Olot
Encyclopedia
Olot is the capital of the comarca of the Garrotxa
, in the province of Girona
, Catalonia
, Spain
.
), because the city has been documented with the names Aulot and Alot. For this reason, the coat of Olot has a wing in reference to the name of the city.
, the capital of the province of the same name. It is bordered by Sant Joan les Fonts
(north east), Santa Pau
(south east), Les Preses
(south west), Riudaura
(west) and La Vall de Bianya
(north west).
river and the Riudaura stream. There are four volcano
es in the city of Olot: the Montolivet, the Montsacopa, the Garrinada and the Bisaroques.
The Fluvià discharge
s 1.07 m3/s into the Mediterranean Sea.
The area of Garrotxa
is generally more humid than neighbouring regions. The annual rainfall is around 1000 mm. Popularly, it is said that "if it isn't raining in Olot, it isn't raining anywhere" (Si no plou a Olot, no plou enlloc in Catalan). The minimum in Olot in January is around 0°C, and the maximum in August is around 28°C.
With regard to painting and sculpture, the importance of the "Olot School" should not be left out. This artistic movement is well represented in the Museu Comarcal de la Garrotxa
(the regional museum). Painting, sculpture and ceramics being the key elements in the art of Olot, not to mention the tradition of the Nativity Scenes or "pessebres" and the world famous sculptures of saints.
Nowadays the Olot Art School exists as a design and arts schools with the name of Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny d'Olot
and occupies the "Claustres del Carme" mentioned above.
Garrotxa
Garrotxa is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. Its population in 2001 was 47,747, more than half of them in the capital city of Olot. It is roughly equivalent to the historical comarca of Besalú.-Geography:...
, in the province of Girona
Girona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Etymology
The etymology of Olot is not clear and there are several hypotheses. According to the Crònica Universal de Catalunya, Olot was founded by Ulo, former king of the dynasty of Atlanteans, (then called Siculus), with the name of Ulot. Another theory, more spread, is that the name comes from ala (wing in CatalanCatalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
), because the city has been documented with the names Aulot and Alot. For this reason, the coat of Olot has a wing in reference to the name of the city.
Situation
The municipality 29,12 km2 and includes the city of Olot and the town of Batet de la Serra (annexed in 1971). The term is located at 443.4 meters above sea level and is approximately 50 km from GironaGirona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
, the capital of the province of the same name. It is bordered by Sant Joan les Fonts
Sant Joan les Fonts
Sant Joan les Fonts is a municipality of the comarca of Garrotxa, located in Catalonia. As of 2006, the population is 2,708. Until 1949 it was known as Begudà.It is part of the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park.- The municipality :...
(north east), Santa Pau
Santa Pau
Santa Pau is a village and municipality in the province of Girona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.-References:...
(south east), Les Preses
Les Preses
Les Preses is a village and municipality in the province of Girona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
(south west), Riudaura
Riudaura
Riudaura, sometimes also spelled Riudaure, is a municipality in the comarca of Garrotxa in Catalonia, Spain.The local river, riera de Riudaura, caused a flood further downstream in Olot town in 1940.-Villages:*Bac d'en Déu, 26...
(west) and La Vall de Bianya
La Vall de Bianya
La Vall de Bianya is a municipality in the comarca of Garrotxa, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. This municipality consists of the villages of the Bianya valley and the Bac valley...
(north west).
Geography and climate
Olot is located on a plain surrounded by the mountain ranges of Valentí, Aiguanegra, the plateau of Batet, Marboleny and Sant Valentí de la Pinya. The plain is crossed by the FluviàFluvià
The Fluvià is a river in Catalonia. It rises in the Serralada Transversal, passes through Olot, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Sant Pere Pescador.- See also :* List of rivers of Spain...
river and the Riudaura stream. There are four volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
es in the city of Olot: the Montolivet, the Montsacopa, the Garrinada and the Bisaroques.
The Fluvià discharge
Discharge (hydrology)
In hydrology, discharge is the volume rate of water flow, including any suspended solids , dissolved chemical species and/or biologic material , which is transported through a given cross-sectional area...
s 1.07 m3/s into the Mediterranean Sea.
The area of Garrotxa
Garrotxa
Garrotxa is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. Its population in 2001 was 47,747, more than half of them in the capital city of Olot. It is roughly equivalent to the historical comarca of Besalú.-Geography:...
is generally more humid than neighbouring regions. The annual rainfall is around 1000 mm. Popularly, it is said that "if it isn't raining in Olot, it isn't raining anywhere" (Si no plou a Olot, no plou enlloc in Catalan). The minimum in Olot in January is around 0°C, and the maximum in August is around 28°C.
Arts and culture
The city of Olot has a rich cultural heritage. There are several fine examples of Modernist architecture and the "Claustres del Carme", the Carmelite Cloisters, which date back to the Renaissance.With regard to painting and sculpture, the importance of the "Olot School" should not be left out. This artistic movement is well represented in the Museu Comarcal de la Garrotxa
Museu Comarcal de la Garrotxa
The Museu Comarcal de la Garrotxa is a museum in Olot, Catalonia, Spain. It is associated with the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona; the other institutions in this association are the Biblioteca Museu Víctor Balaguer and the Cau Ferrat...
(the regional museum). Painting, sculpture and ceramics being the key elements in the art of Olot, not to mention the tradition of the Nativity Scenes or "pessebres" and the world famous sculptures of saints.
Nowadays the Olot Art School exists as a design and arts schools with the name of Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny d'Olot
Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny d'Olot
Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny d'Olot is the main Design and Arts & Crafts school of the region of Girona . Since its foundation, it has maintained an active participation in the social, educational, economic and cultural life...
and occupies the "Claustres del Carme" mentioned above.