Tot Garrotxa guida (english)

Olot and its
volcanoes
Rediscover nature in the heart of the city. The urban
layout of Olot is set around one of the most famous
volcanoes: Montsacopa. What is also known as the
Sant Francesc volcano reminds you that you are in
volcano country and in a district where the landscape
will surprise you with every step you take. Montsacopa
is also a great vantage point. Only a few minutes’
gentle stroll from the centre, and you will be given
some impressive views of the city.
The spectacular pits on Montsacopa volcano, old
areas where volcanic lapilli was mined, show the
inside of the volcano and the materials indicate that
the volcano formed several thousand years ago was
caused by a relatively small eruption, in which a large
part of the volcanic cone was formed by the splattering
and falling of volcanic lapilli and bombs, followed
by a very mild eruptive phase, in which a lava flow ran
north-east, and then a very explosive eruptive phase
that caused the round crater.
Walking around the volcanic cone, you will see
different panoramic views of the neighbourhoods in
Olot and other points of special interest, such as La
Garrinada volcano, Aiguanegra mountains and the
summits of the Puigsacalm, Bassegoda or La Mare de
Déu del Mont. On your walk around Montsacopa, you
will come to the hermitage of Sant Francesc, built at
the end of the Peninsular War on the site of an old
military building, and the watchtowers that were
erected during the era of the Carline Wars.
But Olot has even more volcanoes! If the visit to
Montsacopa has awoken an interest in volcanoes,
then we suggest you head for Montolivet volcano,
following a signposted route through the city, up the
volcano and back to the city centre along the Fluvià
river. You can also visit Les Bisaroques volcano that is
only a few minutes from the city centre.
Montsacopa volcano