B&B la Rectoria de Sant Miquel de Pineda

La Rectoria is one of the happiest places I've stayed. In my top 10 for sure. It felt like staying with favourite relatives without having to help with washing up. It's a guest house, not a 5 star hotel and has a rustic feel to it. We arrived by bike, looking like drowned rats, having been drenched in a huge thunderstorm. The welcome we got was just lovely. Goretti made us tea and put our clothes through the laundry and would not accept payment for this extra work. We were very comfortable and the evening meals were superb. Chef Roy cooks for one sitting and guests can gather to chat over pre-dinner drinks and can then eat at individual tables if they want. Evenings were fun. From the restaurant window, we watched a deer feeding on wild flowers just a few metres away. Roy and Goretti are big hearted, open and genuine people. I don't write reviews. I simply had to this time. Thank you.

This is a cosy small-ish guesthouse in an updated former rectory, adjacent to a beautiful old church, no longer functioning. It's just off a relatively quiet country road, and smack-bang on a disused rail route, now available for cycling and walking. It's about 10 minutes south by car of Garroxta's charming regional centre Olot. We had an upstairs room with comfortable, firm queen bed and roomy bathroom with a large walk-in shower. Modern amenities sit comfortably within the historic structure with gorgeous period details. There's a charming sitting room with the old iron stove and mercifully no TVs/screens to distract from the superb natural and historic setting. Goretti and Roy are charming hosts, and provide wonderful high-quality evening meals for a moderate price with wine available. There are many scenic day trips in this fabulous part of Spain, easily reached from Barcelona or Girona. Absolutely recommended.

We had a weekend planned away in the Catalan countryside for my girlfriend's birthday. The B&B proved to be the perfect escape from city life. An authentic and well converted church provided a comfortable and relaxing stay. The food and service was excellent and the hosts were very welcoming. Overall a recommend retreat in the Catalan countryside.