Beyond Barcelona: The cliffside charm of Castellfollit de la Roca
Tourists from around the world are very eager to visit Spain, but only a few make it to 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 37 miles from the Barcelona-Girona airport. Situated on basalt rock massifs, it sits between two rivers - Fluvià and Toronell.
Castellfollit de la Roca - A unique town in Spain
It covers just over 0.4 square miles, making it one of the smallest towns in Catalonia. The basalt massif on which it lies rises 164 feet and stretches about 0.6 miles in length. This is the result of the overlap of two lava streams formed during volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago.
The houses here look 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 with canvases and tripods.
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 appears to resemble a snake climbing a cliff's edge.
This town is a network of winding, narrow streets interspersed with small squares, showcasing 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. Here, you'll 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.
