The best vantage point to see the lava cliffs at Castellfollit de la Roca

The first time I saw a photo of Castellfollit de la Roca I thought: "I have to see that volcanic cliff with my own eyes".

It took a while, but in the end I found the perfect place.

Want to know where we took the pictures you see in this article from? Then read on 😉 😉.

In search of the views of the basaltic cliff of Castellfollit de la Roca

Castellfollit de la Roca is one of the villages with a medieval historical center within the natural park of the volcanic area of the Garrotxa.

What makes Castellfollit special is that its oldest end is suspended over a cliff of basaltic rock formed after the superposition of two lava flows and that has been exposed thanks to the erosion of the river that passes next to it.

The result? Just take a look at the pictures on this page.

A bridge overlooking Castellfollit

The first time I passed by Castellfollit de la Roca in 2018 I did not find the ideal place to calmly observe its volcanic wall.

But for the second visit I did some research and found this beautiful wooden bridge:

I have marked its location on the map at the end of this entry, as well as several areas where you can leave your vehicle:

1. Close to the bridge, but with very few parking spaces and no signage.
2. Or far away, if you have a few minutes to take the circular scenic route that I describe below.

Circular route to Castellfollit

Notice:

In the parking lot next to the hostel Mont-Rock there is a sign that prohibits parking to anyone who is not going to consume in the hostel-restaurant. There are other parking areas if you do not want to risk being told something, I have marked them on the map.

Details

The route starts from the parking lot, goes down to the bridge from where you can see these views and then goes up to the old part of town by stairs.

From there, and after enjoying the medieval area and the views of the village, you can continue to the parking lot where you left your vehicle.

Here is a detailed example of the route on Wikiloc (not mine because I didn't have time to do it completely):

What to bring

• Food: the trip is very short, so it is not necessary to bring anything to eat. However, it never hurts to carry some nuts in your pocket, don't you think?
• Water: I recommend carrying at least 0.5 to 1 liter of water per person, especially in summer (June, July, August or September).
• Sun protection: there is not much shade along the route, so it is best to wear sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen, especially in summer.
• Clothing: light or warm clothes according to the season and comfortable shoes.
• Travel insurance: if you do not have Spanish nationality, book your IATI travel insurance through this link and get a 5% discount. They offer customizable coverage according to your needs and will pay all medical expenses in advance if you let them know in advance. I no longer travel without them (outside Spain, of course).

When to go

The best time to visit the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park and its villages is spring (April, May and June).

At this time, in addition to enjoying green fields and flowering plants, the river will carry more water.

In autumn it is usually very crowded due to the autumn colors that nature takes (also beautiful), and in the middle of summer temperatures limit the hours of hiking to the early mornings.

However, thanks to the fact that it is a short route (so much so that you can approach the bridge alone to enjoy the view), there is no problem in visiting Castellfollit during the summer.

Winter is also a good time: few hikers and no sweltering heat. Of course, you will depend more on the weather.

Where to stay

You will find a wide range of accommodation in Olot and some with charm in the surrounding villages, even in Castellfollit de la Roca itself, although for me it was a passing place between other destinations:

My experience

Santa Pau

In 2018 we stayed on the outskirts of Santa Pau, in a villa with a lovely private garden that we found on Airbnb.

We loved it! But it is no longer available for rental, so I can't leave you its direct link.

Bianca Valley

In 2019 we are staying at Masía del Puig.

To get there, I recommend that you take the road that goes towards Castellar de la Muntaya from San Juan les Fonts.

Warning: if Google Maps wants to take you on a different road, resist. That other road is only suitable for 4×4 cars.

Even following these indications, there comes a moment when the asphalt disappears and becomes a gravel and sand track on which you must drive slowly so as not to destroy the tires.

Is it worth such difficult access?

Absolutely, yes 😉.

And if you don't believe it, judge it with your own eyes:

Why did I like Masía del Puig so much?

• It is immersed in Vall de Bianca with breathtaking views of the sunrise.
• They serve a delicious breakfast and dinner with local products, some from their own organic garden.
• Its location and appearance are cared for to the millimeter so that you can relax and forget all your problems just by looking at it.

The only downside is that it has a high price (impossible that it would be otherwise, this place is pure luxury for the senses).

The night with breakfast on the weekend cost 154€ and the 2-course dinner + dessert and drink 32.5€/person. This made a total of 219€ (109.5€/person).

Will you be back? As soon as I can 😉

South Garrotxa

The B&B La Rectoria de Sant Miquel de Pineda is hidden in a grove of trees in the south of the Garrotxa.

This rural hotel treasure goes completely unnoticed when you drive along the road linking San Esteban d'en Bas with San Felíu de Pallarols. What's more, you're likely to skip the entrance if you don't pay attention.

Why did I like it so much?

• They offer delicious dinners, lunches and breakfasts with local seasonal products. Raw milk cheeses, tomatoes with tomato flavor, homemade sausages... even homemade ice cream!
• They use ecological shower gel and shampoo so nice that I felt like taking several showers in a row (which I didn't do to support the energy saving nature of the accommodation).
• It is small, charming and quiet at night. It joins this to a bed where it gave glory to sleep and it only lacks a lit fireplace to reach perfection... Wait, wait a minute, it also had that 😉.
• The couple that runs it is charming. They reminded me a lot of the owners of a farmhouse where we used to escape every 2×3 years ago... That kind of people that make you feel at home.

We didn't have time to do the bike route on the greenway that passes by their front door or try the outdoor pool they have in the garden (despite the nice weather in March 2019).

So we already have a couple of excuses to come back 😉.

One night with half board (breakfast and dinner included) cost us 158€. And seeing how good the food was, next time I'll book full board.

Useful Links

• La Masía del Puig.
• B&B La Rectoria de Sant Miquel de Pineda.
• Accommodations in Olot.
• Offers to sleep in Castellfollit.
• Flights to Girona and Barcelona: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo and Vueling.
• Get 5% off when you purchase travel insurance with IATI.

If you are visiting Catalonia, here are some other routes that might interest you:

• Route to the interior of the Santa Margarida volcano in the Garrotxa.
• Shaded route through the Fageda d'en Jordà.
• Circular route Rupit - Salt del Salent.
• Follow in the footsteps of the smugglers: Beget - Rocabruna.
• Montserrat route: funicular-Santa Magdalena-San Miquel-monastery.
• Circular route through Montserrat: from the monastery to the top of Sant Jeroni.
• Break your schemes in the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueras.

Map

Soon I will publish more posts about hiking routes and visits to the villages of the Garrotxa. If you want to be the first to know about them, sign up for the newsletter.

Do you know any other scenic spot in Castellfollit de la Roca? Tell me about it in the comments, I'm all "eyes" 😉.