Surroundings and activities
Walking in the Volcanic Area
The La Garrotxa region is famous for its volcanoes, which are a major point of attraction for visitors throughout the year, especially the dormant Croscat and Santa Margarida volcanoes.
Can Xel is in an ideal spot for a visit, either to this beautiful area or the volcanoes themselves.
La Fageda d'en Jordà
This forest nature reserve lies in the centre of the Volcanic Area of La Garrotxa, and stands on a solidified lava flow from the Croscat volcano.
The land is mainly flat and interspersed by ‘tossols’ which are small hills of up to 60 feet in height. To visit the beech forest of La Fageda, follow Route 3 in the natural park, which can also be taken on a horse-drawn cart.
The route begins at the Can Serra tourist area, 1km from the Can Xel restaurant and apartments.
Santa Pau on Segways
If you would like to discover the area in a totally different way, you can try out a Segway at Naturatours. This activities company offers routes that include the natural beauty of the volcanoes with the historical centre of the medieval town of Santa Pau; an ideal way of discovering this marvellous area.
Cooperative farm La Fageda
La Fageda is the most famous farm in the region and is open to visitors. Find out how yoghurts are made, from start to finish, while children can get close to cows and calves, an ideal activity for the whole family!
4x4 routes
The local company ‘Rutes 4×4 Santa Pau’ offers you the chance to discover the region with guided four-wheel drive trips. Various routes are available, through Santa Pau and the surrounding countryside and throughout the local area. Trips can also be combined with walks.
Waterfall
The ‘Salt de Can Batlle’ is a gorge between two waterfalls, making it an ideal spot for cooling off on hot days, while in winter the waterfall is a beautiful natural spectacle.
To get to the area, leave the village of Santa Pau and head towards Mieres. Look for a wooden sign to ‘Can Batlle’ on the left of the road, leave your car there, and the waterfall is a 20-minute walk down a path.
The Medieval Village of Santa Pau
This small town lies in the Natural Park of La Garrotxa, and has been declared a site of national interest. The church of Santa Maria stands over the town’s impressive main square with its ox yard. The town also features a castle and the remains of an ancient wall that once surrounded the town.
The Miramar viewpoint overlooks the valley and on clear days the Bay of Roses on the Mediterranean coast is visible. The town is 4km from Can Xel.
The Castell of Colltort
The castle stands high on the Serra del Corb, some 845 metres above sea level. To reach this ancient defensive fortification, leave Can Xel and take the path to La Cot and continue climbing until you reach the path to the ‘Castell de Colltort’.
The route is marked all the way to the top (Route 5) from where you’ll be rewarded with a marvellous view.
Sant Miquel de Sacot
Sant Miquel de Sacot is the local church of this neighbourhood in the municipality of Santa Pau.
This Romanesque style building stands in a beautiful area. The church was restored in the 18th century and features aspects of neoclassical design. Its interior is visible and its proximity to Can Xel makes it the centre of a daily visit for many of our guests.
