Like all the autonomous communities of Spain, Catalonia awaits in its interior numerous corners of great beauty: spectacular beaches and coves, magical mountains, cosmopolitan cities, remains of Roman settlements, important historical monuments … Of course, without a doubt, one of the The best things to do in this place is to visit the charming towns that can be found throughout the territory.
Although we have already told you about the most beautiful towns in Catalonia, today we want to focus on one that we did not include on the list but that undoubtedly deserves to be. We are referring to Castellfollit de la Roca , one of the most picturesque and beautiful corners of this community. Would you like to join us?
Its impressive location
What stands out the most about Castellfolllit de la Roca is its location, as it sits on an impressive basalt wall about 50 meters high and 1 kilometer long. The town is located in the province of Girona , between the Fluviá and Toronell rivers and, as you can see for yourself in the images that we offer you in the gallery, it is practically hanging from the basaltic cliff that was formed after centuries of erosion of the rivers above the remains of lava flows from volcanic eruptions that took place thousands of years ago in the area. Specifically, the wall is made up of lava from two different eras, which causes rocks in two different shapes: slabs and prismatic.
A town of medieval origin
This unique place of almost supernatural beauty is one of the smallest municipalities in Catalonia. In fact, it has an area of 1 square kilometer, in which about 1,000 inhabitants live. Of course, beyond its basalt rock and its small size, the marked medieval air of its old town is also striking, which is made up of squares and narrow and shady streets. How could it be otherwise, most of the houses are made of volcanic stone. The must-see places if you are lucky enough to go to Castellfollit are the Josep Pla viewpoint-square, located at the end of the precipice; the Church of Sant Salvador, which has its origin in the 13th century; and the bell tower of Sant Roc. You will also love to know the Sanctuary of Cós; the small area of small orchards located near the old town; the many open spaces and, of course, the wonderful natural environment that surrounds the town. In fact, you cannot forget that Castellfollit is very close to the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, a protected area that has great scenic value.
A unique environment
If you dare to visit this beautiful Catalan town, you can take advantage of it to get to know its surroundings. As we have just mentioned, Castellfollit is very close to the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park , one of the best examples of volcanic landscapes in the entire Iberian Peninsula. It is also very close to the Alta Garrotxa Area of Natural Interest, a protected area of more than 33,000 hectares. As if that were not enough, 15 minutes away is Besalú , another of the most spectacular towns in Catalonia. In addition, 10 minutes away you can find the city of Olot, which has a spectacular landscape, in addition to offering a wide cultural offer.
The quarry
Finally, it must be taken into account that this town preserves the only active quarry in Spain, which since 1929 has been exploited by the Ortiz family, although its origins date back to 1887. The basalt that is extracted from the place is used so much for industrial applications such as domestic and decorative. For example, the pavement of the old town is made of this material. Then we leave you with our gallery , where you will find more images of this impressive Catalan town. Do not miss it!
