Discover Olot – volcanic landscapes, museums and festivals

Nature

Montsacopa is one of the 26 protected natural areas in La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park.

At the summit of the volcano is a round crater offering 360-degree panoramic views over Olot and Alt Empordà.

A walk through the volcano’s clay quarries is recommended for the climb up Montsacopa.

La Moixina is protected as a natural area within La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park and includes wetlands.

In Parc Nou, in the heart of Olot, there is a signposted walking route where visitors can discover typical and important trees, shrubs and plants of Alt Empordà.

Culture

The Museu dels Sants contains original, touchable objects that illustrate the process of making religious statues.

The museum offers four permanent activities with which visitors can interact freely.

The Garrotxa Museum displays works from the Olot school of landscape painting, including La Carga by Ramon Casas.

The museum also presents a chronologically arranged collection of crafts from the end of the 18th century to the present day.

The Museum of the Parish Treasury in the Basilica of Sant Esteve houses the original painting Christ Embracing the Cross by El Greco.

The present-day building of the Basilica of Sant Esteve dates from 1763 and was designed by Blai de Trincheria.

Solà-Morales House on Passeig de Miquel Blay was designed by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

The cloister of the Carmen Monastery is a cultural asset of national interest and is one of the few surviving Renaissance cloisters in Catalonia.

Casa Museu Can Trincheria illustrates how a wealthy family lived in Olot during the first half of the 18th century.

The museum also houses a large nativity scene inspired by Italy.

Espai Cràter is an innovative and interactive exhibition about volcanoes inside the Puig del Roser volcano.

The exhibition includes audiovisual content, immersive experiences, augmented reality, gamification, videomapping and the CRÀTER 360 experience.

Activities

The Via Verda follows the former railway line that connected Olot and Girona.

Guided tours with qualified guides as well as self-guided tours are available in Olot.

Creative workshops are offered for children aged 3 to 8, inspired by crafts, nature and popular culture in Olot and La Garrotxa.

Market and festivals

The Plaça Mercat in Olot is run by the Associació de Placers d’Olot.

Forty percent of the market’s vendors are direct producers; regional products from short supply chains are sold.

Fira Orígens is an agri-food event in Olot held on the penultimate weekend of November, offering the opportunity to discover Catalan products from the region.

Festes del Tura is Olot’s most important town festival and takes place around 8 September.

Getting there

TEISA operates bus connections to Olot from Barcelona, Figueres, Ripoll and Vic.

Bicycles are allowed on some TEISA services between Girona and Olot.

Other places in the same broader destination area are La Tallada D'empordà, Palol d'Onyar, Sant Llorenç De La Muga, Sant Jaume De Llierca, Avinyonet De Puigventós, Vilaür, Sils and Isòvol.

To the broader travel overview: Girona.