Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain Òrrius The Enchanted Forest of Òrrius
AO Edited

The Enchanted Forest of Òrrius

A Spanish forest is filled with mysterious stone carvings.

Òrrius, Spain

Added By
ser flac
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Ambiental Films/Screen shot
  phillthorpe / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful stone formations can be found everywhere in this forest   dontcallmyname / Atlas Obscura User
You can feel the good soul of this stone elephant   dontcallmyname / Atlas Obscura User
  Ambiental Films/Screen shot
  Ambiental Films/Screen shot
  Ambiental Films/Screen shot
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Tucked away in the quiet village of Orrius, is an enchanted forest— at least according to local legend.

Orrius is in the autonomous community of Catalonia, and located in Spain’s northeast, near Barcelona and along the Mediterranean coast. Its mysterious forest may be one of the region’s most magical, or at least mystifying places. Many say that the forest is haunted.

Entering the forest of Orrius is like stepping into a world of goblins, monsters, and covens. As you follow the forest trail, you’ll come upon figures carved in rock. Many resemble the famous heads of Easter Island, though there are also other shapes, such as a giant elephant. Local artists are said to have created the sculptures, and indeed, you can see signatures on a stone near the Elephant. The carvings and arrangement of figures implies some mystical or mythological factors at play—elements of space and boundary, earth and deity. Perhaps the figures are the entrance to another realm.

Some certainly seem to think so. The remains of animals have been found in the forest, suggesting possible sacrificial rituals. Some people believe the forest is home to gnomes or dwarves, who live in or below the different stone structures. There’s even a strange rock with a small door, where a few people can squeeze inside.

If you’re in Barcelona and want to make a short escape from the city to search for an alternate realm, the enchanted forest of Orrius awaits.

Related Tags

Giant Heads Forest Forests Magic Sculpture Gardens Sculptures Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

Orrius is a 50-minute drive from Barcelona, though there are also longer public bus options. Once you're there, your best bet is to ask a local to point you in the right direction.

Community Contributors

Added By

serflac

Edited By

Rachel, vturiserra, xoxua, phillthorpe...

  • Rachel
  • vturiserra
  • xoxua
  • phillthorpe
  • dontcallmyname

Published

May 6, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.facebook.com/historyhaunted/posts/1181202268572518
  • http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread751466/pg1
  • http://www.dondeviajamos.com/el-bosque-encantado-de-orrius-un-lugar-muy-misterioso/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%92rrius
The Enchanted Forest of Òrrius
Orrius
Vilanova de la Roca
Òrrius, 08317
Spain
41.554672, 2.353134
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Escultura Ondulaciones (Sculpture of Ripples)

Mataro, Spain

miles away

Torre del Moro - Tower of the Moor

Llinars del Vallès, Spain

miles away

Anís del Mono Factory

Badalona, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

Europe

Places 757
Stories 38

Nearby Places

Escultura Ondulaciones (Sculpture of Ripples)

Mataro, Spain

miles away

Torre del Moro - Tower of the Moor

Llinars del Vallès, Spain

miles away

Anís del Mono Factory

Badalona, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

Europe

Places 757
Stories 38

Related Stories and Lists

12 Secrets Hidden in the Woods

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Face sculptures at Yelang Valley

    Guiyang, China

    Yelang Valley

    It took an artist 20 years to create this sprawling sculpture garden honoring the area's ancient inhabitants.

  • Oranki Art.

    Pello, Finland

    Oranki Art

    A little-known sculpture park of contemporary environmental art in a Lapland forest.

  • Picture Frame by artist Jaakko Pernu

    Lincoln, Montana

    Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild

    A collection of huge, site-specific sculptures sitting in the Montana woods.

  • dragon

    Sept-Îles, Québec

    Iron Sculptures of Sept-Îles

    A collection of whimsical metal sculptures scattered along a forest path.

  • Head of Melpomene.

    Yorkshire, England

    'Relics in The Landscape'

    A unique sculpture park that features the works of several famed artists.

  • El Bolsón, Argentina

    El Bosque Tallado

    This mountainside open-air museum was built from the ashes left behind by a devastating fire.

  • Whitman knew how to enjoy a walk in the woods.

    Tomkins Cove, New York

    Bear Mountain Walt Whitman Statue

    The poet's been ambling through these New York woods since 1940.

  • “Cathedral.”

    Coleford, England

    Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail

    On this wooded path, a stained-glass window creates a spellbinding forest cathedral.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.