Olot

Olot
—  Municipality  —
The Plaça Major of Olot
Coat of arms
Olot Location in Catalonia
Coordinates: 42°11′N 2°29′E / 42.183°N 2.483°E / 42.183; 2.483Coordinates: 42°11′N 2°29′E / 42.183°N 2.483°E / 42.183; 2.483
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Girona
Comarca	Garrotxa
Government
- Mayor	Josep Maria Corominas (CiU)
Area
- Total	29.13 km2 (11.2 sq mi)
Elevation	443 m (1,453 ft)
Population (2009)
- Total	33,524
- Density	1,150.8/km2 (2,980.7/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).

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.

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.

Olot Art School building, at the Carme Convent

Famous people from Olot

The composer Antonio Soler was born in Olot in 1729.

Twin towns

• Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville, France
• Thuir, France

References

• Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). Guia de Catalunya, Barcelona: Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).

1. ^ ^{a b} PIFERRER, Francisco Nobiliario de los reinos y señoríos de España

External links

• Olot Art School's website