaroques volcano there is a defence tower that reminds us of the Carlist wars. It is located at the top of the hill. Its situation is completely ruined, like its sisters located on the Montolivet and Montsacopa volcanoes. It was made of volcanic stone.
- Renaissance cloister of El Carme
- church of Sant Esteve and the Parochial Museum –featuring * * * Christ embracing the cross by El Greco–,
- Can Trincheria House-Museum
- Museum of the Saints
- Art Nouveau buildings.
Do
[edit]Hiking
[edit]Hike around in the 1 Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. .
Long-range
[edit]- Catalan Way of St. James from El Port de la Selva to Montserrat (Spain) to Alcarrás passes the city.
Cycling
[edit]The Pirinexus long distance bike route crosses the city.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Splurge
[edit]- 1 [dead link] Les cols, Ctra. de la Canya, no number, Olot, ☏ +34 972 269 209, [email protected]. 2 Michelin stars
- 2 Ca l'Enric, N260 road, km91, ☏ +34 972 29 00 15. 1 Michelin star
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Olot Centre, Carrer Sant Pere Màrtir 29, ☏ +34872204240, [email protected]. from €90.
- 2 Hotel Borrell ***, Nonet Escubós, 8, ☏ +34 972 27 61 61, [email protected].
- 3 Hotel Riu Fluvià ****, Carretera de Santa Pau, ☏ +34 972 269 444, [email protected].
- 4 Hotel Bar l'Estació ***, Avinguda de l'Estació 2, ☏ +34 972261007.
- 5 Hostal Sant Bernat **, Avinguda de les Feixes 31, ☏ +34972261919.
- 6 Hostal la vila **, C/ Sant Roc 1 (in main square (Plaça major) corner), ☏ +34972 269 807, [email protected].
- 7 Hotel la Perla, Carretera la deu, 9-11, ☏ +34 972 26 23 26, [email protected].
Connect
[edit]As of Jan 2024, Olot and its approach highways have 4G from all Spanish carriers.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Olot |
| Molló ← | N  SE
|
→ Girona |
| Vic ← Sant Esteve d'en Bas ← | w  E
|
→ Amer → Girona |