A hidden gem: Discover the beauty of Castellfollit de la Roca
Tourists are very eager to visit Spain, but only a few manage to reach the charming Castellfollit de la Roca in Catalonia. This town is distinguished by its extraordinary location and is worth getting to know better.
The town of Castellfollit de la Roca is located in the province of Girona, just 60 kilometres from the Barcelona-Girona airport. Situated on basalt rock massifs, it is located between two rivers - the Fluvià and the Toronell.
Castellfollit de la Roca - A unique town in Spain
It covers 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 that formed during volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago.
The houses here look as if they are hanging over a precipice, and the view is breathtaking. The riverbanks attract not only tourists at any time of day or year but also numerous artists, both those with a canvas and those with a camera.
From a bird's-eye view, the sight of the town is spectacular. You can see 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 interspersed occasionally with small squares, which is an example of classic Catalonian architecture. The houses here, as in many other towns in the region, are built from volcanic rocks.
Nearby is another natural attraction: The Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Park. There 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.
