Museu dels Volcans

Museu dels Volcans is the former volcanology museum of Olot, a town sitting right inside the volcanic landscape of the Garrotxa region in Catalonia. For over three decades it occupied the Torre Castanys tower in the middle of the town's Parc Nou, explaining to visitors why the countryside around Olot is dotted with the cones of extinct volcanoes.

What was the Museu dels Volcans?

The museum opened in 1991 as the science wing of the Museu de la Garrotxa. Its exhibits focused on the region's volcanic and seismic activity: scale models, touch-screen displays and interactive modules walked visitors through how the local volcanoes formed and how they shaped the surrounding landscape and settlements. One standout feature was an earthquake simulator, the only one of its kind in Catalonia. The museum also covered Garrotxa's main plant and animal ecosystems, and the grounds around Torre Castanys included a botanical garden of native Olot vegetation alongside a dedicated medicinal plant garden.

What replaced the museum?

The Museu dels Volcans closed in 2022, and its role passed to a new facility, Espai Cràter, built literally inside the Puig del Roser volcano at Carrer Macarnau 55. That setup is unusual by any standard: visitors enter a partly underground structure and see the inside of a volcanic cone from within. Espai Cràter swaps traditional display cases for audiovisual exhibits, immersive experiences, augmented reality, gamified elements and video mapping — a more contemporary way of telling the same story of Garrotxa's volcanic past.

How do you get there and when should you visit?

Espai Cràter sits in Olot, an easily reachable town in Girona province, roughly an hour's drive from the Costa Brava coast and not much further from Girona or Barcelona. From October to May, opening hours run Monday to Friday 10:00–14:00 and 15:00–18:00, Saturday 10:00–14:00 and 15:00–19:00, and Sunday 10:00–14:00. From June to September the site keeps longer summer hours, open daily 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–20:00. It's worth timing a visit to the season, since winter days are shorter while summer allows for an evening slot as well.

How much does admission cost?

A general ticket costs €7.50, while the reduced rate (children aged 5–14, seniors 65+, students) is €5.50. Children under 5 and visitors with disabilities enter free of charge. Groups wanting more geological context can book a guided tour for €9.50.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Olot itself makes a good base for exploring the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park — further volcanic cones lie within a few kilometres, including the well-known La Fageda d'en Jordà, a beech forest growing on an old lava flow. The town also has its own historic centre with modernist architecture, so a visit to the volcanic area can easily be paired with a short walk through old Olot.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Museu dels Volcans still open? No — the museum in Torre Castanys closed in 2022. Its role was taken over by Espai Cràter, a new facility built inside the Puig del Roser volcano that covers the same subject through audiovisual and interactive exhibits.

Where exactly is the new museum located? Espai Cràter is at Carrer Macarnau 55 in Olot, inside the cone of the Puig del Roser volcano.

How long does a visit take? There's no fixed rule, but given the format of the exhibits — audiovisual displays, immersive scenes, video mapping — a typical visit takes about an hour.

Is it worth combining with other Garrotxa attractions? Yes — Olot sits in the middle of the volcanic park, so a single day trip can easily combine Espai Cràter with a walk among the nearby volcanic cones and through the La Fageda d'en Jordà forest.