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All Spain Castellfollit de la Roca Castellfollit de la Roca

Castellfollit de la Roca

Village situated on a narrow volcanic escarpment.

Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain

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ser flac
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A storm rolls in behind Castellfollit de la Roca  
Looking down the main street of town (Flickr/ferran)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/ferran/228525...
Illuminated cliffs of Castellfollit de la Roca  
Textured cliffs support the town (Flickr/nafdra cendrers)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcerdans/1387...
Precariously close to the edge of the cliffs (Flickr/king nikochan)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordimarsol/2...
Basalt formation stands out against the rolling hills of the landscape (Flickr/joe calhoun)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcalhoun/1745...
Castellfollit seen from the valley below (Flickr/Drakhart)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/drakhart/4153...
Visitors amble down the main street (Flickr/magenri)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/de_la_magda_p...
Houses pushed up to the cliffs create a narrow alley through town  
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Castellfollit de la Roca looks like a town that was once a normal shape, then by some incredible force stretched out over a kilometer-long basalt formation. Houses are pushed precariously close to the edge of a 160-foot drop off, and wind along the cliff looking over the countryside and rivers that flank the town below.

Inhabited for over 1000 years, the town’s narrow streets still carry the characteristics of its medieval origin, and the city center features ramparts that fortified the town during the civil war. Many houses and streets in the city center are also built of the dark, volcanic rock that serves as a pedestal for the town. The main street of Castellfollit winds through the entire town narrowly pressed between houses on both sides, straining to remain on the cliff face.

From its peak on the layered, volcanic formation, the town offers stunning views. To both sides, the rivers Fluvià and Toronell amble by the rock face of the town through the volcanic zone of Garrotxa. To add to the drama of the landscape, the cliffs are illuminated from sunset until midnight for six months out of the year.

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8 km by car, taxi or bus from Olot. Buses also run from Girona and Barcelona

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Added By

serflac

Edited By

atimian

  • atimian

Published

September 23, 2011

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Sources
  • http://iberianature.com/spaintravel/castellfollit-de-la-roca/
  • http://www.kuriositas.com/2010/04/castellfollit-de-la-roca-cliff-top-town.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castellfollit_de_la_Roca
Castellfollit de la Roca
Castellfollit de la Roca
Castellfollit de la Roca, 17856
Spain
42.218704, 2.549515
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