The Camí Ral is an old Medieval road connecting the cities of Vic and Olot in central Catalonia. The road was originally built during the middle ages to transport wood from the forests of the La Garrotxa region to the Royal Shipyards in Barcelona. The forty-five-kilometre section between the towns of Vic and Olot was…
Tag: la garrotxa
Olot: Things To See & Do In The Capital Of The Garrotxa Region
Olot is the largest town in the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone, a natural park approximately one hundred kilometres northwest of Barcelona. As the name implies, the area is known for its volcanoes, four of which are located within the city itself. The volcanos last erupted more than eleven thousand years ago and are now mostly covered…
Banyoles & Estany de Banyoles: What To See & Do
Banyoles is a small town built on the shores of L’Estany de Banyoles, the largest lake in Catalonia, and hosted the rowing competitions for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The lake was formed two hundred and fifty thousand years ago by the tectonic activity which created the Pyrenees mountain range. The area has been settled since…
Castellfollit de la Roca: What to See and Do
Perched precariously on the edge of a fifty-metre basalt cliff, Castellfollit de la Roca is one of Catalonia’s most picturesque and instantly recognisable villages. Built during the twelfth century on a rocky outcrop at the confluence of the rivers Fluvià and Turonell, at its narrowest point, the medieval village of Castellfollit de la Roca is…
Santa Pau: A Mediaval Village Surrounded By Volcanoes
Santa Pau is a picturesque medieval village in the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone, 100km north of Barcelona. The village dates back to the ninth century when the region was a no man’s land on the frontier between Christian and Muslim-controlled territories. With its narrow cobblestone streets and stone buildings, Santa Pau would be an ideal base…
Visiting The Croscat Volcano (La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone)
The Croscat Volcano is the highest volcano in mainland Spain and is one of forty volcanoes located in the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone, 100 km northwest of Barcelona. At this point, I have to point out that you shouldn’t come here expecting to see the likes of Krakatoa, Mount Fuji, Cotopaxi or other impressive volcanoes which…
La Fageda d’en Jordà Beech Forest (La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone)
The Fageda d’en Jordà is a beech forest located in the La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone, approximately one hundred kilometres northeast of Barcelona. The forest is a popular day trip from Barcelona, especially in mid to late November when the leaves turn golden brown, making the area incredibly photogenic. Whatever time of year you plan to…
Besalú – A Medieval Gem in the Heart of Catalonia
With a population of approximately 2400 people, Besalú makes an interesting and relaxing day trip from Barcelona. As you wander the narrow streets, it’s hard to believe that this now tranquil small town was once an important local capital during the Middle Ages. What to See in Besalú Besalu’s star attraction is, without doubt, the…
