Catalonia's best-kept secret: A journey to the soul of La Garrotxa, Besalú, Castellfollit and Rupit

There are names that, before you get to know them, already whisper in your ear that they hide something magical. That is what happened to me with La Garrotxa. The mere echo of the word awakened a deep intrigue in me, a hunch that turned into absolute amazement when I discovered its geology. It is not just a landscape; it is a living land, guarded by some 40 dormant volcanoes that time has covered with a green mantle. The heart of this place beats strongly in the Fageda d'en Jordà, a beech forest unique in the world that grows on a soil of lava, where the light filters through the leaves, creating an atmosphere that seems straight out of a fairy tale.

Travelling through this region means entering valleys where time stood still. Planning this getaway from Barcelona requires at least 10 hours of your day. It is a journey that is cooked slowly, over a low flame, with a car ride of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes that takes you away from the bustle of the city and delivers you to the calm of three villages that are not visited, but felt: Castellfollit de la Roca, Besalú and the neighbouring jewel of Rupit.

1. Castellfollit de la Roca: The village that defies the abyss

Arriving in Castellfollit de la Roca takes your breath away. No words can prepare nature lovers to see this small village suspended, almost miraculously, on a basalt cliff more than 50 metres high.

It is the result of an eternal embrace between water and fire: the Fluvià and Toronell rivers sculpting the remains of ancient lava flows. Seeing the stone houses lined up on the very edge of the precipice makes you understand human fragility and the majesty of the earth. A landscape suspended in the air that will squeeze your heart.

2. Besalú: The medieval heartbeat that won over the cinema

Crossing the majestic medieval bridge of Besalú is, literally, breaking the barrier of time. The sound of the Fluvià river beneath your feet and the fortified silhouette that welcomes you transport you to an age of knights and legends. It is no coincidence that this corner has been the setting chosen to bring great period productions to life; walking through its cobbled lanes is breathing history at every turn. The image of the bridge reflected in the calm waters of the river is, without a doubt, one of the most moving and magical postcards in all of Catalonia.

3. Rupit i Pruit: The refuge of stone and the mysticism of the cliff

Although geography tells us that Rupit belongs to the neighbouring comarca of Osona (wrapped in the landscapes of the Collsacabra), its soul is tied to this route by sheer proximity. If La Garrotxa is fire and lava, Rupit is the beauty of limestone and imposing cliffs. As you cross its iconic wooden suspension bridge, you enter a rustic realm of the 16th and 17th centuries where every façade, every flower-filled balcony and every street carved directly into the bare rock invites you to walk in silence. It is a corner that evokes peace, nostalgia and a deep connection with the roots of the land.