Here’s a photo from a place in Spain you probably haven’t heard of – Olot! I’d never heard of it either, but I ended up going last summer once I heard it had volcanoes.
Yep, you read that right. Real volcanoes, in Spain. No, they’re not active anymore, but it’s still pretty exciting. You can hike up them and back down into the craters.
I actually ate my breakfast in a volcano crater one morning, which was quite the experience.
Olot is the capital of La Garrotxa, a region in the province of Girona in northwestern Spain. It’s tiny (population around 33,500) and surrounded by mountains, inactive volcanoes, and a pretty river. The town is filled with tree-lined streets and funky modernist buildings.
This photo was actually taken just outside Olot after a long day of hiking to see an unusual forest, La Fageda d’en Jordi. The lava from volcanic explosions formed special trees in the forest, which are thought not to exist anywhere else in the world. Some of the mountains you can see are actually volcanoes, and the bigger ones in the back are the Pyrenees.
Olot might not be high on the list of touristic places to visit in Spain, but this small city definitely has a lot to see.
Besos!
-Jess
Hi, really liked your post, I like to go to new places. And if you like volcanoes, lots of nature and sea then have you ever heard of The Azores? Just another idea for you in the future.
Glad you enjoyed it. I hadn’t heard of the Azores, but I just did some Google research and it looks amazing! Thanks for helping me add another place to my travel list.
Hi Jessica!
I think not just Olot but the whole area of La Garrotxa is such a really beautiful area. I don’t know if you visited the little town Castellfollit de la Roca on your way to Olot. It’s located on top of a basalt cliff which was created many years ago because of the eruption of some volcanoes.
On my bucket list is a hot air ballon flight over La Garrotxa. It must be incredible.
You did a little mistake on your post, the name of is La fageda d’en Jordà, not Sant Jordi. 😉
Oh, and I really like your new layout.
Ooh, thanks for pointing that out – I always say Sant Jordi for some reason, even though I know it’s wrong! 🙂 I only visited other towns in La Garrotxa that you could walk to from Olot, so I didn’t go to Castellfollit de la Roca.
I’m glad you like my new layout. I like it too! I hope all your exams went well last month.
Got lotsa volcanoes down my way 🙂 It looks soooo green, lovely. I need to get oop north a bit more. Did you get any photos of the lava formations?
Unfortunately, no! The lava forest was really cool though .
You’re doing an excellent job of selling the south to me – every time you tell me more or I read more on your blog I’m sooo tempted to go!
Cool! You’re right, I’m among the ranks of those who’ve never heard of Olot. La Garrotxa sounded vaguely familiar, but I had no idea there were volcanoes there!
I’m really enjoying these “Where in Spain” posts, by the way; I look forward to seeing new places and hearing your reflections about them.
Thanks very much! It’s so much fun to go through all my old pictures too. I’m really glad you’re enjoying the series.
Gorgeous place! 🙂
It really is! It’s even prettier in person.