This Catalan town sits within an ancient volcanic zone, with four dormant volcanoes surrounding its medieval center. Local artisans create traditional religious figures in craft workshops.
Olot lies in Catalonia’s Garrotxa region, encircled by four dormant volcanoes that define its horizon and hiking paths. Explore the old town to visit Sant Esteve Parish Church, which holds an El Greco painting, or follow the trail up Montsacopa volcano for panoramas of red-tiled roofs and wooded hills. Modernist structures such as Casa Sola Morales stand alongside cafes serving patates d’Olot—crispy potato croquettes filled with meat. Just outside the city, the Fageda d’en Jordà forest rises from old lava beds, its tall beeches shading mossy rocks. Within a 20-minute drive, you can walk across Besalú’s medieval bridge or explore Santa Pau’s stone streets.
Hiking Trails and Volcanic Landscapes
Begin at Montsacopa, a volcano in central Olot with a clear trail leading to its summit. The route passes two 18th-century stone towers before reaching the crater’s rim, where a small chapel sits beside a viewpoint. On clear days, the Pyrenees form a distant backdrop to Olot’s orderly streets and rooftops. Five kilometers southeast, Santa Margarida volcano’s grassy crater holds a centuries-old hermitage, accessible through the Fageda d’en Jordà forest. This area’s trails range from 30-minute loops to full-day hikes, winding past lava formations and beech trees with roots gripping rocky soil. The broader Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park includes 40 extinct volcanoes linked by footpaths, cycling routes, and quiet roads ideal for scenic drives.
Historic Sites and Architecture
Plaça Major anchors the old town, bordered by Sant Esteve Church and its detailed baroque altar. Two streets east, El Carme’s cloister reveals Gothic arches and a courtyard shaded by orange trees. To see early 20th-century design, head to Passeig d’en Blay: Casa Sola Morales displays carved stone figures and curved balconies, while Casa Gaieta Vila uses ironwork patterns inspired by local flora. The Museu Comarcal de la Garrotxa, housed in a former hospice, exhibits Catalan paintings and a preserved 18th-century apothecary with wooden drawers labeled in Latin.
Food and Markets
Restaurants here highlight ingredients from nearby farms, including buckwheat used in savory pancakes and stews. Order patates d’Olot at family-run spots like Ca l’Enric, or try coca de llardons—a sweet-and-salty pastry—from bakeries near Plaça Major. Sunday mornings bring vendors to the open-air market by Sant Esteve, where you’ll find fuet sausages, aged cheeses, and jars of ratafia liqueur made with green walnuts. For a quick snack, buy a bag of carquinyolis (almond biscuits) from stalls along Carrer Mulleres.
Art and Geology Exhibits
The Museu Comarcal de la Garrotxa dedicates rooms to the Olot School, a group of 19th-century artists known for realistic landscapes of the region. Temporary displays often highlight textile patterns from Olot’s 1800s cotton mills. At Casal dels Volcans, interactive screens and mineral samples explain how volcanic activity shaped the area’s soil and springs. Don’t miss the scale model of nearby Croscat volcano, its layered ash deposits visible in cross-section.
Nearby Towns and Transportation
Besalú, 20 minutes east by car, centers on a Romanesque bridge with panoramic views of the Fluvià River. Its medieval Jewish quarter contains one of Europe’s oldest surviving bathhouses. Santa Pau, 15 minutes north, has a stone plaza surrounded by arched passageways and hillside trails. Girona, 45 minutes southeast, retains sections of its Roman walls and a cathedral with a Gothic nave spanning 23 meters. Figueres, 40 minutes northeast, houses the Dalà Theatre-Museum, where ceiling frescoes and melting clocks fill labyrinthine galleries.
Travel Logistics and Tips
Buses run directly from Barcelona’s Nord station to Olot, taking 2.5–3 hours. If driving, follow the highway to exit 6, then continue on the main road into town. Wear shoes with good grip for volcanic trails, which can be slippery after rain. Mosquito repellent is useful near La Moixina’s ponds and streams. Catalan is the primary language on signs, but most locals speak Spanish. Pick up trail maps and volcano guides at the tourist office on Carrer dels Mulleres.
