La Fageda d'en Jordà is a unique beech forest in the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. It grows on a solidified lava flow from the Croscat volcano, in a surprisingly flat relief for a beech forest, at an unusual mid-mountain elevation in the Mediterranean area. This combination of recent volcanism and mature forest mass explains much of its landscape and ecological interest. From the roads and access points you can perceive a closed forest, with tall beech trees, straight trunks and a filtered light that changes a lot depending on the season. The volcanic terrain generates small undulations and projections of petrified lava, the so-called tossols, which give texture to the walk and help to understand the geological origin of the place. The environment also allows us to relate La Fageda with other landmarks of the park, such as Croscat and Santa Margarida. Its natural value is widely recognized within the protected areas of the Garrotxa and appears recurrently in guides and routes in the area. It is one of the best known forest landscapes of Girona for its geological rarity and the very recognizable image of the beech forest on lava. The best time to visit it is in autumn, due to the coloration of the leaves, and also in spring, when the undergrowth is more active and the walk is especially pleasant. In summer it offers shade, but can be more crowded; on humid days the ground becomes slippery.
