Les Preses – Volcanic Landscapes, Views and History
Accommodation in Les Preses
You can plan a visit to Les Preses around a range of natural and cultural themes: sweeping views, a volcanic landscape, nature trails and historic landmarks. As you prepare your stay, it helps to distinguish between these highlights: a viewpoint offers a different experience from a botanical trail or a historic building. The details below give you concrete points of reference for elevation, trail length, geological origins and history.
Views and Volcanic Landscapes
The Mirador de Puig RodĂł is at an elevation of 905 metres and offers views across the entire Zona VolcĂ nica de la Garrotxa. Its elevation and panorama make this viewpoint a different kind of landscape experience from trails that focus on individual plant species or the ancient forest.
Parc de Pedra Tosca, in Bosc de Tosca, lies on a lava flow erupted by the Puig JordĂ volcano about 17,000 years ago. A much more recent point in time concerns Bosc de Tosca: it was included in the Zona VolcĂ nica de la Garrotxa Natural Park in 1982 and thereby protected. Its geological origins and protection history provide two distinct time references for the landscape.
Nature Trails and Orientation
Àrea Recreativa de Xenacs has an information hut, a picnic area, barbecue facilities and signposted trails. This means you’ll find both orientation resources and facilities for a break there. Individual facilities may change, so if they matter to your plans, it’s a good idea to check the current situation before your visit.
Xenacs also has a 500-metre botanical trail with more than 70 signs about plant species found in the area. Its focus is on learning about plants. The therapeutic forest of Can Serra covers 9.10 hectares, and its circular trail is 1,200 metres long. You can compare the two trails by length and theme: plant species on the Xenacs trail, and a circular walk through the forest at Can Serra.
The Bosc terapèutic singular de can Serra, also called Bosc de “Salvador Grau”, offers a different kind of experience. A therapeutic forest trail runs through the ancient woodland and is intended to foster a personal connection with nature through walking. Its aim is therefore different from that of the botanical trail, whose signs cover plant species found in the area.
Historic Routes and Buildings
The Via Verda Ruta del Carrilet follows the route of the former narrow-gauge railway between Olot and Girona. The path is intended exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists. Its historic route and the users it is intended for set it apart from the themed trails in Xenacs and Can Serra: here, the focus is on the former railway line and how people travel along it.
The Torre de MurriĂ also tells a story of changing use. It was an ancient Roman watchtower and was converted into an optical telegraph tower during the Carlist Wars. The first references to the church of Sant Pere in Les Preses date back to 922. These historic points of reference have different focuses: the conversion of a tower on the one hand, and early references to a church on the other.
Whether you’re more interested in volcanic landscapes, plants, forest trails or history, the details about views, trail lengths and the past can help you choose which themes to focus on during your stay in Les Preses.
Discover more destinations: Crespià , Fontcoberta, Ullà , Espinavessa, Llagostera, Cruïlles, Puigcerdá, Cruïlles, Monells i Sant Sadurnà de l'Heura
For the broader travel overview: Girona.
