Santa Pau combines a medieval townscape with a volcanic landscape. When planning your trip, it helps to consider two sides of the town: its architectural history and art, and the nature and activities in the municipality and along the park route.

Medieval Architecture and Art

The historic and artistic ensemble of Santa Pau is classified as a BCIN (Bien Cultural de Interés Nacional) and listed in Catalonia’s Register of Cultural Assets of National Interest. The medieval ensemble took shape around the castle in the first quarter of the 14th century. Another glimpse into the town’s history is the Firal dels Bous, a medieval arcaded square whose construction began in the 14th century. It grew out of a livestock market and preserves elements of early Gothic and Flamboyant Gothic architecture, as well as Renaissance windows. Artworks are also part of the townscape: in 1992, artists from Catalonia and Italy met in Santa Pau; the works created as a result are displayed throughout the town. La Pedra del Diable offers a different point of interest: this megalithic monument consists of a barely worked basalt block. Because it stands upright, it is known as a menhir. The Fira del Fesol takes place shortly after Sant Antoni and is one of the local traditions.

Volcanic Landscape and Special Places

Santa Pau is part of the Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park. There are 13 volcanoes within the municipality, and the landscape includes forests of holm oaks, oaks and beeches. On clear days, the Portal del Mar offers views of the Bay of Roses. Watercourses also shape particular landscape features: the Salt de Can Batlle is part of the Riera de Sant Martí and lies a few metres before this stream flows into the River Ser. At the religious buildings, landscape and architectural history come together in different ways. The simple hermitage of Sant Vicenç del Sallent is a Romanesque building dating from the 12th century; the hermitage of Santa Margarida de la Cot lies in the middle of a volcanic crater.

Park Route and Self-Guided Activities

The main section of Park Route 3b starts at Aparcament del Pont in Santa Pau and continues to Can Xel. A variant runs along the southern slope of the Santa Margarida volcano. Mountain biking and horse riding are possible along the entire Park Route 3b. Check local conditions before setting out. Alongside taking in the landscape, there are different ways to make use of the route.

A self-guided activity by the Espai Museístic dels Volcans near Santa Pau follows a 6 km route with observation tasks at craters, lava flows and scoria pits. El Petit Quadern d’en Pau is a family puzzle game for children aged 6 to 12. It takes you through the medieval streets and uses puzzles to invite you to discover local history, volcanoes, cultural heritage and traditions. The game starts and ends at the Oficina de Turisme de Santa Pau, Av. dels volcans 14. A la recerca del fesol amagat also combines puzzles with a self-guided exploration: this geocaching activity takes you through notable places in Santa Pau and the surrounding volcanic landscape. It covers approximately 5 km and also starts and ends at the Oficina de Turisme at this address. Check the availability of the self-guided activities before planning.

Public Transport and Choosing Accommodation

RUMBUS public transport connects Santa Pau with Les Preses, passing through the centre of Olot, the Fageda d’en Jordà and the Santa Margarida area. As transport connections and service information can change, check the latest details before travelling. When looking for a hotel in Santa Pau, you can start with your interests: architectural history and art offer a different focus from the volcanic landscape, forests and park route. This can help you decide which aspects of the destination matter most when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Pontós, Susqueda, Ultramort, Mieres, Sant Andreu Salou, Riumors, Palau-Sator, Espinavessa

For the main travel overview: Girona.