Església de la Canya

Església de la Canya is a modern parish church in La Canya, a small settlement shared by three municipalities — Sant Joan les Fonts, La Vall de Bianya, and Olot — in Girona province. Its formal dedication is to Sant Josep Obrer (Saint Joseph the Worker), though locally it is simply known as the Church of La Canya.

How do you get there?

La Canya sits a few kilometers from central Olot, along the road connecting Olot with Sant Joan les Fonts, in the volcanic Garrotxa region. It makes an easy stop for anyone exploring Garrotxa's landscapes, whether traveling between Olot and the old monastery town of Sant Joan les Fonts by car or local transport. The church stands right in the middle of the settlement, and its distinctive tower rising above the rooftops makes it easy to spot from a distance.

What will you see?

The church was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s to a design by architect Josep Maria Pla i Torras. The parish itself was established in 1968 by bishop Narcís Jubany, and the building was formally dedicated in 1971. It stands out as one of the more unusual examples of post-war religious architecture in the region, deliberately breaking away from the traditional angular shapes typical of church design.

The most striking feature is the bell tower: built on a steel frame and assembled from sixteen prefabricated concrete rings arranged in a spiral, topped with a cross. The walls of the church were built using brick laid in a sawtooth pattern in places, creating recesses and projections that give the facade a sense of movement rather than flat rigidity. Right angles were largely avoided in the design — an unusual choice for a church of this period and region — and the exterior was finished with ceramic tiles.

One curious detail is that the architect, in designing the long flight of steps leading up to the entrance, did not anticipate how difficult this would make access for elderly parishioners, or how coffins would have to be left outside during funerals for years, unable to be carried up the stairs. The issue was only addressed relatively recently, when an elevator or lift was approved to improve access to the church.

When is the best time to visit?

Daytime visits work best, since natural light brings out the sculptural quality of the spiral tower and the textured brick facade. As this is an active parish, it's worth checking local Mass times if you want to see the interior, since access outside services may be limited. The surrounding Garrotxa region is especially rewarding in spring and autumn, when the volcanic hills and beech forests nearby are at their most colorful — a good complement to a visit to this unusual church.

Frequently asked questions

Is Església de la Canya a historic landmark? Not in the traditional sense — it's a 20th-century building — but it is valued for its original architectural solutions, which are unusual among churches in the region, making it a notable example of local modernist religious architecture.

Who designed the church? The design is credited to architect Josep Maria Pla i Torras, although the construction itself was carried out by a different contractor.

Where exactly is La Canya located? It's a settlement shared administratively by three municipalities — Sant Joan les Fonts, La Vall de Bianya, and Olot — within Girona province's volcanic Garrotxa region.

What is the most distinctive architectural feature of the building? The spiral bell tower made of sixteen prefabricated concrete rings, along with walls that avoid right angles and are finished in a sawtooth brick pattern.