Around Castellfollit de la Roca

The distances on this page are by road from the centre of Castellfollit. The one for Olot is the town council's; we calculated the rest with OSRM using OpenStreetMap data in October 2026, and they are approximate.

Sant Joan les Fonts (about 4 km)

The neighbouring village, upstream on the Fluvià, is the natural next step after your visit: here, too, you see the lava from below. Turisme Garrotxa highlights three stacked lava flows, from different eruptive vents, along the Molí Fondo stretch, with columnar and slab-like forms. You can explore them on a waymarked circular route of moderate difficulty.

Also in the village are the old Romanesque monastery, with a 12th-century baptismal font and a replica of the Majestat of Sant Joan les Fonts, and Juvinyà castle, a fortified house with a 12th-century tower and a permanent exhibition that Turisme Garrotxa recommends for families with children.

If you enjoy a proper walk, Garrotxa route 2 links Castellfollit, Begudà and Sant Joan les Fonts: 20 km, about 7 h 25 min, rated difficult and designed to be done in two stages.

Olot and its town volcanoes (about 7.5 km)

The Garrotxa's main town has volcanoes inside the town itself. One of them, Montsacopa, rises right in the middle of town, and Turisme Garrotxa calls it an urban volcano: a perfectly round crater, the church of Sant Francesc on top, two watchtowers from the 19th-century Carlist Wars and a 360-degree view over the town and other volcanoes. You climb it on an easy, waymarked path.

To make sense of everything you're seeing, Espai Cràter is an interactive exhibition built inside the Puig del Roser volcano, suitable for all ages according to Turisme Garrotxa. Check opening times and booking on its website before you go.

Olot is also the most convenient base if you're travelling without a car: see where to stay.

The Fageda d'en Jordà, Croscat and Santa Margarida (about 16 km)

South of Olot, on the Santa Pau road, lies the heart of the Natural Park:

• The Fageda d'en Jordà, a beech forest growing on the lava flow from the Croscat volcano, between Olot, Santa Pau and Les Preses. According to Turisme Garrotxa, in autumn the ground is covered with ochre leaves, in spring the greens are at their most intense, and in summer the forest stays cool.
• The Croscat volcano, one of the most emblematic in the Iberian Peninsula. Old quarrying cut into its side, exposing layers of grey, black and reddish lapilli. Nearby is Can Passavent, a Natural Park information centre.
• The Santa Margarida volcano, with a Romanesque chapel in the middle of its crater, which measures about 2,000 metres round. You climb it on a family-friendly woodland path; there's a large car park at the foot, on the Olot–Santa Pau road.

Natural Park route 1 links all three: about 11 km, starting from the Santa Margarida car park. Turisme Garrotxa describes it as a half-day walk, giving 4 h 20 min on its route page, and advises doing it in spring, summer or winter, because in autumn the area gets very crowded.

Santa Pau (about 19 km)

A medieval village in the heart of the volcanic area, with an arcaded Plaça Major where markets and fairs were once held, the Gothic church of Santa Maria and the castle beside it. It's also home to the fesols de Santa Pau, beans with Protected Designation of Origin status. It pairs well with the Fageda and the volcanoes on the same day.

Besalú (about 14 km)

The Garrotxa's other great postcard view, downstream on the Fluvià. Its old bridge, Romanesque in origin, is 105 metres long, with seven arches and a fortified tower on a hexagonal plan. In the old Jewish quarter there's a mikveh, a ritual bath discovered by chance in 1964, which Turisme Garrotxa describes as one of the three found in the Iberian Peninsula. Besalú's tourist office runs guided tours all year round, and the Besalú Medieval fair is held on the first weekend of September.

The Vall d'en Bas (about 19 km to Els Hostalets d'en Bas)

South of Olot, a plain opens out beneath Puigsacalm and the Santa Magdalena massif. Turisme Garrotxa highlights Els Hostalets d'en Bas, a historic cluster of narrow lanes and stone houses; Sant Esteve d'en Bas, with its 12th-century Romanesque church; and Joanetes, known for its living nativity scene at Christmas. The Carrilet greenway runs through the valley and is ideal for cycling.

How to spend two or three days

A simple, unhurried way to divide up the area:

1. Day 1: Castellfollit in the morning, with the walking route, and Sant Joan les Fonts in the afternoon.
2. Day 2: the Fageda d'en Jordà, Croscat and Santa Margarida, with lunch in Santa Pau.
3. Day 3: Besalú in the morning and, if you still have the energy, the Vall d'en Bas or Olot's Montsacopa.

When choosing where to stay for this plan, Olot sits in the middle of everything; Besalú and Sant Joan les Fonts are good alternatives if you'd rather be in a small village. All the options are in where to stay.