Catalonia's hidden gem: Explore the allure of Castellfollit
Poles are very eager to visit Spain, but only a few venture to the charming Castellfollit de la Roca in Catalonia. This town is distinguished by its extraordinary location and is well worth exploring.
The town of Castellfollit de la Roca is located in the province of Girona, just 60 kilometres from the Barcelona-Girona Airport. Perched on basalt rock massifs, it is found between two rivers: Fluvià and Toronell.
Castellfollit de la Roca - A unique town in Spain
It spans just over 1 square kilometre, making it one of the smallest towns in Catalonia. The basalt massif on which it lies rises 50 metres and stretches about 1 kilometre in length. This is the result of the overlap of two lava streams formed during volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago.
The houses here appear as if they are hanging over a precipice, offering an amazing view. The riverbanks attract tourists at any time of day or year, as well as numerous artists, both those with a canvas and those with a tripod.
From a bird's-eye view, the sight of the town is spectacular. You can observe how narrow the top of the basalt rock is, and the town itself seems to resemble a snake climbing a cliff edge.
This town is a network of winding, narrow streets occasionally interspersed with small squares, exemplifying classic Catalonian architecture. Many houses here, as in other towns in the region, are built from volcanic rocks.
Nearby is another natural attraction: The Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Park. Here we find 40 well-preserved volcanoes that were active from 700,000 to 8,000 years ago.
It is worth visiting the viewpoint - Mirador, from which you can admire breathtaking views of the volcanic rock formations of La Garrotxa.
