The Vía Verde del Carrilet I to taste the volcanic cuisine of Garrotxa

In the southeast of the country, in Catalonia, the Vía Verde del Carrilet I follows the route of the old narrow-gauge railway (called carrilet in Catalan) that was in operation until the 1960s. The fifty-five-kilometre route crosses a surprising territory. The start is in Olot, a town surrounded by the Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa, which protects a lush landscape sculpted by 700,000 years of geological activity. Riding a bicycle, one pedals through an area of ancient extinct volcanoes, crosses craters, volcanic cones, basalt flows and fields that emerge among oak and beech forests. What also makes this Vía Verde special is the gastronomy: the typical volcanic cuisine of the Garrotxa emphasises local products such as Santa Pau beans, Olot potatoes, artisanal cured meats and mountain cheeses. The route then descends to the plains and touches valleys crossed by the Fluvià, Brugent and Ter rivers, the pastures of Salt, and ends in Girona. Once you have arrived at your destination, you must dedicate a few days to visiting the capital of the Costa Brava, in its tangle of cobbled alleys and medieval walls enclosing art and architectural treasures.