If you are looking for a getaway to disconnect from the routine, and want to discover a magnetic town, Olot is the ideal destination. This town, capital of the Garrotxa region, is a hidden treasure filled with impressive buildings, and full of corners that will not leave you indifferent. In this article we will show you some of the most impressive places to visit Olot. Our intention is to ensure that you have an unforgettable experience on your trip to Olot.
What to visit in Olot to discover this town
Here we make a compilation of all those buildings that you cannot miss if you want to visit Olot. We are convinced that our proposal will make your trip to Olot unforgettable!
Pujador House
The first of our proposals to visit Olot is the Pujador House. This is a spectacular modernist building located in the Conill Square, in the centre of Olot.
The Pujador House, a building built in 1911, was designed by the architect Josep Azemar, one of the Catalan modernist architects.
The Pujador House is one of the buildings that we recommend you visit on your trip to Olot, one of the most spectacular modernist buildings that remain in this municipality!
This is a large building with a circular tower on the corner. We can highlight many things about the Pujador House, such as the pointed arch windows supported by double columns on the mezzanine, or the railings, made with Gothic arches, of the balconies on the second floor. However, the most spectacular element of the Pujador House is the spectacular tribune in the corner of the second floor. This tribune has large windows separated by columns with decorated capitals.
Escubós House
Another of the buildings you should discover on your trip to Olot is the Escubós House. This is a large building located at Major Street, 22, in the centre of Olot.
The origins of Escubós House date back to the 17th century, although this building was completely refurbished between 1905 and 1907. The architect in charge of this refurbishment was Alfred Paluzie.
The Escubós House is another of the buildings we recommend you if you want to visit Olot. This is a large building that was renovated by the architect Alfred Paluzie!
From the whole Escubós House we can highlight different elements. The first one is the impressive wrought iron railings on all the balconies. These railings are richly decorated with flowers.
Another element worth mentioning is the rich decoration, in the form of a dust-covering that all the openings on the upper floors have. All of them are decorated with plant motifs.
Finally, we can also highlight the large medallion on the main façade. On this medallion we can see the dates 1616 and 1907, the former indicating the year in which the building was built and the latter the year in which it was restored!
Hospital of Sant Jaume
Another building we recommend you to discover, if you want to visit Olot, is the old Hospital of Sant Jaume, a Renaissance building located in Sant Rafael Street, 21, in the town centre of Olot. This building is located opposite Gassiot House.
The Hospital of Sant Jaume, built in 1567 by Llàtzer Cisterna, was built to replace an old hospital. This hospital consisted of an old chapel and a large central courtyard with semicircular arcades.
The Hospital de Sant Jaume is an essential stop if you want to visit Olot. Although it is no longer in operation, the preserved Renaissance entrance will leave you speechless!
Nowadays, it no longer serves as a hospital, but the original Renaissance doorway is still preserved. This is a semicircular doorway framed by two large columns. Above the door is a niche crowned with a triangular pediment. Inside the niche is the image of Saint James.
Gassiot House
The Gassiot House is another of the buildings that we recommend you to discover if you want to visit Olot. This is a spectacular building located opposite the old Hospital of Sant Jaume, in the centre of Olot.
The Gassiot House was built in 1911 under the orders of the architect Alfred Paluzie. The whole building consists of a ground floor and three upper floors.
If you want to discover Olot, don’t miss the Gassiot House, another of the modernist buildings preserved in this town, which is sure not to leave you indifferent!
There are many outstanding features of the Gassiot House. One of these elements is the sculpture and the ogee-arched windows on the main façade. We can also highlight the spectacular tribune on the side façade, as well as the wrought iron work throughout the building. In addition, this building also has a decorative frieze located between the ground floor and the first floor.
Prat House
Located next to the chapel of Sant Ferriol, in the centre of Olot, is the Prat House, another of the modernist buildings that remain in Olot. This is another of the buildings that you cannot miss if you want to visit Olot!
The Prat House was built in 1906 under the direction of the architect Alfred Paluzie. The whole building is made up of a ground floor and a first floor.
The Prat House is another of the buildings you must discover on your trip to Olot. Don’t miss it!
There are many elements that stand out in the Prat house. One of these elements is the spectacular wrought-iron railing on the first-floor balcony. This is a pumped railing with a rich floral decoration.
Another element, which we would also like to highlight, is the rich decoration of all the openings. This is a decoration made with reliefs of vegetal elements.
Church of Mare de Déu del Tura
The Church of Mare de Déu del Tura is another place not to be missed if you want to visit Olot. This church is located in Valls Nous Street, in the centre of Olot.
Although this church is already mentioned in documents dating back to 872, the present building was constructed between the 17th and 18th centuries under the direction of Francesc Mas. The façade was completed by J. Danés in 1928, and the interior, rebuilt between 1790 and 1814, is the work of Joan Carles Panyó.
The church of Mare de Déu del Tura is an essential visit on your trip to Olot. Don’t miss it!
This is a large building with a spectacular entrance door. This doorway, flanked by two pilasters, is crowned by two niches and a large rose window. Inside the church there are also some very valuable works of art. Of particular note are a Romanesque carving and a Baroque sculpture.
Church of Sant Esteve
Another essential building if you want to visit Olot is the church of Sant Esteve, located in the centre of Olot.
This is a church that is documented as far back as 846, although the current building was constructed in 1763. What’s more, this church also has Modernist elements!
The church of Sant Esteve is another of the buildings that we recommend you visit to discover Olot. You will see that this is a spectacular building!
This church has three large entrances. The main one has a marked neoclassical style, where the entrance door is flanked by different pilasters. In addition, this main door has three large niches and a large rose window. On one side, there is the door of the dead, a modernist door with a large decoration.
The interior of the church of Sant Esteve also houses a large number of highly valuable works of art. Of particular note are various Baroque altarpieces.
Gaietà Vila House
Another essential building if you want to visit Olot is the Gaietà Vila House, one of the most spectacular buildings in Olot. This is a building located in the Rector Ferrer Square, in the centre of Olot.
Built in 1905, under the orders of the architect Alfred Paluzie, the Gaietà Vila House is one of the most singular modernist buildings in Olot. The entire building consists of a ground floor and three upper floors.
The Gaietà Vila House is yet another example of the excellence of modernist architecture in Olot. Discover this building on your getaway to Olot!
There are many elements to highlight in the Gaietà Vila House. Among these elements we would like to highlight the two existing tribunes, as well as all the wrought iron elements that have an excellent decoration with floral elements. We can also highlight the shape of the openings, as well as the decoration made with glazed tiles.
The truth is that the Gaietà Vila House is one of those buildings that every time you look at it you can discover new things. This is, without a doubt, a building that you must discover!
Principal Theatre
In Olot there are not only modernist buildings, but you can also discover spectacular eclectic buildings. One example is the Principal Theatre, a building that we also recommend you to discover if you want to visit Olot.
Although the origins of the Principal Theatre date back to the 17th century, the current building was enlarged in 1842 and rebuilt in 1874 after it was burnt down during the third Carlist War. The current façade, therefore, was rebuilt in 1902 under the orders of the architect Simó Cordomí.
The Principal Theatre of Olot is another of the buildings we recommend you visit if you want to discover Olot, and you will see that this is another of the most spectacular buildings in Olot!
Of all the Principal Theatre we can highlight the three large doorways and the baluster railings. In addition, we can also highlight its sgraffito decoration, as well as the medallions that decorate the entrance doors and the windows on the first floor.
Solà-Morales House
Another essential building if you want to visit Olot is the Solà-Morales House, a building located in Passeig del Firal, 38.
The Solà-Morales House was built in 1781, although it was renovated between 1912 and 1916. The architect in charge of the renovation was Lluís Domènech i Montaner, one of the most famous Catalan modernist architects.
You must discover the Solà-Morales House on your trip to Olot, and its spectacular nature will leave you speechless!
This is a spectacular building of which we can highlight four elements. The first is the tribune on the first floor, which has a spectacular plant decoration. The second element is the stucco decoration of the whole façade, a rococo baroque style decoration. The third element is the spectacular wrought ironwork. The fourth element is the two female sculptures on the ground floor, the work of the sculptor Eusebi Arnau.
Apart from all these elements, the interior of the Solà-Morales House still preserves a rich decoration from the 18th and 19th centuries. This decoration is the work of the artists Panyó Ramon and Rafael Diví.
Sant Ferriol Street, 23
Another building that we recommend you discover if you want to visit Olot is the building located in Sant Ferriol Street, 23, in the town centre of Olot.
This is a large building consisting of a ground floor and two upper floors. The architect and the year of construction are unknown.
The building in Sant Ferriol Street, 23 is another building that you must visit if you want to discover Olot!
This is a building where all the openings have a spectacular decoration, in different colours, on their lintels. This decoration can also be seen on the upper part of the building. In addition, the four seasons of the year are represented on the main façade with female forms!
Sant Rafael Street, 10
Finally, another of the buildings that we recommend you discover if you want to visit Olot is the building located in Sant Rafael Street, 10, in the town centre of Olot.
This is a very simple eclectic building, consisting of a ground floor and three upper floors. We do not know who the architect in charge of designing this building was, or the year of its construction.
Another building you must discover on your trip to Olot is the building located in Sant Rafael Street, 10!
Although it is very simple, this building hides a very curious element. Underneath the cornice of the building there are different carline plants painted. These plants have been used throughout history to prevent witches and warlocks from entering buildings. The fact that they are painted makes us think that it was a way of protecting the whole building from witchcraft attacks!
In short, a trip to Olot is a great opportunity to discover the wealth of history and heritage still preserved in this municipality. From its impressive churches to its modernist details, Olot offers a unique experience for visitors. If you want to visit Olot, make the most of your getaway to discover this Catalan jewel and take away unforgettable memories.
How to get to Olot
Olot is a municipality located in the region of La Garrotxa. To get to Olot you can use the N-260, A-26 and C-152 roads, among others.
You can also reach this municipality by public transport. In this case, we recommend that you check the public transport timetables before setting off on your journey!