Olot

For other uses, see Olot (disambiguation).
Olot
Municipality

The Plaça Major of Olot

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): La ciutat dels volcans
(The city of the volcanoes)
Olot

Location in Catalonia

Coordinates: 42°11′N 2°29′E / 42.183°N 2.483°E
Country  Spain
Community  Catalonia
Province Girona
Comarca Garrotxa
Government
 • Mayor Josep Maria Corominas (CiU)
Area
 • Total 29.13 km2 (11.25 sq mi)
Elevation 443 m (1,453 ft)
Population (2009)
 • Total 33,524
 • Density 1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Website http://www.olot.cat/

Olot (Catalan pronunciation: [uˈɫɔt]) is the capital of the comarca of the Garrotxa, in the Province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.

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.[1] Another theory, more spread, is that the name comes from ala (wing in Catalan), 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.[1]

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 Girona, 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).

The municipality consist of the original city of Olot and old towns and neighbourhoods that now form a conurbation around the city (Sant Roc d'Olot, Sant Cristòfol de les Fonts, Sant Andreu del Coll, Closells) apart from different urbanisations (les Fonts, Mas Bernat, les Planoles, etc.) and the old municipality of Batet de la Serra, which was independent until 1971.

Panorama of Olot from Montsacopa volcano

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 Fluvià river and the Riudaura stream. There are four volcanoes in the city of Olot: the Montolivet, the Montsacopa, the Garrinada and the Bisaroques.

The Fluvià discharges 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.

Population

Historical population of Olot
Year171817871860190019301960198119911996200120042006200820092010
Population262791461026279381161517185248922671327482280603030631932329033352433589

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 (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.

Famous people from Olot

Twin towns

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Olot.
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 PIFERRER, Francisco Nobiliario de los reinos y señoríos de España


 Riudaura La Vall de Bianya Sant Joan les Fonts
La Vall d'en Bas
  Olot  
Les Preses Santa Pau