Garrotxa is one of those places you experience as if you were from here. With seven days ahead, the journey becomes an experience: charming accommodations and centuries-old farmhouses where firewood is already waiting in the fireplace. At the table, crispy toast with homemade jam and an infusion of medicinal herbs fill the air with comforting aromas. The authentic, deeply rooted way of speaking of its people, the flavours that tell stories, living culture, festivals, landscapes and heritage all come together to offer a stay to be savoured slowly.
Start your journey through Garrotxa by gently cycling along the Carrilet greenway, through fields, farmhouses and forests, to the Parc de Pedra Tosca in Les Preses. This unique space is a living example of how volcanic nature and human intervention can coexist in balance. Among dry-stone walls and cultivated terraces, you will discover a landscape shaped with patience and respect, which today dialogues with the contemporary architecture of RCR Arquitectes.
From here, continue your route towards the Vall d’en Bas, one of the most fertile and surprising valleys in Catalonia. Take a guided visit to a local producer or step into a traditional bakery and discover how local products are grown and made with sustainability criteria and a deep connection to the land.
At the rhythm of the bicycle, keep discovering some of its seven charming villages, where you will find a varied gastronomic offer to enjoy a well-deserved break, and visit the Can Trona Culture and Nature Centre.
Finish in an agricultural cooperative, where you will find a wide variety of products made by the valley’s farmers and livestock breeders and see that the flavours are as authentic as the landscape around you.
Start the day by gently climbing to the top of the Montsacopa volcano, in the heart of the city. From there, the views extend across much of the region. A full immersion in the volcanic world at Espai Cràter is a must, where you will discover the origin of the volcanoes of Olot and Garrotxa.
Stroll along Passeig d’en Blay to the Plaça Mercat in Olot, a municipal market where an explosion of local products speaks of the territory: shepherd’s cheeses, sourdough bread, cured meats with character…
Right in the centre, you will find a perfect place to enjoy a vermouth, as locals do, while listening to the living pulse of the city. And if you are drawn to greenery before lunch, let yourself be guided through the shady and refreshing landscapes of the Moixina.
Culture awaits at the Garrotxa Museum, with the works of Joaquim Vayreda and his vision of the surrounding landscapes. Nearby, in the Basilica of Sant Esteve, an original work by El Greco will surprise and move you — a discreet treasure that alone justifies the visit. The afternoon is ideal for wandering through the old town, entering local shops, tasting a coca de llardons pastry and discovering, like a game, the details of modernist façades such as Casa Solà Morales, Casa Gaietà-Vila, Casa Gassiot or Casa Pujador. They are true books of stone and iron that still speak of a creative and bold city.
Also dedicate part of the day to popular culture. At the Museum of the Saints, you can step into the shoes of an artisan while watching artists model, polish, paint and decorate religious figures. Don’t forget to stop by the Olot Tourist Office, where you might find a handcrafted souvenir to take a piece of this land home with you.
To end the day, enjoy dinner at a family-run restaurant, where food is cooked with memory and conversations linger over a small glass of ratafia. You will leave Olot with a smile, the sound of the city still echoing, and one clear thought: “we have to come back!”
On foot, by bike or even by carriage — any way is perfect to begin discovering three of the must-see areas of the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park.
Start at the Croscat volcano, a volcano opened up by the extraction of volcanic material, which today allows us to see the earth’s interior and understand the volcanic origin of this unique region. Continue through the Fageda d’en Jordà, with its shaded paths, filtered light among the beech trees and soft ground inviting you to walk in silence. The scent of moss and fallen leaves, along with the song of a robin, will make you feel part of this majestic forest. This is a landscape to be experienced with all the senses and with respect. To complete the experience, you can visit La Fageda Foundation, a pioneering social project deeply rooted in the territory and linked to sustainability.
Continue towards the Santa Margarida volcano, with its iconic hermitage at the centre of the crater — a surprising landscape feature. End the day strolling through the cobbled streets of Santa Pau and try a local speciality or simply sit on a terrace contemplating the majestic castle and imagining the murmur of the square centuries ago.
The day invites you to discover a more intimate and peaceful Garrotxa, full of charm and authenticity.
Take advantage of the first rays of sunlight to explore the path of the Corb hermitages. It will captivate you. The hermitage of Sant Miquel, halfway up the Corb range, set in a small clearing, and Sant Martí del Corb, hidden among beech forests, are true treasures of architecture and spirituality.
If you want to understand why this landscape enchants those who see it, head up to the Xenacs area in Les Preses, a natural balcony where your gaze expands to embrace volcanoes, valleys and Pyrenean peaks.
Continue to Sant Feliu de Pallerols, considered the first summer retreat town of the region. With its calm and elegant atmosphere, it will charm you with its hydrangea-filled gardens, the Firal square and the unhurried rhythm of a village that has preserved its essence.
From here to Les Planes d’Hostoles, you can follow the Brugent river, where clear water flows among rocks and lush vegetation. A refreshing walk, especially if you stop by one of its natural pools.
And if you still have energy, climb up to the Sanctuary of La Salut in Sant Feliu de Pallerols. The views are breathtaking, offering a unique panorama over the entire Hostoles valley.
Today, prepare your backpack for an intense day full of contrasts in Alta Garrotxa, one of the wildest and most genuine areas of the region. Here, the landscape speaks for itself among cliffs, deep gorges and paths that demand respect, yet reward you with moments of pure, untamed beauty.
Start at the Llierca bridge, a majestic stone structure crossing a river of clear water. It is the gateway to a wilder world, where nature dominates. From here, continue towards Sadernes and follow the path to the hermitage of Sant Aniol d’Aguja, a hidden sanctuary surrounded by mountains, transparent pools and silence.
Seeing the clear waters of places like Gorg Blau or the Brull waterfall will be one of the most magical moments of your journey. You will never forget this Alta Garrotxa — pure nature, silence and paths that connect you with the wildest essence of the territory.
On your way back, stop at Castellfollit de la Roca, a village literally perched on a basalt cliff, with vertiginous views and streets that seem to defy time. Here, every stone tells a story and every photograph will become an unforgettable memory.
Today we present a more intimate and serene Garrotxa, full of Romanesque hermitages scattered across a green, rolling and history-rich landscape.
The Vall de Bianya awaits you with a network of paths linking small architectural gems such as Sant Martí del Clot, Sant Andreu de Porreres or Sant Miquel del Mont, always surrounded by landscapes shaped by rural life.
To start the day with energy, enjoy a traditional hearty breakfast in a local restaurant or inn, alongside regular patrons. We suggest following a section of the Via Annia, a branch of an ancient Roman road that still preserves original stone paving. This route allows you to walk between history and nature, understanding that Garrotxa has long been a land of passage and connection.
If you prefer another heritage-rich visit, end the day in Sant Joan les Fonts. The church of the former Romanesque monastery will surprise you with its simplicity, and nearby you will find one of the best visible examples of basalt lava flows in the region. The Three Lava Flows route is short and easy, yet rich in geology and natural architecture.
The journey comes to an end, with the calm and beauty of a territory that preserves an impressive legacy. In the morning, head to Besalú, one of the best-preserved medieval complexes in Catalonia. Crossing the Romanesque bridge over the Fluvià river feels like stepping through a doorway in time: cobbled streets, the Jewish quarter, the mikveh, the church of Sant Pere… everything breathes history and harmony. A place that will truly move you.
Then continue towards Maià de Montcal and Beuda, where small Romanesque churches of quiet beauty are hidden among fields and forests. Here, stone still tells stories — you just need to pause and listen.
As the day comes to an end, treat yourself to dinner in a garden, with lights hanging between the trees, embers glowing softly and a blanket over your legs as conversations flow. An intimate, special moment, full of authenticity — just like everything you have experienced over these days.
A moment that cannot be forced, only felt. And one that belongs entirely to you.
If you want to taste authentic Garrotxa cuisine with a designation of origin, try the recipes of Volcanic Cuisine in the restaurants of this collective.
© Turisme Garrotxa
