Moorish style House Olot
The market area of Olot has many architecturally interesting facades
European Markets are a treat to visit and Olot was no exception
Produce for sale, Olot
Bacalao or dried salt cod is a Catalan specialty
The warm up hike was to the Crater del Montsacopa, just outside of Olot
Inside the Crater del Montscopa
Many of the La Garrontxa craters have chapels in them as I discovered at Montsacopa
The view of Olot from Montsacopa was excellent
The volcanic soil is ideal for wild flowers such as these evening primrose on the slope of Montsacopa
The first full day hike was to the isolated village of Santa Pau
These horses just outside of Olot were quite friendly
The hiking paths in La Garrontxa are very well posted
The way to Santa Pau was through La Fageda d'en Jorda forest
Some of the beech trees were truly ancient
This path of black and red lava led up to Mont Santa Margarita
Santa Margarita had this building described as a hermitage inside its crater
Monuments like this are not uncommon in La Garrotxa
Approaching Santa Pau
Narrow Streets of Santa Pau
Looking back to Santa Pau on the way back to Olot
The next hike was along the banks of La Fluvia, a river that cuts a deep chasm through the area. It started in the small town of Sant Joan les Fonts
The hike started by crossing this ancient bridge
The view from below the La Fluvia Bridge
Looking across La Fluvia to Sant Joan les Fonts
This Benedictine Monastery was a mystery as there was no mention of it in any guidebooks
Side view of the Benedictine monastery
The Cinglera de FontfredaI is a series of basalt cliffs that are split by the waters of La Fluvia.
Cinglera de Fontfredal 2
Cinglera de Fontfredal up close
Cinglera de Fontfredal from a distance
Overhanging basalt - Cinglera de Fontfredal
Heavy Rains had made La Fluvia very silty
La Fluvia
An ancient spring above La Fluvia
I came across this Romanesque church near the end of the hike
Rear view of the Romanesque church
This series of waterfalls was the highlight of the hike
La Fluvia waterfall
La Fluvia Waterfall 2
La Fluvia Waterfall 3
La Fluvia waterfall from above
The final hike was to Volca Roscata, the red volcano.
the red lava of Volca Roscata
Flowers in red lava
Flowers in black lava
Euphorbia
Graffiti in the lava
I headed back to Olot on this path near Batet
These storm clouds over the lower Pyrenees spelled trouble
It started hailing so hard, I had to call a taxi to come and get me.
Hailstorm outside Olot
Castellfollit de la Roca is an amazing town that hangs over the cliffs above La Fluvia
Castellfollit de la Roca
Castellfollit de la Roca 2
Besalu has a beautiful stone arched bridge
On Besalu Bridge
Besalu
Old Quarter, Besalu
